What's the Meaning of Life? Discovering Purpose Through Your Work-Life
Have you ever found yourself Googling, "What's the meaning of life?" If so, you're not alone. Many professionals are seeking more than just a salary—they're looking for a deeper sense of purpose.
Hey there! Let me tell you a little story about a time when I felt completely lost. Picture this: I was working as an engineer, a job that offered great income, stability, and status.
On paper, I had it all. But every morning, I struggled to get out of bed. I found myself typing "What's the meaning of life?" into Google, desperate for answers.
I knew what I wanted to move away from, but I had no clue what direction to move towards.
Since I didn’t know what I wanted I found it really hard to get help, I was unsure if I needed to change roles, company, my whole career, or to work for myself. I thought if only I could find that one thing that used my potential to make an impact then I could finally take action to move towards it.
The Universal Quest for Meaning and Purpose
You see, that question, "What's the meaning of life?" is more common than you might think, especially among professionals considering a career shift or starting a business.
It's a universal quest—one that transcends our job titles and bank accounts. It’s natural to want to feel like your life matters, that you're making a meaningful difference in the world.
Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that coming from a poorer background often makes us focus on short-term wins instead of long-term goals. We prioritise security over enjoyment, survival over thriving.
It's no wonder 80% of us end up in jobs that don’t light us up inside.
The great news about that is you can rest assured that you’ve not failed or made the wrong choices, it’s actually all part of the process of personal development.
What’s important to you may have changed fundamentally because you’re a high growth kinda person, and that’s part of the pull towards being of greater service.
The Role of Work in Finding Meaning
But here's the thing: work can be so much more than just a paycheck. It can provide a deep sense of purpose.
When your work-life has meaning and uses your full potential it stops being a job and becomes a calling.
That's when the magic happens.
Step 1 of the mission impact method is: Recognise Your True Desires
So, how do you start this journey toward a more fulfilling work-life? The first step is recognising your true desires.
I know, I know—easier said than done, right? Especially when you're great at knowing what you don't want but not so clear on what you do want. This is a sign of survival thinking, where we focus on avoiding pain rather than pursuing pleasure.
To cross the chasm from work you loathe to work you love, you need to expand your emotional range. This means getting in touch with what you actually desire. Here’s an exercises to help you uncover your deepest desires:
Turn your frustrations into the opposite: Start by listing everything you’re currently frustrated with in your work and your life. Now next to each point, write down how you’d like to be feeling instead. I really mean it, how you’d like to feel. You can look up a list of emotions online if you’re feeling stuck for words. This is a first step in attuning to what you really want to be experiencing and overcome any ‘deficit’ motivations for your choices right now. In my weekend workshops and 1:1 coaching I take you deeper into what ‘being’ motivations you have too.
Quick Transformation a Myth?
Let me bust a myth: finding your direction doesn't have to be a slow process.
In my own career shift, once I realised I needed to be using my strengths, things changed rapidly. I found a new direction quickly because I learned that our top values drive us to some bigger desire we have.
For example, if you value accountability, it might drive you to want to reach your full potential and make an impact in the world. For me, authenticity drives me towards greater expression of my being which helps me in creating a better life for myself, and fostering a more useful culture in the communities I'm part of.
That was the start of finding my life’s mission and realising it opened me to the fact I had loads of fulfilling options i just couldn’t notice before because I didn’t know what I was looking for.
The reason it takes some people a long time is that they haven't been taught how to attune to their desires.
They're used to focusing on moving away from unwanted experiences rather than realising they have the power to influence their reality much more when they define what they want to move towards.
Your brain literally starts looking for solutions to make your desires happen when you know what you desire to experience.
And yes, sometimes that pushes you out of your comfort zone to explore how to take action.
Conclusion
Starting this journey of self-discovery might feel daunting, but it's also incredibly rewarding.
Remember, it's about moving towards what you truly desire, not just away from what you dislike.
So, take that first step. Reflect on your experiences, identify your strengths, and clarify your values.
And if you want to dive deeper, join my Zoom webinar this Wednesday at 8pm. We'll explore these concepts further and help you start crafting a work-life that lights you up. Trust me, it’s worth it!
Read the next blog, where we'll dive into whether you're a seeker in your great life story. Until then, keep exploring and stay curious!
Let's make your work-life something you're fulfilled and excited by every single day.