How to Create Your Purpose in Life and Pursue it Passionately
Purpose is not something you find — it’s something you create.
“Whatever your calling, it’s already rooted within you.” — Oprah
I believe that fullness in life comes from following our calling. It’s the pursuit of it and the purposeful meaning we derive from it that allows us to feel most alive.
But people spend the core of their lives searching for their purpose because they believe that purpose is something you must find.
I was one of those people. I spent a decade “searching” until I finally realized this: Purpose is not something you find — it’s something you create.
This little mental shift propelled me to take a step forward toward what is already rooted in me. I created a purpose that would allow me to give something beautiful to this world, something that moves the soul: Writing positive, encouraging words that will inspire growth in others.
Purpose is not something you find — it’s something you create.
Most of us, however, do not perceive purpose through this lens because we’ve been accustomed to asking ourselves the question of “how do I find my purpose?” instead of “what do I want to contribute to this world?”
The former implies that you must go searching for your purpose, the latter suggests that you must begin creating it. The first question relieves you of your powers, the second flares it up.
We all have a reason for being. The French call it Raison d’être. The Japanese call it Ikigai. In English, we refer to it as purpose or calling.
What’s Your Reason for Being?
Pablo Picasso discovered his gift in art and then spent the rest of his life dedicated to his purpose of using art as a form of creation and experimentation.
James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, began publishing articles on his website in November of 2012 after recovering from a severe accident that had him slip into a coma. He simply shared his stories and how he was learning to build better habits. Today he’s the world’s most sought after coach and speaker on habit building.
After a decade of indulging in the dark vices as a nightclub promoter, Scott Harrison “declared spiritual, moral, and emotional bankruptcy”. He then spent two years on a hospital ship off the coast of Liberia where he saw the effects of dirty water. Today, he’s the founder of Charity Water, an organization that’s on a mission to “to bring clean water to every person living without it.”
What do all the three names above have in common?
Each one of them created his own purpose.
And all three of them contribute to the world in different ways.
Purpose is not something you find, it’s is something you create. You bring meaning to your life by answering this question:
“What do I want to contribute to this world?”
Define your contribution and the world you wish to serve it to (more on this below). That’s how you create your purpose.
Purpose and Passion Are Not The Same
We often intermix passion with purpose, but they are two distinct terms. Writer Brianna Wiest explains it so well with her words:
“Passion is the spark that lights the fire; purpose is the kindling that keeps it burning all night.”
Passion is the spark. Purpose is the kindling.
Passion is the light that ignites you to start; purpose is the motive that sustains you through the struggles. Passion is enthusiasm; purpose is intention. Passion is driven by emotion; purpose is driven by reason and logic.
Just because you have a lot of enthusiasm for something doesn’t mean you’re going to be successful at it. Why? Because passion is the spark, not the kindling. It’s an honest and committed pursuit of your purpose that keeps you fighting for more.
Your objective isn’t to do what you’re passionate about. Your objective is to honor your purpose passionately.
My purpose today is to write and share encouraging words that inspire people to be, think and do better in their life. That’s why day in, day out, I carve out time to sit down and write. Am I passionate about this? Yes, of course. But is that enough to keep me going? Not at all.
It’s my greater purpose — not my passion — that keeps me grounded and committed. It’s in this very act of honoring my chosen contribution to the world that draws me back to the chair on days when I don’t feel like writing.
Your objective isn’t to do what you’re passionate about. Your objective is to honor your purpose passionately. Understand the distinction and you’re one step closer to creating your purpose.
Your Purpose Today
Your purpose will change over time. That’s because as you experience different phases in your life, your sources of meaning might change.
My sense of purpose at 20 was drastically different than it is now, at 30.
At this very moment, your purpose is to be alive. Your purpose is to show up to your devoted line of work. It’s to evolve, adapt and grow. Your purpose is to keep learning and figuring things out as you go.
Your purpose is just to be where you are, doing whatever you’re doing.
If you’re unsatisfied with what you do, and deep within your heart you know that you want to move your life in a different direction, then perhaps the exercise below will help you create your purpose and answer the question of “what do I want to contribute to this world?”
How to Create Your Purpose
This is a five-step system to get you started:
- List out all the answers to “What do I enjoy doing?” (Passions)
- List out all the answers to “What am I good at?” (Skills)
- List out all the answers to “What do I believe the world needs more of?” (Beliefs)
- Find the intersection point — that’s what you want to contribute.
- Ask yourself: “What’s the one thing I can do to get started?” And then go do it.
Here’s a more detailed explanation of this approach on how you can create your purpose in life.
My common themes were personal growth, positive inspirational words (spoken and written), and creativity. So I decided that while I work to pay the bills, my greater purpose and contribution to the world (and what I aim to be doing fulltime in the future) is this: to use my words to inspire growth in others.
Will this be a lifetime pursuit? I’m not sure. All that matters is that for the time being, I am showing up to honor that purpose.
Stay Curious and Keep Exploring
As per Oprah’s words:
“Whatever your calling, it’s already rooted within you.” — Oprah
If you know what your calling is, don’t let fear stand in your way.
If you’re not sure yet, that’s okay. There is no pressure. There is no deadline.
You don’t realize it, but you’re moving an inch closer to creating your purpose one day at a time. You’re curious. You’re exploring your interests and seeking new experiences that will teach you more about yourself: What you enjoy doing, what you’re good at.
Keep doing what you’re doing, and soon enough, you might just surface what is already rooted within you. That’s the beauty of life: It’s a journey of constant creation, transformation, and self-discovery. So journey on, my friend.
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