How to Find Your Purpose

Written by Justin September 30, 2009

4.4 (5)

Living the dream begins by finding your purpose. Your purpose is the expression of the unique talents that you have as a human being. Following your purpose is what psychologist Abraham Maslow called self-actualization, which satisfies the h ighest level of human needs. Your purpose is not only important to your own satisfaction, but is essential to your effectiveness as an entrepreneur.

Your purpose is the activity that you find valuable in and of itself, and in which you most easily express your talents. Your first job as an aspiring entrepreneur is to discover your purpose, because it will allow you to become the most creative, innovative and effective.

Toward that end, here are some tips on finding it. Keep in mind that your purpose, and finding it, is one of the most subjective issues in all of entrepreneurship. Don't take this list as exclusive, but feel free to expand your perspectives accordingly.

1. Interview yourself.

Answer the following questions to the best of your ability. One year from now, answer the questions again (hiding your original answers). Whenever you feel you lack the strength to fulfill your purpose, refer to these notes.

What is my greatest strength or quality?
What is my greatest cause of distraction?
What is preventing me from living to my full potential?
What am I most afraid of? Why?
Am I ready to die? If so, why?
Is my career fulfilling my core being? If not, why not?
If I were to read the ideal obituary of myself, what would it say?

2. Meditation

The best way to understand a subject is to meditate on it. Focus as if each inhale and exhale you are rocking your subject back and forth in your mind, like a mother rocks her child to sleep. Make it the sole focus of your concentrated effort for at least ten minutes. Come back to the subject again after your meditation session and you may suddenly have a feeling of instant mastery or samadhi.

3. Accept yourself

We must be able to accept everyone as the creation of the Divine that they are. We all have paths to take in this life, and the objects and people that piss you off exist for that exact purpose. They are merely an obstacle fated for you to scale over through loving acceptance.

By accepting someone for who they really are we gain a bigger perspective on life, which brings us closer to the Infinite Intelligence (which can fulfill all requests). Which means tolerating is not good enough. Tolerance does not lead to the same perspective shift, and indeed inhibits us in our growth. Tolerate first, then accept, then love.

4. Travel

A good way to gain a fresh perspective is to travel to a foreign country. Want to see how 1 billion people in the world live? Go to Calcutta and find out. I guarantee you'll find yourself with a new perspective on life after the trip. Trips which rearrange your priorities like this are a great way keep yourself grounded in reality, which is the one true perspective.

The main drawback to travel is that is extremely expensive (unless you stay in a country in which the dollar has a favorable exchange with the local economy- those trips can be excellent values).

5. Read

Reading is an excellent medium to garner more knowledge. Its much more personal than say, watching a video, and thus reading effect us on a much deeper level. Some books have the power to inspire, others to impart knowledge, while others to simply entertain. But in each style or format a good book has the ability to change your life and your perspective.

"I am a part of everything that I have read." - Theodore Roosevelt

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