How do you find your purpose in life? What does it mean to find your why?
Perhaps you’re ready to start doing something meaningful with your own life? Or you’re ready to start living life with a true purpose? Maybe you’re ready to start truly living to the fullest and stop spending so much time on social media.
You may have heard people talk about their “why,” or their purpose, for being on the earth. But what does it mean to find your why? What does “finding purpose” even mean?
Discovering your purpose is a personal journey and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you need some help traversing the obstacles or don’t understand why finding your “why” is crucial to a healthy life, dive into the explanations below.
Why Is Your “Why” Important?
Before you delve into asking what does it mean to find your “why,” you need to know just why having and knowing your purpose is essential. There are several reasons why defining your purpose can help you, and these are just a few of them.
There are countless reasons to seek and find your life purpose, but here are a few:
#1. You’ll Feel Like You’re Making a Difference
What is your “why” in life? When you find out what your purpose is, you can start making a difference in your life and the lives of people around you.
You don’t have to do something on a global scale to change people’s lives and find fulfillment in your own. Instead, you can focus on positively affecting your circle, then branch out from there if you want to.
#2. You’ll Be More Grateful
Gratitude is an essential practice because it reminds people of all the blessings they have in their lives. It can keep you humble. Knowing your “why” can significantly help with gratitude.
Once you find your purpose, you’ll be grateful for the chance to pursue or act on it every day. Stay grateful and humble regarding your gifts and live a happier life.
#3. You Won’t Isolate Yourself
What does it mean to find your “why”? It means you won’t ever have that feeling of not being good enough to be around others. Finding your “why” is a great way to ensure you take up space and own your life.
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#4. You’ll Live Longer
Knowing your purpose can help you live longer. Because you’ll know your “why,” you can work toward creating a life you truly love, which in turn can help you live longer. Discover your “why,” and in the pursuit of it, you may find your life is longer than those who wander.
#5. Your Life Will Be Fulfilling
Have you ever woken up and wondered why you were here? Finding your “why” will help you get up in the morning, ready to tackle another day of fulfilling your purpose. You’ll feel more satisfied at the end of the day, knowing you’re actively pursuing your “why.”
At the very least, living a more meaningful life will be good for your mind and mental health. If everyday matters, if you know what you’re doing is your life purpose, that feeling of fulfillment can be exhilarating.
So, What Does It Mean to Find Your Why?
Anyone who has chased their purpose knows the answer to the question, “What does it mean to find your ‘why’?” Finding your “why” is easy to understand and revolutionary to experience. You’ll find your “why” in everyday experiences. You’ll have the opportunity to fulfill your purpose every day of your life once you know what it is and can start targeting it.
Knowing your “why” means you have a clear direction in your life. You know what you want to work toward and you understand how your purpose will affect you and the greater good.
How to Find Your Why
What does it mean to find your “why”? Well, it means going through a process of determining just how you can change your life and live to the fullest. You don’t have to follow these steps in order, save for the last one, but you may see them as techniques that help you identify your “why” – the reason you get up in the morning and want to keep moving forward.
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#1. Understand the Concept of “Ikigai”
“Ikigai” is a Japanese concept that encompasses your reason for being on the earth. It can help you stay grounded and focused on what you love to do, allowing you to live your life to its fullest. While ikigai isn’t quite the same as finding your “why,” it’s a great way to determine what you love and what makes you feel fulfilled.
While trying to determine what your ikigai is, you should look at four main concepts:
- What You Love: You have to love something to do it for the entirety of your life. This concept might be the most important part of finding your “why” and your ikigai.
- What You Are Good At: Feeling frustrated because something doesn’t come naturally to you is a part of life, but in this case, it’s just not part of your ikigai.
- What You Can Be Paid For: You don’t have to get paid with your “why,” but your ikigai also prioritizes something you can be paid for so you can build wealth.
- What the World Needs: Your ikigai has to be something that will benefit the world, whether on a global scale or in your personal world and relationships.
Ikigai and finding out what is your “why” in life have similar roots. You can use your ikigai to find your “why” or discover it in place of pursuing your “why” statement. The ikigai is a perfect tool to help you find out what makes you truly feel alive.
#2. Set and Examine Your SMART Goals
Your goals in life can tell you a lot about what you love and prioritize. You should check your SMART goals – the ones that are specific and measurable, all within a certain time frame that allows you to measure your success – to see what themes they carry. If you see one or two overarching themes, such as one that involves caring for people or animals, you can start to look for your “why” in that area.
#3. Look at What You Love to Do
Examining the activities you love can help you find your purpose. When do you feel most fulfilled? Is it when you’re around other people or when you’re partaking in an artistic hobby?
Pay attention to what you do over the next few days, and focus on actions that align with your values and fulfill your spiritual needs. Choose to pursue the hobby ideas and situations that make you feel like you’re on top of the world – then, you’ll have the answer to the question of “What does it mean to find your ‘why’?”
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#4. Listen to Feedback From Others
Learning from and accepting feedback from your loved ones is a great way to grow others’ trust in you and help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. Your loved ones know you almost as well as you know yourself – and in some cases, they may provide you with some insight you had never considered. They see what lights you up daily, so talking to them about what your purpose must be is a great idea.
#5. Narrow Down Your Purpose
Once you’ve figured out what makes your soul sing, it’s time to narrow it down. You likely have a broad idea of what gives you purpose in life, but you need to figure out just how to apply it to your life. Shaving off some more generic parts can help you find the specific “why” that makes you tick.
You don’t always have to find fulfillment in the form of a job, so you shouldn’t worry if you can’t find employment while chasing your “why.” Your purpose can manifest in other ways, such as volunteering or working on a hobby in your free time. You don’t have to monetize everything – and some people even lose their passion when they monetize their purpose.
What Is Your “Why” in Life? Examples to Get You Started
Sometimes, it’s challenging to figure out what your “why” is. Overall, it can be a blanket statement. You don’t have to narrow it down to one specific job at this phase. What does it mean to find your “why” if not exploring all the possibilities? Here are a few examples that can get you started thinking about your purpose in this life.
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#1. To Help Others
Some people consider helping others to be their purpose. When asked, “What is your ‘why’ in life?” they respond that helping other people is what makes them feel the most alive. Many people find their purpose in serving others, whether taking care of them or making sure they have everything they need.
There are plenty of professions that help other people if it sounds like something you could be interested in. Depending on whether you’d rather provide hands-on help or just a service to ensure people’s happiness, you may find different routes to take.
People who live to help others often go into healthcare or a legal profession to maximize their usefulness. Some people who want to support multiple people at once and handle stress well may go into the service industry, aiming to brighten people’s lives every day.
#2. To Create Something
What does it mean to find your “why”? You may ask yourself that question a thousand times while trying to find your worth. Having that question and exploring the possibilities opens you up to a new direction, though – that of an artist. Artists are all about answering the unanswered and providing an explanation where there may not be one, no matter how abstract or flowery that answer may be.
Your purpose could be to create something. People who create things are often more empathetic and ready to help out society and their community. You create things because you love to do it and your creations benefit other people. You could bring a new viewpoint to society through your designs – whether cultural or personal.
#3. To Add Value to Relationships
Many people find their purpose in their attachments to other people. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are defined by your loved ones. Instead, you choose to add value to the relationships around you. Maybe you live to make people smile. In that case, you could find your purpose as a portrait photographer specializing in families.
Some people might find purpose in staying at home and raising a family with their partner. They could make their loved ones smile by taking care of the house and other domestic activities. There are endless possibilities when you find that your “why” is to enhance your current relationships. Sometimes, all you need in life is to bring joy to the people around you.
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What’s Your “Why” Summary and How to Create One
What does it mean to find your “why,” and how do you summarize your purpose once you’ve found it? Your “why” summary can work almost like a mission statement – it tells people who you are, what you do, and why you do what you do. Y
our summary can keep you feeling motivated when all seems bleak and you feel like there’s no point in moving forward. If you keep your eyes steady on your bright future with a realized purpose, you’ll feel much more satisfied with your life.
#1. Start With Your “Why”
By now, you should know what your “why” is. Why were you put in the life you are? What opportunities do you have around you that could help you define yourself as a human being? Once you know why you’re here, you can transform that statement into your summary.
Refine your purpose as much as you can. You want to ensure you have a clear idea of what you’re meant to do so you can use it to direct you later. If you plan to write down your “why” summary, you’ll also want a well-defined purpose so you can read it in a flash to remind yourself of why your work is worth it.
#2. Examine How You Can Make a Difference
Take the thing that makes you fulfilled most of all and put it into the broader sense of the world. How can you use the talents that make you happy to make a difference in people’s lives? Whether you influence others on a global scale or just those in your personal life, you’re still making a difference every day. Now, you have to figure out how best to channel that difference into a coherent, concise sentence.
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#3. Evaluate How It Makes You Feel
Your purpose should make you feel light and happy. You shouldn’t feel burdened or upset by the possibility of following your heart. If your purpose doesn’t make you feel on top of the world, it’s the wrong purpose. It’s okay if you don’t get it right the first time. Some people wait decades before finding and chasing their goals.
Evaluate where your emotions are when you think of pursuing your purpose. You should check in with yourself regularly so you know a baseline of how you feel daily. Only then will you understand how you feel about finding your “why.” When you know your feelings, incorporate them into your summary. This way, you’ll be able to communicate better what is your “why” in life and why it makes you feel fulfilled.
What Does It Mean to Find Your “Why” and Purpose in Life?
Ultimately, what does it mean to find your “why”? It means you’ll live a more fulfilled life – possibly a longer one – that makes you feel satisfied and happy at the end of the day.
You’ll wake up refreshed and ready to go nearly every morning, thankful that you’ve discovered your purpose and found the thing that makes you light up more than anything else.
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Sign up below for your FREE 10 Step Guide + weekly tips to help you slay your goals.Finding your “why” might be challenging, but it might just be the most important work you ever do for yourself. Start the journey to finding purpose today, and over time you will arrive at your why.
Once you know why the answers to big questions like what to do with your life or how to be successful become clear.
Ready to find your purpose in life?
Cora Gold has a passion for living life to the fullest and exploring her experiences through her writing. She’s the Editor-in-Chief for women’s lifestyle magazine Revivalist.com.
Last Updated on July 23, 2024
