Close Friends May Know the Meaning of Your Life
Flikr.com Nisa Yeh, CC Attr. Lic.
Still looking for the meaning of your life? Wondering if you really have a purpose and if you do how you’ll ever locate it? Let me assure you, you do have a unique purpose in life. Your purpose has been “wired-in” since birth, awaiting your discovery of its clarity and brilliance. Part of the adventure and fun (and frustration) of life is finding your way through the maze of confusion to clarity of your purpose.
For the basics of finding life purpose, read Take the Mystery Out of Finding Your Life Purpose.
The process of today’s article begins with your close friends and family—those who know you really well. Focus on those who know and love you, those few people with whom you have a special bond. If they’re nearby, meet personally somewhere where you won’t be rushed and you can speak openly.
Close Friends Know the Real You
You might begin with something such as, “I’ve been spending a lot of time lately pondering my life, who I am, what my life is all about, what my purpose in life might be.” Since you know me so well I feel certain you have insights about me that might shed light on my life purpose.”
At this point your companion may be overwhelmed by the responsibility of describing something as personal and intimate as life purpose, so provide your assurance that “I don’t expect you to define my exact life purpose, but I’m hoping you’ll share some insights that will help me find it” You can guide their recollections with specific questions, such as:
- “Tell me about some times you’ve observed me being my very best.”
- “What do you think is my greatest strength?”
- “If you had to describe who I am with a few short phrases, what would they be?’
- “Tell me about a time when you’ve seen me light up with energy and ability.”
- “What strength or characteristic of mine do you depend on me to provide?”
Your companion may not be able to answer all these questions, but anyone close to you will have some answers. You’ll probably want to discuss each response, asking for more detail, more specifics, circumstances, anything you need to clarify their insights.
Life Purpose: It’s Not What You Do, It’s Who You Are
Recalling that purpose is composed of ways of being, characteristics and qualities rather than specific acts or behaviors, probe for the qualities and characteristics lying beneath the behaviors each person describes.
For example, if your close friend describes a situation where you were simply awesome, doing something with such gusto and high performance that the person was amazed and impressed, ask for the qualities or characteristics they observed in you.
If you undertake this process with several individuals, you’ll start to form a picture of who you are by noting the qualities and characteristics that each person recognizes as they think of you at your best. These qualities and characteristics are the components of your life purpose. Gradually you should form a picture of your life purpose from each person’s perspective.
Image Courtesy Life on Purpose Institute
Align Your Life with Purpose
A meaningful, purposeful life results when you are using these qualities and characteristics of purpose. They make up the you at your very best, providing the meaning, satisfaction, fulfillment, and joy you’ve been looking for. Your life need not be devoted to some huge effort such as world peace, eliminating hunger, or curing cancer to be a purposeful life. Living each day, doing what you love to do while remaining aligned with your purpose is enough.
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Jerry Lopper – Personal Growth Resources
Build your life on a foundation of purpose