What is life purpose?
Your life purpose is about the impact you want to make and the legacy you want to leave in the world. Whilst you can apply your life purpose to create impact on your own life, it is important to also keep in mind how you are influencing others. The latter is what makes it truly meaningful.
Like a north star, it is not a destination to arrive at, it is a direction to live your life towards. In this sense, you can be living on purpose right now and still moving towards a fuller version of your life purpose.
Format
Use this format to summarize your life purpose statement statement:
I am the __________ (metaphor) that __________ (impact)
Examples
I am the lighthouse that guides ships safely to shore.
I am the spark that re-ignites the engine.
I am the thunder that shakes people into reality.
Considerations
It is important that your life purpose statement is:
- Both realistic and aspirational – i.e. it describes who you are and the impact you are already making, whilst leaving room for improvement and growth
- Within your sphere of control – it is about what you can do now and who you choose to be. The impact or influece on others comes as a result of that, rather than you forcing or driving others or making their choices for them. For this to be true, pay attention to the verb you use to describe the impact (ex. ‘makes people better’ vs ‘inspired people to improve’)
- Applicable to you, as well as towards others. For example, I am the spark that re-ignites my own engine, as well as that of others. I pick myself up every time I am down, I believe in the good and I build resilience. If I am unable to practice my life purpose on my own life, how can I create that impact on others?
