Finding or Creating Your Life Purpose!

Posted on December 14, 2014 by John Gappy, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.

Some people believe that the purpose of their lives is somewhere out there. Some actively search for it. Some ‘find’ it. Some are still searching after decades of life experiences. Some simply do not ‘find’ it. Along the way, some get so discouraged that they simply ‘go with the tide.’ Win or loose, succeed or fail, live or die, let it be. Where are you right now? Do take some time and answer this question before reading further.

Some other people decide to ‘wake up’ and start working on their life purposes!
They ‘wake up’ by lifting their heads above the crowd. They look around them, study their environment and reflect on the following questions: what is going on out there? what are people doing? what kind of material world I find myself in? what kind of social world revolves around me? what is my neighborhood like? what attracts me out there? what am I scared of? what kind of people I feel attracted to? what kind of people scare me? what kind of people I do not get along with? etc… This exercise can be brought to a very simple and concrete level by answering the following question: What do I normally do in a day? It would be interesting to look back over the last seven days and remember what you did each day. You can keep a personal journal that will becoming a companion along your life journey. Comes the first crucial question: what am I concretely doing in this world?

This ‘awakening’ leads people to the profound awareness that what their lives become depend mostly on what they do, or do not do! That is, you can ‘let it be’ or ‘make it be.’ Those who decide to ‘make it be’ stand up and take charge of their lives. They become aware of their responsibility towards themselves! They come to terms with the reality that they are responsible for their actions! They accept to be accountable and assume responsibility for their actions! They acknowledge the powerful emotions that emerge and affect the way they think, feel, and act. They learn to take responsibility for their emotions, decisions, actions, and face the consequences. They are now ready to be proactive agents in creating their life directions. Comes the second crucial question: what do I want to achieve in this world?

As the journey of life purpose building progresses, those who actively take charge of their lives ponder over the meanings of their choices and actions. These meanings become part of the foundation from where life values are formulated. Personal life values are then tested against the overarching culture where one finds oneself. This is a very important moment in personal growth. What happens if my life values are different from what the ambient culture suggests? Should I force myself to conform to what no longer makes sense or should I make my voice heard and contribute to redefining cultural values? Very often the individual succumbs to external pressure. These pressures come in different forms. The significant persons in your life might not approve of your blend of life values. Institutions can threaten your membership as their leaders struggle to control the way society thinks and acts. Maybe it is time for a review of these life values that face adversities. Do they harm anyone? Do they contribute to your uniqueness and personal growth? Can they bring positive changes to society if accepted and practiced? It is important to note that the culture that precedes you was created by people before you. You have the same right and the urgent responsibility to participate in culture change locally and universally. No one has the right to impose on you a certain alien identity. You are responsible in defining and achieving your personal identity, do not let someone else do it for you. The most important thing here is to constantly test whether your life direction positively affects your family, workplace, neighbors, friends, country, and world. If the meanings of your choices and actions contribute to positive transformation then go for it. You have found purpose and passionately accomplish it. You are now ready to answer the third crucial question: who do I want to BE in this world?

I will leave you for now with these life exercises. Enjoy your search. Take charge. Create your life purposes! Specify your objectives! Make them happen! Do share some insights to inspire others as they might also have great stories to share too. Meet you again next month.

John GAPPY