“I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.” – Leo Rosten
What’s your life purpose? Maybe you have an answer, maybe you don’t, but something that needs to be taken into consideration is that life is change.
Your life purpose is unique to you, it’s your reason for getting up in the morning, so knowing what it is can guide the decisions you make in life; it can influence the goals you set, the way you behave, and in many ways give your life meaning. You could argue that recognising your life purpose is essentially recognising what matters most to you in life, but here’s the thing, no matter how old you are, you can probably look back on various stages of your life and see different versions of yourself. The things that matter most change as you move through life. For example, things that really mattered to you as a teenager perhaps no longer mattered as you settled into adult life – maybe your career mattered most, maybe finding a life partner, or maybe being a parent – and the changes continue as life goes on.
What would a life well lived look like?
Some people develop a sense of purpose early on in life, they somehow know what it is they’re destined to be or do in life, but it’s fair to say that many others find themselves questioning what life is all about for them. Not having an answer to the question, “What’s your life purpose?” can lead to fears of failing to achieve your full potential or simply failing to live life to the full, so a much more positive question to ask yourself is, “What would a life well lived look like?”
When you take a moment to see the bigger picture and add a broader perspective, you can begin to identify the things that are most meaningful and valuable in your life. Take it a stage further and imagine the legacy you will leave behind in years to come: how do you want to be remembered three or more generations from now? Only you can answer the question of what a life well lived looks like for you, but it’s important to remember that life changes and therefore it’s perfectly natural to find that your purpose in life also shifts as your priorities and experiences change.
To have made some difference that you lived at all isn’t about finding a cure for cancer or initiating world peace, it’s about discovering who you want to be and how you want to be remembered by those in your world – and then living your daily life in a way that lives up to that legacy.
If you would like more information or to hear about the latest courses and programmes that could help you with finding your purpose and satisfaction in your life, email donald@zonedinperformance.co.uk.