One of the most common needs I consistently hear and have heard in my practice over the last 9 years is the desire to identify purpose.
We as humans have a deep, God-given, innate need to contribute and make a difference.
Whether you have what you would call a career or a job, or if you’re investing full-time at home, or are volunteering in the church or community, it’s all about contributing and making a difference in the world.
It’s an innate human need to feel like we are part of something bigger, that we are doing something worthwhile, that we are contributing in some significant way.
Seasons of our life affect how intensely we feel that need, and it’s individual for everyone.
Some chapters are intense with taking care of children, job responsibilities, juggling the everyday responsibilities of life.
But in some seasons, there’s more room – you might be *feeling* less needed as your kids get older, for example.
In every single chapter of life, please know that you are just as worthy, and you are contributing by just being you.
Having said that, there are three keys I want to share to help you identify your purpose:
1) Identifying our purpose begins with our thoughts – mindset is foundational.
Trust that God will make it clear to you, that He will guide you. Believe that you can and will identify and bring to life your purpose.
Understand that there is nothing that can make you more worthy, valuable, or whole – understanding your purpose included.
As children of God we have purpose in glorifying God, reflecting His character, knowing Him and making Him known.
Without understanding that, we’re just chasing a feeling.
We need to have the foundational belief that we are valuable, worthy, and whole as a starting point.
2) Understand that your purpose is not out there. It is in you. You bring it to life, you uncover it, you choose it, you create it.
It is not “missing” when you’re not conscious of it.
There is not a right thing or a wrong thing you could “find.”
It can feel so heavy when we say we have to “find” our purpose – like it’s lost.
That pressure, that heaviness, is really counterproductive when we want to uncover our purpose.
3) Purpose is identified primarily through unlocking the combination of three things:
- Our values – what’s most important to us
- Our natural talents and abilities
- Our past experiences
In THRIVE, we work on identifying purpose using that three-part formula – you can learn more and join here.
But as a starting point, take the What Type of Thriving Mom quiz -the link is to the right and at the bottom of the page.
Blessings,
