What do people really want? Many of us ask ourselves this question and it is a daunting task trying to wrap our minds around it. It is difficult enough trying to decide what to wear or what to eat for dinner, let alone trying to figure out what our life purpose is. So instead of thinking about it, we jump onto the bandwagon of life and just go with the flow.

When asked “what are your goals?” we can only think of broad answers, such as owning a home; a car; having a great job; good friends, a wonderful caring spouse, and the list goes on. Although the answer seems pretty obvious if we are looking at it on the surface, the question is so much deeper. Deep down inside, what do you really want out of life? Why are you here? Are you here to just acquire stuff, or do you feel something deep inside that tells you that “more” is not your calling?

As we grow up, our desire for position and promotion grows as well. To the world, this is being ‘ambitious’ and is usually a compliment to the person who is going after these things. You will notice that the more you acquire, the more you want. So you work harder, and longer. The reason that some people are never satisfied is that they have not found their purpose, their big WHY. So they continue to search, and in doing so, they look in all the wrong places.

We were created to live in our purpose, but why is it that this purpose is seemingly so hard to find? Every day, we are bombarded with external influences that tell us how and what we should feel, think and believe. From marketing communications to other people’s opinions of us, our minds are flooded with so many messages, that often we lose ourselves in it as we try to confirm. In school, we learn that we will have a cohesive society when we follow societal norms. If you don’t follow the rules, you are considered a deviant. So in trying to conform to the status quo, we lose ourselves. When this behavior is practiced for a very long time, from childhood, finding our purpose becomes very difficult, because
our true self is hidden under the cloud of public opinion.

When you are truly able to answer these questions: who I am, why am I are here, and what is my calling or purpose, then and only then will you find joy. But, how do you cut through the clutter and find yourself? The first thing is to recognize that God has given every single one of us a purpose; the reason we are here on this earth. He wants nothing more than to see each person living fully in that purpose.

Once we recognize that, we will understand why living in purpose is important. Then, exploring “the how” we get to de-clutter and stop all the outside influences is the next step. Going through a process of self-discovery is my recommendation. Although you could choose other options, in my opinion, self- discovery is the most rewarding.

Self-discovery is the process of understanding one’s true potential, character and motives (Colin’s dictionary). Through this process, you are able to identify your strengths, weaknesses, passions, and potential. You are able to understand your emotions, and how you respond to others. When you are doing this work on yourself, you will begin to understand what drives you, and why. Understanding your true self will help you to move through the world in a way that exposes you to your purpose. It is a
spiritual experience.

Are you at a crossroads in your life? If you are deciding on a relationship, profession or career path, the work of self-discovery is recommended. There are many free tools available on the Internet that you could use to start, but finding a coach is the better route. A coach will keep you on track to finding your purpose.