Finding Purpose

What am I supposed to do now?

What was I going to do with my life? I felt empty. What did I want to be when I grew up?

I’ve always looked at life as seasons: a time to work, a time to raise children, and a time to… well, what now exactly? That was the question.

Life has been a wonderful roller coaster ride, but the ride’s coming to a halt. I’m at the other end and find myself searching again.

Getting ready for a new season

What do you do when life throws you for a loop?

It happens to all of us at some point. People divorce, lose jobs, the kids move, we lose loved ones, and life goes on. How do you find your purpose? Here are five tips that helped me through my soul searching and gave me a renewed sense of meaning.

• Focus on your gifts ~ Consider what brings you joy. What makes you tick? What are you passionate about? Is there something you can do with that passion to rejuvenate your life? Each of us are gifted in different areas. Tune in and decide how to use your gift to fulfill your life purpose. Work isn’t a hardship when you align your passions with your profession.
  
  
• Open up to others ~ Don’t be shy. Tell loved ones what you are going through. They know you best and can share your strengths and weaknesses. They can help you discover what to do with your life. Rely on them for advice and guidance.
  
  
• Research ~ Get online and do career searches. Today’s technology allows you to post a few words in a program and have a list of careers at your fingertips. Use community colleges’ occupation data bases. Sign up for a class that piques your interest. Go to the library. Check out book stores. Wander the aisles until something strikes you and read ferociously.
  
  
• Get busy ~ Be diligent until you have answers. Work at your future with enthusiasm. You are the one in charge. Make changes. Soul search. You’ll be glad you did!

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day. There are things we wish we could forget...

Seek out an occupation and activities that gives you a sense of meaning, direction and satisfaction in life.

So while you are cleaning off all the flat areas in the kitchen...and thinking about what you wanted to be when you grew up, ask yourself this: How does that fit with what you want to be now?

Then, get help.