What would you do for free? Seriously, what would you do for 40 hours each week without getting paid for it? The answer to that question is an important one because it is the key to your purpose.
I have read so many books on purpose that it seems like I should know everything there is to know about it. In fact, most of us have read books on purpose, seen movies about it and heard preachers and speakers talk about purpose as the key to life. From this we know that purpose is the reason you were born. We know that, without purpose, there is simply no reason for your existence. But with purpose, you become invaluable to the world and everyone inside.
Yet, with all of the information surrounding purpose, something is still missing. I say this because too many people continue to stumble through life not knowing why they were created or what they were intended to do. They claim to know their purpose but either struggle pursuing it or change it with the seasons. This chaos suggests to me that, with all of the excellent teaching on instruction on purpose, we still don’t get it.
Personally, I have tried to uncover my purpose using the same methods businesses use to find their mission. I’m specifically referring to businesses that have existed for a while but seem to be searching, wandering and seeking the real reason they were created. Like me, they’ve seen some success early in life but fail to really break through and embrace the higher level of success that their hearts ache to achieve. Having worked with businesses in this situation, I know that many find success using what I call the “Five Why” method. To do this, you start with what you think your mission could be and then ask, Why? five times. At the end of this chain of questions is your purpose.
It works with people as well as businesses. Suppose you became an accountant because you like numbers. Well that’s fine but it’s not enough because, on some level, you know that your life’s fulfillment isn’t in playing with numbers. You need to ask yourself Why do I like to play with numbers? You may then say that you like numbers because they’re dependable. What’s more, you love dependability and think the lack of dependability is the cure for all of the world’s problems. Low and behold, you now realize that you would spend your life making things more dependable. Voila, you’ve found your purpose.
