3 Ways to Discover Your Life Purpose

Today, there’s over 7 billion people in the world…
with about 1.4 billion living in China,
1.3 billion people living in India,
and the U.S., Indonesia, Brazil, and Pakistan combined having less than 1 billion.

Of these numbers, how many people do you think are living their life’s true purpose, free of struggle, and leading it from a place of true personal empowerment, self-love, fulfillment and joy?

There are amazing people today and throughout human history who have defied the odds and who have pursued and created the life of their dreams, a life of meaning, and one that has added tremendous value to humanity and the planet. I’ve always been a fan of those willing to go against the grain and who are willing to think up new realities, creating a better world for themselves and others. In the words of Bruce Lee,“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”

Before embarking on the human potential path, I’ll be honest, I didn’t know exactly what it was I was looking for, I had a sense of it but didn’t know what that “it” was. In my search, I continued to follow my heart, unwilling to settle. My intuition would guide me in the form of a gut feeling or signs from the universe affirming I was on the right path. When things went very smooth and opportunities came easily, I knew I was where I was supposed to be. At times it was painstaking. I course-corrected many times, took some sizable risks, and ventured more often than not, into new and unfamiliar territory, learning and growing all the way.

I want to share with you some ideas worth exploring that will make your journey easier and more direct… some tips that I think, looking back, my younger self would’ve certainly appreciated if I had discovered them sooner.


1. Seek the Guidance and Support of a Tried and Trusted Teacher, Mentor, or Coach
These days, especially with the internet so handy and with more and more people seeing the value of working with mentors and coaches, expert knowledge and support is available everywhere.  Finding the right support is key and invaluable and it can save you a lot of exhausting time and energy searching and trying to figure things out on your own. The important thing in finding the right support is setting an intention to work with people who know what they're talking about, have life experience to back up their knowledge, they are committed to guiding you, listening, and supporting you, and most importantly they believe in you and your ability to know what’s best for you.  To be honest, I wish I had this understanding a lot sooner in my life - it would have saved me a lot of time wandering.. though, not all those who wander are lost, right? Well, it would have saved me a lot of energy explaining myself or seeking answers from people who didn’t have a clue what I was feeling or an interest in what I was deeply searching for.

If you’re fortunate to have someone in your life who is willing to meet with you from time to time who you can flow ideas through, by all means go for it. Personally, I’ve found that the best thing to do is to hire a professional guide/teacher, coach, or mentor as this is the type of work they have dedicated themselves to and working with them can take you farther along your path. Figure out what it is you admire about them and find out what their interests are and who their influential teachers were. Ask for referrals from people you trust - Chances are, your friends or colleagues or someone you admire has worked with someone who’s supported them in their inner growth and success.  Let an authentic relationship with a mentor or coach support you to get to where you want to go in a faster, more direct, conscious, and clear way.



2. Gather a Whole Lot of Work Experience, Save Money, and Maintain Positive Work Relationships
So maybe you haven’t quite found your life purpose or are ready to jump into making a living from your passion. That’s quite okay. In the interim, use this time to build your pool of experience, to gain new skills and insights; to fill your rolodex of people you want to keep in touch with because of your mutual interests or simply because you enjoy each other’s company; save money because you never know if you’ll one day be inspired to travel or to take a sabbatical, to embark on a training, educational pursuits, or a project that is connected to your life purpose - and it certainly helps to have some capital stored away for this! Keep a positive mind-set and always, as best as you can, leave things on a good note when working with others. People come into our lives to teach us something (sometimes it's multilayered what we're learning and not so obvious) and we teach them as well by being part of their lives. Just because you’re leaving a job doesn’t mean you won’t ever run into someone again later but in a totally different context. Is best to keep things on a positive note, and at the very least cordial and respectful.


3. Absorb Knowledge and Wisdom. Look Forward, Not Back.
Sometimes you may find yourself second-guessing yourself. This is normal, especially when you’re up to something totally new and have limited experience with this new path. My advice: ask yourself “How can I better understand this subject/what's in front of me?” Make peace with what you left behind or the doors you’ve closed by choosing to explore a new path. This will preserve your energy for what’s ahead.

My recommendation is to read one to three books per week. Go crazy with it. This includes journals, magazine, lengthy articles. And also listen to podcasts, empowering audios, videos on youtube, and meet with people who interest you and who you like being around. Keep your reading rhythm consistent and dive in. Have fun! The time and energy you invest in yourself to learn more about subjects that interest you and especially subjects you are ignorant or have fears about, will naturally combat any fears on the subject and will also empower you to gain a deeper understanding on the topics of your choice. You’ll be a better person and grow in self-confidence.  You can read with different intentions - to learn new skills, to educate yourself on a topic, gain better critical thinking skills, to know what your options are. Reading is like a doorway to hidden potential that will awaken new forms of understanding and possibility. Read to evolve your mind and to seek out, deepen, and enhance your life purpose.

I hope these tips, which have helped me immeasurably, will also help you to make some wonderful leaps on your quest to discover and live out your life purpose.

To your truth!

Liza