Finding Purpose

Comments

• Jessica Connor, Ph.D.

  March 2022

  Hi Joy,

  
  

  That is a great question!

  
  

  I've found that purpose is generally aligned with what ignites happiness within us when we serve others. What are you most passionate about? What challenges have you overcome that you could assist others with in doing the same? Do you have any particular gifts that are useful in helping others? These are all questions I would ask myself (and have asked myself) to hone in on what brings both yourself and others joy, while offering abundance in the process.

  
  

  That said, I've also found that certain times present themselves when older passions must be evaluated and newer ones explored, (with explore being the key word) to find new ways to grow and evolve and help others do the same. In other words, if you don't know what you might be interested in doing, try a bunch of new things to see what you like. :) 

  
  

  I hope this helps!

  
  

  -Jessica
• Joy Stephen

  March 2022

  Hi Jessica, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. 

  
  

  The questions you mentioned are the ones I have asked myself several times but to be honest I have never gotten an answer I can work with. I am not passionate about anything in general (weird I know but that's me lol). I have overcome certain issues in my life which I can surely help others with and can monetize it but every time i start something I find it extremely hard to be persistent...I just don't have the motivation to keep going past the first week. I am not a lazy person and I like to work hard but I am not sure what happens to my mind/brain after sometime. It may be connected to depression (i was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder) I am suffering from. 

  
  

  So I am going to course correct here and reframe my question :) ... Once I identify what I am passionate about, how can I be consistent in pursuing my desires and achieving a meaningful outcome? 

  
  

  Thank you,

  Joy Stephen
• Jessica Connor, Ph.D.

  March 2022 edited March 2022

  I understand what you are saying, Joy. Interestingly enough, I believe that when you find the way to be passionate, that might be what you do to serve others. My biggest challenges in my life have been the ones that I am most useful in serving others with. It's quite possible that finding ways to be passionate is what you teach others to do once you have it finetuned. There are many people who have this same question!

  
  

  So, a few new questions:

  
  

  What do you find value in?

  What 1 or 2 new things could you try each week that go outside of your comfort zone (and might add fun to your life)?

  How can you prioritize creative expression more in your life? (How do you like to create things and how could you do more of that?)

  What makes you feel good?

  Who inspires you? And why?

  What do people appreciate most about you?

  
  

  Essentially, you want to create a growth mindset here and expand beyond your current thinking. You may even be able to think of some other questions that might inspire you to do this. 

  
  

  When you find what you are passionate about, you won't even think about how to be consistent. It will burn inside of you to the point that you don't ever want to stop doing it, even if that means finetuning the way you are doing it down the line! :)

  
  

  -Jessica