It’s easy to go through life and get caught up in the day to day and then wake up and realise you have everything you wished for but feel unfulfilled. We live in a world of consumerism where we are constantly fed the notion that if we do more and buy more then this will lead us to feeling more happy. We set goals and strive for more and think that if we can just reach those goals then there will be a magical pot of gold at the end and a sense of completeness and fulfilment.
I was in this place a few years ago where I work up one day and it hit me in the face. I was not happy in my life and I made a decision there and then to change this fact. I have been on a journey to live a more meaningful life. There are some big changes that I have made, such as my job, but a lot of my purpose has been found in the small things that I can do every day.
Here’s what has helped me:
1) Practicing mindfulness. Bringing yourself to the present moment whenever you can. The other morning I was on the platform waiting for the train when I found out it was delayed by 4 minutes. Instead of taking out my phone to kill the time, I just stood there doing some deep breathing, fully in the present moment. The great thing about mindfulness is that you can practice it anywhere. Just getting outside in nature for 15 minutes each day can help lift your mood and wellbeing. Go on walks with no distractions, be fully present and notice what is around you. The world is a magical place, we just don’t take enough time out of our day to day to notice it.
2) Spreading joy and kindness. Something that personally gives me purpose is deciding how I show up each day and how I interact with others. You get to choose how you approach things, and how you react to things. You get to choose how you show up and what you will pass onto others. Smiling is contagious. Laughter is contagious. Choosing every morning to be positive and bring joy to the world will bring you purpose through how you interact and impact others.
3) Helping others where I can. One of the best ways to feel fulfilled is to serve others. This doesn’t have to be large gestures, or giving up your whole day when you are limited on time anyway. It can be as simple as doing one small act of kindness each day. Make someone a cup of tea, hold the door open for someone, when driving let someone out into the traffic, make time to listen to a friend who is going through something. Over time these small acts of kindness will build and will lead to you feeling happier and more fulfilled.
4) Setting goals and working towards these every day. A couple of years ago when I was burnt out and feeling low, I set myself some goals all around my wellness and getting back to a better place. I used a daily goal planner, tracked my habits and set myself tasks every single day working towards a bigger goal. This gave me a big sense of purpose as I was bettering myself each day and working towards something. As humans we are designed to evolve and grow, so setting goals is a great way to get fulfilment in your life.
5) Meditation and connecting with yourself on a deeper level. Practicing meditation on a daily basis is powerful when it comes to living with more purpose. Setting time aside in your morning routine to just sit for 10 minutes and clear your mind is a great way to connect with yourself and be in the present moment. To help you get started I would recommend using a guided meditation app. I use one called ‘Insight Timer’ which is free and has thousands of guided meditations on there under lots of different categories.
Over time things compound. Taking small steps every day may seem like you’re not doing much, but be patient, as over time these will build into something beautiful. Stay consistent and you will start to see the benefits of these small steps you are taking. Living your life with purpose is simply choosing how you show up each day and what you will spend your time doing.
For those looking to find their purpose in life on a deeper level, and to understand what they are here to do, I can help in my 1:1 coaching sessions.
For more information follow the below link: https://www.pursuitofpurpose.co.uk/coaching
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