Five Steps Toward Discovering Your Purpose in Life

Finding your purpose in life can seem like a daunting task, especially if you are currently not satisfied with what is happening in your life today. Consider these five steps that help move you toward discovering your purpose in life:

1. Do it for free -- If money were not a necessity, what would you do for free? Sometimes when faced with difficult financial circumstances it is hard to determine if what you are doing calls to you. If money difficulties are in the forefront for you, try to move it to the background for a just a moment so you can imagine doing what you love. While it may be difficult or impossible, allowing yourself to imagine this will help start the process of discovering your true passion. Purpose and passion go hand-in-hand which leads to the next step.

2. Avoid regret -- Allowing regret to rule what you do and don't accomplish in your life will be the ultimate waste of talent. Is there anything you want to do and are passionate about that you will regret when you're 90 if you don’t do it? Close your eyes and image being 90. What do you see? If aging scares you, here is an alternative way to look at this: If you knew you only had a year to live, imagine what you are doing in this year?

3. Is it natural -- Does the activity come natural to you? Do you find it almost easy when you're doing it? There are many difficult tasks that are easy to someone with the passion to do it because not doing it would be more difficult than the task of doing it. Many artists, doctors, and teachers feel this way about their vocation. It's not exactly easy, but it feels so natural to them, like breathing in and out each day, that even the difficult is a part of their life giving joy.

4. Be mindful -- Pay attention to how you feel when you are doing things with friends and family, and at work. When do you feel the happiest? When do you feel the most productive? When do you feel the most satisfied? When do things just "flow" for you?

5. Your faith -- What are your highest beliefs? This is not necessarily your religious faith, though this can be included. It is your highest personal values. The things you believe in, the things that light you up, and the things you care about that give meaning to your life. Look there to your core ideals and beliefs to find out what your purpose might be in life.

A life full of integrity, absent of regret that feels natural, and clearly expresses your values and purpose is there for your taking. You just have to reach for it.