The Life Purpose Equation: How to Find Your Purpose and Create Meaning For Yourself
Why do we search for meaning?
Because meaning gives us a purpose for being.
It’s as simple as that.
If you find meaning in what you do, you will find the devotion to commit to it and you will build the discipline to show up and do the work for it. If you can connect to a deep-rooted why you will find a deep well of resilience to keep going no matter how difficult the journey becomes.
Meaning inspires you and sustains you.
It motivates you and energizes you.
It gives you a sense of purpose in your life. And this purpose is the path through which you learn to focus your energy on what matters to you, and in doing so, induce meaning onto the bumpy journey of life.
As Nataly Kogan writes in her book, Happier Now, “when we have a strong feeling that we’re doing something meaningful, it gives us resilience. We know that whatever stressful situation we’re in right now is part of our journey to serve our purpose, and this helps us accept it and work through it.”
So how do you create meaning for yourself?
You create your purpose and give meaning to it.
Here’s how.
The Purpose Equation: How to Create Meaning For Yourself
Author and psychologist Martin Seligman defines meaning as “using your signature strengths and virtues in the service of something much larger than you are.”
In other words, ‘meaning’ is made up of two parts: it taps into a core skill or strength and it arises when we share that skill in the service of people. And if we were to put it into an equation, it would look something like this:
Meaning = Skill + People
I agree with the statement above, but I believe it’s incomplete—and the reason is this: You might be naturally gifted at a certain skill, but if you don’t enjoy the process of practicing that skill, and if you don’t give a greater meaning to it, you’ll never be able to stick with it until the end.
Think about it:
If you’re brilliant at the skill of skiing, but you dislike the act of training and coaching and you genuinely don’t care to gift the world with better skiers, then you’ll never be able to find the love within yourself to teach people how to ski.
You simply enjoy skiing for the hobby it is.
Therefore, we need to factor into the equation above two more pieces: interests and beliefs. This, then, becomes the equation to crafting your purpose and bringing meaning to what you do:
Meaning = Skill + Interest + Belief + People
Let’s expand on this:
Skills: What you’re good at.
Interests: What you’re interested in.
Belief: What you believe the world needs.
People: How you can use the above to help people solve a problem.
It really comes down to these four factors.
James Clear has now sold over 2,000,000 copies of his book Atomic Habits. He used the skill of writing and his interest in self-improvement to educate people on how to build better habits. Why does he do it? Because he believes that “habits are the compound interest of self-improvement” and that if you can change your habits, you can truly change your life.
Bill Burnett and David Evans, authors of Designing Your Life, are two Stanford professors who used their skills of teaching and knowledge of design to lean into what they enjoy—design thinking—and created workshops that challenge people to create a roadmap for their life through the lens of a designer. Why do they do this? Because they believe that “what people need is a process—a design process—for figuring out what they want, whom they want to grow into, and how to create a life they love.”
Koreen Odiney is the creator of We’re Not Really Strangers. She used her skill of photography, and her interest in fostering human connection, to remind people that, as humans, we’re far more similar than we are different. So, inspired by her work of walking up to strangers and asking them three questions (what is your name, your age, and what are you passionate about), she created a community, a brand, and a card game with the intention of empowering meaningful connections between people.
Why does she do this? Because she believes in “helping people feel less alone.”
I use my skill of writing and interest in personal development to help people get out of their own way and find the courage to live a life that’s true to them. Why do I do this? Because I believe in the beauty of living a fearless life and using our creativity to bring more good to this world—but we can only do so if we learn how to look inward and change the way we think.
See what I mean?
You create your purpose.
And through that purpose, you bring meaning to what you do.
It goes back to what Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
You can be useful once you leverage your skills to make a difference in the lives of others. And that’s the premise behind psychologist Martin Seligman’s aforementioned definition of meaning.
Find The Intersection Point
Take some time to ask yourself the list of questions detailed here.
Find the intersection point between what you’re good at, what you’re interested in, what you believe the world needs, and what you’d like to share with people (as a means of serving others and doing something bigger than yourself).
And if you still can’t outline what it is you want to create, then let me ask you this:
“What’s one skill you’d like to get really good at? What’s one skill you want to master?”
Is it public speaking? Then start practicing it and help people improve their public speaking for free.
Is it writing? Then start blogging and writing and share your ideas with people who might benefit from it.
Is it health coaching? Then start coaching people for free and help them integrate healthy holistic living as part of their new lifestyle.
What’s the one skill you’d like to get really good at?
What’s the one skill you want to master?
Do Something That Matters to You
When you do something that matters to you, you naturally become a more disciplined person. Why? Because you stop distracting yourself with pleasure. Instead, you experience authentic pleasure from engaging in the very activity that brings meaning and purpose to you.
As per Viktro Frankl words:
“When a person can't find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.”
And how do you find a deep sense of meaning?
You create your purpose and give meaning to it.
You find the intersection point between what you’re good at, what you’re interested in, what you believe the world needs, and what you’d like to share with people.
And if you still can’t find what it is you want, that’s okay. There’s no need to rush. Vincent Van Gogh decided to become an artist at the age of 27. Paulo Choelo wrote his first book at 38 years of age.
Stay curious and indulge in new experiences.
Meet more people and talk to strangers. Ask more questions and try new things. Pay attention to the signs and omens along your journey. Look inward and allow yourself more space to explore. Listen to your heart and lean into what excites you.
Just be open.
Soon enough, you’ll see a new wave forming and you’ll think to yourself: “Hmmm… let’s try to catch it.” Perhaps, just then, as you ride that wave, you’ll discover whether or not that is the purpose you want to bring meaning to.