Most people don’t know their purpose in life until much later, and some never learn. If you’re looking to find your purpose, no matter how old you are, these five tips will help you figure out where to start looking. It’s never too late to find your purpose in life — or to change it entirely if you find that it doesn’t fit with who you are anymore.
Honor Your Feelings About the Past
According to family expert and author of Finding Joy in the Empty Nest, Jim Burns, whenever our roles change in life, it’s essential to acknowledge the feelings that often arise at such times. Talking about his personal experiences, he states that acknowledging that his identity as a father was changing helped him relax and pause.
Go Easy on Yourself
The journey to finding your purpose can be long and complex, and it’s easy to get discouraged. Remember to go easy on yourself – everyone’s journey is different, and there is no right way to find your purpose. Alice Fryling, author of Aging Faithfully: The Holy Invitation of Growing Older, reveals that even in her 70s, she started asking herself if she had the energy or desire to do something before agreeing. The space she created for herself enabled her to identify her purpose in life.
Shift From Role to Soul
As we go through life, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and lose sight of what we are really here for. Leah Guy, emotional healing expert and author of The Fearless Path: A Radical Awakening to Emotional Healing and Inner Peace, asserts that discovering greater fulfillment occurs when self-awareness and wakefulness are sustained. Guy advises redefining the way you think of your role in relation to what you feel in your soul.
Let Little Things Lead You
We’re often told that life is too short to waste time on things that don’t matter, but what if the things that seem like they don’t matter are leading you to your purpose? Burns suggests that people take steps to honor what matters to them in their lives. For example, when we are younger, work is a focal point in our lives, but living authentically becomes a higher priority as we age.
Embrace Your Legacy
You gain freedom when you discover your purpose and do work that satisfies you and matters to you. According to Fryling, people who enjoy a meaningful life spend a lot of time being selfless, even in small ways like babysitting their grandchildren or giving a supportive ear to someone they love.