When we think about purpose, we usually end up thinking about some grand vision of our “life’s purpose” or some similar thought. It’s big and all-encompassing. This can also make the idea of “purpose” overwhelming. Who’s to say that what’s important one day, week, month, or year is going to be equally as important on another? I think purpose needs to be thought of in more flexible terms.

When I say flexible, I don’t mean that it can be easily replaced, or that other things can easily take its place. Rather, I mean that you don’t have to commit to it for a lifetime. It can be shorter term.

True purpose is steady and substantial. They determine the decisions we make and why we make them. They influence our thought patterns and actions. They influence our goals, and how we maintain balance. True purpose is important, and shouldn’t be easily replaced.

However, if you are having trouble committing to your personal purpose, knowing that you can change it, or replace it with something you find more critical and meaningful may help you to more fully commit to it now. Sometimes we don’t commit to a purpose because it’s too all-encompassing. Understanding that it may change can help you to feel like you can commit to your purpose now.

You may also find that oftentimes purposes will fit together like puzzle pieces. Some purposes may be an entire purpose initially, but you may find that some pieces attach nicely to your initial purpose, forming a more complete version of the purpose you started out with.

Finding your purpose

If you’re having trouble finding your purpose, I’ve found being able to answer the question, “What am I willing to suffer for?” has helped. Even if you didn’t receive an award for something, what would you still be willing to do?

You can also ask yourself, what do you know you have to do? Look through your journal pages, do you see any themes? Go back and study them, highlight common themes and words that seem to repeat themselves. Perhaps you’ve been journaling your purpose the whole time. You’re sure to find insights as you study your own journals.

Obstacles and Challenges

Sometimes, you may need to move something to the side, go through it, or go around it in order to discover or continue with your purpose. This might feel frustrating, Just know that what you need to do now that you’ve encountered something doesn’t distract you from your purpose. Rather, the challenge is now part of it. You have to let these challenges reveal your strength, and not take it from you. You may need to redirect your efforts for a moment. this new challenge may even become your new purpose, if even only for a season, and that’s okay.

Your intent may be to move past it, so you may move through it, you may move around it. If so, don’t let challenges stand in the way of getting back on track. You can even use them as a compass – as challenges often only stop you from progressing, and not so much sliding backward. Stay on track.

Or don’t.

Let the challenge change you for the better and evolve from it. You may learn and change as a result of taking on challenges and obstacles. As you do, and you try to stay true to your purpose, you may find that you’ve changed, and so has your purpose. You’ll grow and become a better person as a result. Whether you get back on your path or find a new one as a result of your challenges is completely up to you, but stay committed to your purpose, however you find it.

Motives

As you encounter challenges and move along your path, be sure to examine your motives from time to time. This is an important one. If they’re authentic, sincere, and good, your purpose will gain momentum and you’ll gain confidence. Be willing to do the work of examining your motives. Are they aimed at a particular result or goal, and not being driven by your purpose? Are you preoccupied with results rather than acting in alignment with your spirit?

Set your goals, work hard, but be willing and open to the fact that there may be different objectives than what you had planned for – and that’s okay. When you’re committed to your purpose, but objectives change, you build confidence and character. The goalposts might move, but remaining aligned with your purpose invites peace and success, and centers you on your purpose rather than on the objectives you had set.

Walk a purpose-driven path. Know that things might change, and that’s okay. Evolve, grow, but above all, be willing to commit to your purpose.

Finding and living your purpose is a challenge. Having a tool to help you do it is a game-changer.