5 Stupid Mistakes Smart People Make When Finding Their Purpose in Life

Watch out for #4. It’s WAY too common!

Finding your purpose in life is not an easy task. It takes intense soul-searching — and it’s hard to know where to begin! While some people knew what they wanted to be at a young age, for some, it’s a series of false starts.

I have a friend who didn’t find her true calling until she was 55 years old. After spending years as a nurse, she went back to school and became a graphic designer—and a good one!

For years, she had said she was still trying to find her calling. Well, she found it, and with it, the satisfaction of living her passion. Regardless of your age, you can still find your purpose and live it!

But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Here are 5 common mistakes people make that keep them from finding their true calling, path, or purpose in life.

Living the Life Other People Want You to Live

How many people do you know who choose their occupations, friends, and how they live their lives based on what society, their friends, or parents think they should do?

You can’t live your life for other people. It’s a losing proposition. So, don’t even try. No one can tell you what you should do because they can’t BE you; they can’t walk in your shoes and know your desires, fears, and passions. They can point out your talents, but they don’t know what’s in your heart and mind like you do.

If you live your life for others and follow a path not meant for you, you’ll sacrifice your passion, lose your way, and end up resenting those who expected you to follow that path they wanted you to.

Don’t give up on your passion or dream to make your parents proud or better fit into society. Live a life of purpose, not one designed by others.

Not Being Honest with Yourself

To find your purpose in life. What are your passions? What do you want to do with your life and why? Once you know what you (not other people) want, focus on how to get it.

Get specific and define what your “dream” is. Know what you want to achieve. Once you know, outline your goals in writing, so you can start working toward them.

Your goal should be authentic and heartfelt. It will be harder if you’re doing it to please someone else. That’s your subconscious telling you you’re not doing it because you want to. Find your dream rather than living someone else's mental vision for you.

“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”

— Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Focusing Too Much on the Present

Don’t put off finding your life's purpose for the sake of making more money. How many people choose a career they aren’t suited for or passionate about because it makes a lot of money?

Don’t be like the theoretical guy named George, who put aside his dream of becoming an artist to pursue a career in accounting, only to have to force himself to get out of bed in the morning.

Or Mary, who relinquished her dream of working in animal rescue to become a lawyer because it’s a “respectable job.”

Consult with people who have done what you want to do and plan your strategy. People have managed to make a career out of anything, even playing video games. Think of YouTubers who have channels where they do nothing but film themselves playing games.

Not Having a Work-Life Balance

What does it mean to have a healthy work-life balance? It’s when your work doesn’t negatively impact your life, and your life doesn’t negatively impact your work.

People approach life with blinders. They focus so much on earning a living that they never live life at a deeper level. Life is an opportunity to gain experience and explore. It’s a chance to discover what your passion is and what you want to do with your life.

Many people view work as a lifestyle, not a choice. From relationships to health, they sacrifice everything for their job, without even contemplating whether this is what they truly want. For some individuals, the job is their only focus, and that can lead to an unhealthy life devoid of balance.

“You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it courageously.”

— Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Why do people focus so much on earning money that their passions and desires fall by the wayside? It’s because they’re trying to support an expensive lifestyle. That’s a sticky trap to fall into!

Some of the happiest people are those who choose experiences over possessions. Is it worth having that expensive sports car if you don’t have time to pursue a passion, like music or painting?

Not Having a Mentor

If you have a dream, passion, or purpose, a strong support system and the right expertise can help you achieve it. Too often, people think and dream about doing something they’re passionate about, but don’t know how or where to start.

That is why you need a mentor who listens to you, and helps you figure out what you want and how to get it. Oftentimes, life seems like a gigantic puzzle, and it is hard to fit together the pieces.

But, just like a puzzle — if you try different pieces, and they don’t work, go back, and try again. Some people can benefit from hiring a life coach short-term to get on the right path.

The Bottom Line

Life seems long when you’re young but as the years go by, time seems to move faster. Don’t waste it living a life you don’t want to live while ignoring your dream. It’s your life to live!

Now, to you. Are you living your passion?

References:

• “Five Steps to Finding Your Life Purpose | Psychology Today.” 12 Dec. 2017, psychologytoday.com/us/blog/click-here-happiness/201712/five-steps-finding-your-life-purpose.
• “How to Find Your Purpose in Life — Greater Good.” 10 Jan. 2018, greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_find_your_purpose_in_life.