Finding Purpose
Do you ever find yourself asking the age-old question, why am I here? There are so many observations and possibilities to this question that investing in explanations can get a little overwhelming. It turns out that identifying your life’s purpose can actually increase your overall sense of wellbeing. For many people, finding this purpose can seem difficult and many have no idea where to start. In today’s episode, Leslie and Leslyn break down the importance of having purpose. Leslie and Leslyn also explain the two ways to scientifically create an emotional foundation for purpose, and the six ways that you can start to foster a sense of purpose!
In this episode, we discuss…
Show Intro [0:01]
Introductions—Purpose [0:13]
Start of the Podcast [0:55]
Discovering What Your Purpose Is Not [5:25]
Honorable Quotes on the Purpose of Life [8:18]
What Does It Mean to Have Purpose? [9:55]
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari [12:45]
Two Things Needed to Create a Sense of Purpose [13:37]
Six Ways to Foster a Sense of Purpose [18:16]
The Importance of Reading [18:46]
Turning Hurts into Healing [21:04]
Cultivating Gratitude [24:05]
Listen to What Others Appreciate About You [27:55]
Find and Build Community [30:13]
Tell Your Story [33:33]
Try This at Home [35:45]
Closing Thoughts [36:31]
Next Week [36:45]
Outro [37:32]
Episode Notes:
Why am I here? It turns out identifying your life’s purpose can actually increase an overall sense of wellbeing. Pablo Picasso believes, “the purpose of life is to give it away.” While Oprah has been quoted saying, “There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling it’s why you were born and how you become most truly alive.” To live your most authentic life you must be your most authentic self. You have to find yourself and ask where you are most engaged in your most authentic self. It’s important to think about what the idea of having a purpose means.
It has been established in previous episodes that scientists believe that having a sense of purpose is adaptive in evolutionary sense and helps the species along the way. People who research this idea believe that there are two things that create a sense of purpose. The first being the ways that you use your special gifts. In a previous episode discussion authenticity, and the value and action inventory assessment. In Leslyn’s Elevate class, participants each take the value and action inventory and focus on their top five values. When you integrate your values into your daily life you are going to feel as if you are striving to achieve your purpose. The second way to grow our purpose is through our connection to others.
In a 2018 article in Greater Good Magazine, Jeremy Smith shares the six ways to find your purpose in life. The first thing he recommends is to read more. Reading connects people to a common thing and we often see ourselves in much of what we read. Leslyn always believes you should make time for something such as a self-help book, relaxation, or connection to fiction. The second way to find your purpose in life is to turn your hurts into healing. When you turn your hurts into healing often what happens is, we start to share that, and people begin to see a healing process that provides hope. The third thing that you can do to find your purpose in life it to cultivate gratitude. For Leslyn, gratitude is one of the attributes that will help you feel better especially when paired with moments of awe. Gratitude, awe, and altruism help us feel connected to something larger than ourselves.
The fourth thing that Jeremy Smith point out that facilitate in finding life’s purpose is to listen to what other people appreciate about us. If we listen to the way that we impact others it can inform the purpose that we are giving the world that we might not personally value or be open to seeing. The next way to foster life’s purpose is to find and build a community. A community is available if you want it to be and is a very important aspect to your own purpose. The last thing that Jeremy recommends is to tell your story. When you tell your story or write it down and expand on it you can see the change and growth that you have accomplished. You can identify the obstacles that you have overcome, and you can truly rewrite the narrative if you need to.
This week’s Try This at Home is this, if you have a sense of not knowing your purpose look more into the article referenced in the episode and engage in the process. Think about keeping a journal, strive to pay attention, be in awe, read, actively build a community, and write your own story!
Subscribe to this channel for new podcasts EVERY WEDNESDAY and Try This at Home!
Next Week’s Episode:Therapy or Life Coaching??
One of our goals this year is to grow the podcast audience and you can help!
We would truly appreciate a share or a shout out if you found the ideas here helpful.
Don’t forget, you can always touch base with us personally on our Facebook, Instagram, and our website trythisathomepodcast.com
Links to Look At:
Try This at Home’s Episode #29: Living an Authentic Life
[https://www.trythisathomepodcast.com/podcasts-1/2019/8/13/29-living-an-authentic-life]
Try This at Home’s Episode #232: Personal Growth – The Elevate Class
[https://www.trythisathomepodcast.com/podcasts-1/2020/9/8/personal-growth-the-elevate-class]
Value and Action Inventory Assessment
[https://www.viacharacter.org/]
Jeremy Adam Smith | How to Find Your Purpose in Life
[https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_find_your_purpose_in_life]
Rick Warren | The Purpose Driven Life
[https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-What-Earth/dp/031033750X]
Robin Sharma | The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
[https://www.amazon.com/Monk-Who-Sold-His-Ferrari/dp/0062515675]
Can’t Get Enough? Follow us on our other platforms!
Get Coached by Leslyn!! http://growwithleslyn.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisleslyn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TryThisAtHomeP1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXg2RODfYz2Rrc8tUO0ti5Q
Listen to the Podcast at https://www.trythisathomepodcast.com/ or on iTunes, Spotify, and Sticher!