10 questions to help you find your life purpose

When I read a study by Jobbio which found that only 23% of Brits are always happy in their jobs, I was surprised. I suspected that a lot of people were not happy, but finding out that nearly three-quarters of Brits are not enjoying what they are doing is sad, to say the least.

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While many factors play a role in job satisfaction, I have found in my own experience and that of my clients, that life purpose plays a huge rule. Study after study has found that people who have a sense of purpose are more satisfied with their jobs, live longer, sleep better, and are generally happier and more successful.

At the start of my career, my purpose was finding a job and making money. The money focus continued over the next few years; I was moving from one job to the next without really finding my place, and while I was making a bit more money with every promotion, I felt stressed, depressed, and anxious. I tried all the "traditional" solutions - going to career counselling, taking vacations to escape, but I could not find a permanent solution and finally, I burnt out.

It was only when I found and was inspired by my purpose to 'uplift the planet by helping people find their purpose and do what they love' that I truly found my place. Not only was I happier and more satisfied, but I was also making more money than I ever thought I would.

If you don't have a clear purpose, don't panic. I have created an exercise to help you get started.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - Lao Tzu

Before you start...

I encourage you to set some time aside where you are in a quiet place and preferably alone to start working on the questions. Have a pen and paper ready and follow your gut; write down the first thing that comes to mind without analysing it. For the best results, approach this process like a child would - with curiosity and no judgement or fear.

10 questions to start finding your life purpose

1. What do you spend your free time doing?

2. What did you want to be when you were a child?

3. What work-related tasks do you enjoy?

4. When I do ______, I lose track of time.

5. What does the ideal world look like? What is your utopia?

6. What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

7. When did you last feel truly happy? What were you doing?

8. Who do you admire the most and what does that person do?

9. What are you secretly passionate about?

10. When you die, you want to be remembered for______.

Putting it all together

Once you have your answers, look for themes and patterns, paying close attention to any words or concepts that repeat themselves. Once you have looked over the answers, write down a short paragraph that summarises your purpose. Put it on sticky notes and place it where you will see it every day.

Next Steps

Once you have found a purpose that inspires you, you can use it as a compass to guide your life and your decisions. Work to create goals and steps to find your ideal job or life. Revisit it every morning as part of your routine.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author. All articles published on Life Coach Directory are reviewed by our editorial team.

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London EC2M & N4
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Written by Ilse Passet, Helping busy small business owners grow with confidence
London EC2M & N4

Ilse is a transformational coach and former C-Level Exec with 20 years of experience. She supports professionals and business owners who want to achieve financial freedom, be confident and love their job and business.

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