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Many of us will experience a lack of purpose at some point in our lives. And if you’re lucky enough to have a loving family, successful career, and supportive friends, you might wonder why that doesn’t feel enough – or why something feels like it’s missing.
When you lack meaning and purpose, it can feel like you’re walking numbly through life, or that you’re rudderless, floating aimlessly without direction. But finding meaning and purpose can tether you to something greater, giving you ambition, intention, passion, and energy. Plus, if you aren’t sure what your purpose is, it’s never too late to find out.
With this in mind, here are five ideas to help you find meaning and purpose in your life.
1. Read
Meaning and purpose are strongly linked to the idea of connection – and this is why reading can be one of the easiest and most accessible ways to find meaning.
At its core, reading is about connection. Reading the words of people we’ll never know tethers us to them, if only briefly. It also connects us to different times and places – often ones entirely alien to us.
Studies show that people who read the Bible or other religious books tend to have a greater sense of purpose than those who don’t. But it isn’t necessarily the religious aspect that creates this feeling. Research suggests that people who read non-religious works, like fiction and poetry, are also continually shown to have a stronger sense of purpose.
Think of some of the great literary characters in history. From Atticus Finch fighting racial injustice in To Kill A Mockingbird to Frodo Baggins journeying to Mordor in The Lord of the Rings, many characters share an unshakeable sense of purpose. The more we see purpose in the lives of others (fictional or otherwise), the more we’re likely to see it in ourselves.
Some of the most inspirational and driven people in the world credit reading for giving them purpose. So, if you’re feeling like your life lacks meaning, something as simple as picking up a book can make a difference and help you identify what matters in your life.
If you’d like some reading inspiration, we hope something might catch your eye in our articles: 27 must-read books and 15 inspiring self-development books. You might also like to join one of the book clubs over on Rest Less Events.
2. Fight for something
When you think about injustice, most of us can pinpoint certain causes that we’re more passionate about than others.
Perhaps it’s cruelty to children or the struggles of people living through war and famine. It might be issues like racism, sexism, animal rights or sustainability. Maybe it’s that your own experiences, or those of your loved ones, have led you to be passionate about certain causes – for example, helping people who struggle with addiction or mental health problems.
Most of us have causes we care deeply about, and fighting for something bigger than ourselves can be an incredibly rewarding way to find purpose and meaning. So, it’s worth taking a moment to think about what upsets and angers you most, and the different ways you can help fight for or against it.
There are thousands of organisations and causes out there that desperately need help – and often, when you’re fighting for what you perceive to be the greater good, you can identify new ways to make a difference.
Donating your time and money to help others is a great way to find purpose. But finding a way to repurpose your skills, interests, and experiences to bring about positive change can be even more effective.
If you’re a skilled writer, you could write articles to raise awareness about an issue you’re passionate about. If you enjoy public speaking, you could use your skills to educate people – for example, by visiting schools and talking to children about what you find important. Or, if you’re passionate about music, you could look into how music can be used as therapy.
Perhaps you could even consider a career change where you can combine your skills with furthering a cause that’s important to you.
If you’re not quite sure what ‘your’ cause is or how you can make a difference, it might be helpful to ask yourself the following questions…
- What do I love doing?
- What comes easily to me?
- What do I care about?
- If I could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
If you still feel unsure or have several causes you feel deeply passionate about, you might benefit from taking a values survey. These can help you identify the issue or cause you’re most passionate about.
Whether you know what causes you’re passionate about, or you’d like to be inspired and see what opportunities are available, you’ll hopefully find our volunteering section helpful.
3. Surround yourself with people who inspire you
If you’re experiencing a lack of meaning and/or purpose in your life, it can help to think about the people you surround yourself with.
Try not to focus on people you ‘have’ to see – such as colleagues and immediate family members – but those you choose to spend time with. If the people around you are negative, it’s easy to get weighed down – and if these people aren’t interested in making positive change, it can be difficult to feel inspired.
Of course, you don’t have to cut these people out of your life to find meaning and purpose. But it can help to spend more time with people who inspire and encourage you to make a difference.
You might also find it useful to read about inspirational people, though sometimes this can feel a little intimidating. If you read about a civil rights leader who awoke a generation, for example, you might feel motivated in some ways and daunted in others – like you’ll never be able to make such a difference, no matter how hard you try.
But often the small things we do have a huge impact, and if there are people in your life who motivate and uplift you, make an effort to spend more time with them. If you have a friend who goes to social justice talks or protests, why not consider joining them? Or if you have a friend who volunteers at the local food bank, perhaps you could ask to join them.
If you don’t have people in your life who inspire you in this way, don’t worry. Today, there are many ways to meet new people, forge meaningful connections, and get inspired – from joining Facebook groups and community hubs to online support groups.
You might like to read our articles, 9 different ways to meet new people and 12 ways to make new friends, for ideas.
4. Listen to others
Many of us are our own worst critics. We find it easy to see things like talent, passion, and intelligence in others, but don’t often see them in ourselves so clearly. Therefore, it can be hugely beneficial to ask people for their feedback and thoughts, to find out what they appreciate about you, what they think you’re good at, and what makes you special.
Hearing what other people appreciate about you can give you an idea of your values and skills, which can be instrumental in helping you pursue a meaningful life.
For example, if someone tells you you’re unusually empathic or they find it easy to talk openly to you, you may realise you can use this trait to help others – perhaps by retraining as a counsellor or volunteering on helplines.
It can be strangely tricky to recognise the things you care most about or what you’re naturally best at, simply because they’re so ingrained in us. So, ask people around you for insight and feedback and, most importantly, listen to them.
Though don’t forget to listen to yourself, too. When you think about a passion or a cause, what’s your gut telling you? Do you really want to volunteer for a particular charity, or are you only doing it because you think it’s the right thing? Do you really want to pursue that new hobby, or are you doing it because you can’t think of anything else?
Try not to do anything for the sake of it, or do anything you feel uncomfortable with. When you find your purpose, it’ll feel right. So listen to your intuition because only you know what’s best for you.
5. Help other people
It’s widely accepted that certain emotions and behaviours, like generosity and selflessness, help boost our wellbeing, and they can also affect our sense of purpose. As a result, volunteering, helping others, and finding a way to give back are strongly associated with having a more meaningful, purposeful life.
There are many ways you can help others. You can donate money to a cause you care about, volunteer, or help people around you directly.
For example, why not visit an elderly neighbour to provide company or offer to shop for a poorly friend? Whether you decide to help others every day or once a week, being kind can go a long way to making you feel like your life has purpose.
It’s also worth mentioning that once you start working to help others, you’re likely to meet new people who’ll further inspire you. Volunteering at a homeless shelter once a week, for example, can put you in contact with people who dedicate their lives to those less fortunate than themselves. Often, these experiences have the most profound effect on us.
There’s no guarantee that volunteering will lead to a lightbulb moment where you suddenly realise what your purpose is. However, there are many ways to help others and give something back, and once you find the ‘right’ way to do that, it should feel as though it makes sense. Plus, the act of helping can be invigorating.
If you’re looking for ideas, check out our article: 17 meaningful ways to help others and give back to your community.
Final thoughts...
No matter how hard we search, finding purpose and meaning in our lives doesn’t usually happen quickly. It can take months, years, or even a lifetime – but some say it’s the search that’s the most meaningful of all.
You might find that what inspires and drives you changes over time. This is all part and parcel of our journey, and it doesn’t mean you’re giving up on anything.
If you find a hobby, job, or cause that gives you purpose, it doesn’t matter what it is – all that matters is that you get something out of it.
If you choose to pursue a new passion or cause, try to take some time to reflect on it as you go along. Ask yourself if this new road feels like the right direction. If it isn’t, it’s fine to change course.
For more guidance, you might like our articles: 8 powerful questions to ask yourself when you arrive at a crossroads in life and Who am I? 7 tips to figure out who you truly are.
Have you struggled to find meaning and purpose in your life recently? Or have you found something that’s helped give you direction? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
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