Reframe your understanding of purpose from a grand ‘why’ to ‘actions you take in the present and future that light us up,’ making it more achievable and less anxiety-inducing.
Prioritize ’little P purpose’ by engaging in process-oriented activities that light you up, rather than chasing ‘big P purpose’ which is goal-oriented, high-stakes, and often leads to burnout or dissatisfaction even upon achievement.
Disconnect from external definitions of purpose imposed by society, marketing, or family, and instead connect with your own inner ‘purpose anchors’ – the inklings and beckonings of things that genuinely light you up.
Be wary of ‘purpose mirages’ like specific net worth figures, career achievements, or social media metrics, as these external goals often don’t light you up and can lead to dissatisfaction even if achieved.
Consider what you would regret not having done if you had only a short time left to live, and use these insights as ‘purpose anchors’ to build a life around what truly matters to you now.
Systematically remove aspects of your job or life that you dislike or find unfulfilling (e.g., specific tasks, roles, work hours) to create space for more purposeful activities.
Conduct a ’life review’ by asking yourself structured questions about your life’s important moments, triumphs, failures, meaningful relationships, and especially your regrets, to gain peace and identify purpose anchors.
Physically or mentally revisit your childhood bedroom to observe what decorated it (posters, trophies, drawings, books), as these items often reveal early, unco-opted interests and passions that can serve as purpose anchors.
Regularly review your calendar and actively work to fill it with more ’little P purpose’ activities you love and remove things you loathe, as time is finite and this continuous improvement leads to winning the ‘game of life.’
Understand the concept of financial independence, which means having enough money to avoid doing things you dislike solely for a paycheck, allowing you to pursue more fulfilling activities.
Pay attention to feelings like the ‘Sunday scaries’ or waking up stressed rather than energized, as these are indicators of burnout, suggesting you’re doing things you don’t love.
If your main work isn’t fulfilling, try to fit in activities you love, such as writing or public speaking, during your free time (e.g., lunch hours, evenings) to bring more joy into your life.
Once you’ve identified the parts of your job you love, actively seek ways to increase the time you spend on those tasks and decrease time on unloved ones, even if it means restructuring your role or responsibilities.
If you’re struggling to find purpose anchors, use the ‘spaghetti method’ by saying yes to new experiences, talking to different people, and trying things that might make you anxious, then evaluate if they light you up.
Recognize that beyond time and money, you possess other valuable ’levers’ like your passions, youth, energy, connections, skills, and communities, which can all be used to bring purpose into your life.
Begin by dedicating even a small amount of time (e.g., 15 minutes) to a joyful activity, as starting builds momentum and autonomy, making it easier to add more purpose over time.
Understand that by trying out small purposeful activities, you’ll feel more energized, gain more community, and discover more opportunities, effectively ‘growing your purpose pie’ over time.