10 unexpected ways to know your purpose in life

“The two most important days in life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain

Our purpose in life is one of the deepest mysteries we grapple with at some point or another.

We continuously turn over various thoughts, ideas, and perspectives until we find meaning and clarity. It can seem like such a mess, right?

Some people seek out spiritual teachers to help them find their reason for living, while others simply search for meaning in everything they do throughout the day.

Whatever your preferred method of searching lies in, always remember that it can vary from person to person and each journey is different from the next.

Here are 10 unexpected ways to know your purpose in life

1) You’ll recognize your purpose once you experience a flashback to the past

When life throws you a curveball, if you have no idea how to adjust or react, it’s because you don’t know who you are at your core.

Oftentimes pain will come when you keep searching outside of yourself for answers that don’t exist.

But when you finally find your original self, you’ll know it by recognizing a flashback from the past.

These moments of reflection are crucial in order to recognize your true self again and there is nothing more beautiful than finding yourself for the first time.

What is present in the present is just a byproduct; enlightenment lies in looking back to the past and finding meaning and clarity there.

It’s a bit difficult to describe, but once you know who you are and can incorporate this identity into your present life, it will feel like slipping into a pair of well-tailored jeans.

Can you imagine a world in which you constantly felt calm, relaxed, and refreshed?

This is the way it should be.

2) Your purpose will reveal itself when your words speak for themselves

Words are an incredible asset. Some people can’t live without writing, while others can’t stop talking.

Either way, words are an essential part of communication and when you finally know your purpose in life, it will translate into everything you do through spoken or written language.

Nobody ever became truly successful by having their mouth shut; it’s about using your words to express yourself in a way that resonates with people.

Having purpose in mind is all about using your words to provide motivation, direction, and inspiration to others.

When you know what your purpose is in life and you’re in the right frame of mind, everything will be incredibly easy.

Don’t just speak; be meaningful.

3) You’ll recognize your purpose when life gets busy, and you know where to go

There’s a point in life where you’ll have to find your center, and this is the one place that remains consistent.

Once you know what makes you tick, you’ll be able to go there when everything else feels like it’s out of balance.

You’ll know your purpose in life once there’s a constant reminder that your center lies within yourself through all the busy madness.

Knowing all this, what would you say if I asked you what your purpose is right now?

A month ago, I would’ve closed my eyes and sighed. I had no idea.

The problem is that there are far too many fake gurus out there ready to sell you on unrealistic and ineffective solutions.

Here’s the crazy thing: Visualization and fake positive vibes won’t bring you closer to your dreams, and they can actually drag you backwards into time-wasting, idle fantasy and frustration.

You can end up trying so hard and not finding the answers you need that your life and dreams begin to feel hopeless. You may end up further back than where you started, miserable, alone and angry.

Before you can experience a real change, you need to really know your purpose.

I learned about the power of purpose from watching Ideapod co-founder Justin Brown’s video on the hidden trap of improving yourself.

After watching the video, I discovered my purpose in life and it’s no exaggeration to say it was a turning point in my life.

Click here to watch the video.

4) You’ll find comfort in your thoughts

Imagine having to speak with every thought that comes to mind; some people are more verbal than others, but this doesn’t mean they’re more purposeful.

When your thoughts reach a point where they’re more comforting and therapeutic than ever before, this is the perfect time to let them out.

Your inner voice will remind you of who you are and it’s important to regularly ask yourself what matters most.

It’s a divine feeling when you honestly answer this question in a way that resonates with your heart and soul.

Being purposeful is not just about being spiritual or having a mission; it’s about knowing who you are, thinking for yourself, and letting your thoughts guide you.

5) You’ll know your purpose when you no longer shy away from outside help

As powerful as love is, there’s a big difference between loving someone and being dependent upon them.

When you reach a point where everything you do takes much effort, but you no longer fear to ask for help, this is the best indicator that you know who you are.

This is because when everything comes naturally to you, it’s absolutely normal to feel like putting your life into the hands of others.

Doubt comes when there are too many options or paths to choose from.

So, when you are aligned, you’ll be incredibly grateful for the help when it’s offered, but don’t let yourself become a burden on those around you.

Start creating who you are; that is the task of a purposeful life.

“Happiness is within. It has nothing to do with how much applause you get or how many people praise you. Happiness comes when you believe that you have done something truly meaningful.” – Martin Yan

6) You’ll know your purpose in life when you find yourself doing what you love more often

One of the most important things in life is understanding that balance is absolutely essential to feeling happy and fulfilled.

Do what you love, but also do things that aren’t on your list of favorites; this is how you’ll find balance.

If you don’t have a passion or purpose, then you’re naturally going to burn out before long or feel unsatisfied with life at some point.

You’ll know who you are by taking things off your list of likes and dislikes, in order to do what you love most.

When everything feels like a chore, it’s time to rethink your priorities. It’s all about knowing where to find genuine balance for the best outcome.

Clarity will come when you make a decision that is aligned with what matters most to your soul.

7) You’ll recognize your purpose in life when you discover the hidden talents that you’ve always had

“Everyone has been made for some particular work and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.” – Jalaluddin Rumi

One of the most surprising ways to know who you are is to discover the hidden talents that you’ve always possessed.

Your talents will be what makes everything else work in your life and it’s important to appreciate them and share them with others.

When you finally make up your mind about what you like and don’t like, it gives you the best foundation to build from. It may be hard to take that first step, but once you know where you belong and what you like, it will start becoming much easier.

You’ll be surprised at the ability that you have when you unleash your hidden talents.

Everything that’s happening in your life is pointing you in the right direction, if you’re just willing to open your eyes.

8) Your purpose will show up when you feel a sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself, something that no one can take away from you

When you feel like you must do things because you have no choice, but a sense of belonging when all goes well, this is the sign that you’re on track.

When everything comes easy, it’s the best proof that your purpose has shown up to guide and support you.

When everything is going well and there’s a meaning behind what you’re doing, the feeling of belonging will inspire more tranquility.

This doesn’t mean that you need outside confirmation that you’re supposed to do something; it’s about coming from a place of authenticity and genuine intention.

This is how you’ll know that you were made to be exactly who you are; it just took a while to figure out the details of your life.

There’s a reason why you were born in this time and place, so don’t take it for granted.

9) Your purpose will come to light when you realize every action, word and deed for the rest of your life is aligned with this one thing — this one true thing — and nothing else matters

Movement and action are the only things that can lead you to where you need to be in life.

Your life has no meaning in doing anything that isn’t purposeful, and this is when everything becomes simple.

You’ll know what to do next and it’s usually because of your center, inner voice, or intuition. It’s the one thing that no one can take away from you. You can feel free to be who you are and do what makes sense.

But did you know that your birth date and name also hold significant power?

If you’d like to get a personalized breakdown of their meanings, click here to get your free numerological reading.

10) Your purpose will show up when you learn that the blanket is not made of fabric, but love

When the meaning of your life is not in the fabric of your life, but the love that you share with those around you, this is the sign that you know who you are. It’s all about recognizing what matters most without forgetting about everything else.

Love is the only way to bring about the best in everyone around you, so it’s important to show love no matter what.

It doesn’t matter what you do for a living or where you live, as long as you’re surrounded by love and compassion.

This will come naturally when your mind is perfectly in tune with your heart.

So, what is purpose?

Purpose is not about wealth.

We have all been raised to understand that wealth and success are about achieving your goals and desires, a lifestyle that allows you to be happy, comfortable and at peace, with yourself and those around you.

Everyone needs a sense of purpose in life, because it provides you with direction and motivation.

Purpose is the reason why you’re alive and you don’t have to look outside yourself for this one. It’s within reach once you know what to do, where to go and how to feel.

Your true objective will appear when there is harmony between what’s truly important and what’s not so important in your life.

Without a doubt, this happens when your mind and heart are perfectly aligned with one another or on the same page; all decisions should be made based on what’s best for both parts of yourself together.

When you know who you are, and why you were born into this world, you’ll know what to do.

This is when peace, joy and love will surround you like a blanket; it’s the one place left where you belong. There are no boundaries and everything in life is possible.

How to know your purpose?

You’ll know your purpose when you’re living by your own rules, pacing your own journey, and following your own heartbeat. This is when every decision makes sense, and it is coming from a place of inner harmony.

Your life will become an adventure of its own accord because it’s something that feels right for you.

Keep asking yourself: What does my soul need in this lifetime?

In time you’ll notice that your mind, heart, and spirit have no problem coming to a consensus on what to do next.

It’s all about knowing what matters most and making every decision based on love, peace and joy.

You’re not just floating through this lifetime without direction; you’re using every part of your being to come up with a plan for the future.

This is when everything comes together at once, because it’s meant to be that way.

Are you in or out of balance?

When your mind and heart are not in sync with one another, it will be difficult to find where you need to go. This can happen if you are constantly comparing yourself to others and the world around you.

You’ll never find your true purpose and inner light if you keep evaluating yourself by how well you’re doing when it doesn’t matter.

You’ll find yourself moving backward in life, doing things for others instead of finding the real meaning of purpose.

What this means is that you’ll be doing things because they make sense to someone else, instead of doing the things that make sense to you, simply because they are directed by your passion and intuition.

What’s truly important will always be in line with what makes sense, instead of the opposite.

Check our list below and think about whether some of these statements align with your current state of self.

• You’re not in tune with your mind, heart and spirit
• Your life is falling apart and it’s just not working out.
• People around you are getting in the way of what’s best for yourself.
• You’re trying to do things that are not aligned with who you really are.
• You’re not letting yourself be who you really are.
• You’re settling for less than what you deserve in life.
• You’re using your physical presence to keep you from living the life that you were meant to live.
• You don’t know who you are and why you got into this world.
• You don’t know how to live or how to feel.
• You don’t know what’s best for yourself, your family, or your friends.

The pillars of a positive and meaningful life

When you are able to make a conscious decision on what’s best for yourself, life will give you the tools to get there.

There isn’t any other way around it and there isn’t any better way to live your life if you’re doing what’s best for yourself.

Your purpose will show up when you take the time needed to clear out all the things that aren’t necessary in your life; it’s about cutting the unnecessary parts.

I suggest you try and always come back to the following universal truths:

• Purpose will show up when you stop searching outside yourself for answers that don’t exist.
• Purpose will show up when you make sense of the chaos in your life.
• Purpose will show up when you decide to follow your heart’s every beat.
• Purpose will show up when you decide to live by your own rules.
• Purpose will show up when you get over what others think and decide to do the things that make sense to you.
• Purpose will show up when there’s nothing left keeping you from happiness.

Essential activities that can help you (re)discover your primary mission

Below you’ll find a list of activities that you can use to boost your odds of living a truly meaningful and fulfilled life.

• Journaling – express yourself and how you feel; it will set your soul free.
• Mantras – speak what’s true in your soul and open up the channel for the Universe to speak through you.
• Feng Shui – it makes you aware of your surroundings, where you are and what’s around.
• Reiki – it’s a beautiful and powerful energy that can heal you on all levels.
• Herbal medicines – they allow the healing power of nature to take over; they’re a quick and easy way to get more clarity.
• Humming sounds – create your own tunes with humming and harmonizing; it will help you tune into your soul.
• Crystal gazing – hold a crystal in your hands, look into the crystal’s flames and be guided to your life’s purpose.
• Nature walks – walking and being outside will help you focus on what’s really important in life; it will also make space for new ideas to come through.
• Prayer walks – take a hike deep into nature and use it to find peace and clarity.
• Dinners with inspiring people – sitting down for a nice meal and talking about what’s important in life will help you find yourself.
• Mindful living and breathing techniques – put your focus on the things that are happening right now, as they’re happening.
• Go to a spa, get a massage and take some time out of your life to relax your body and mind.
• Exercise – nothing beats getting into the flow; the more you move the more you’ll get clarity.
• Workshops – expand your consciousness and learn new things that can teach you how you can create your own purpose.
• Chanting – make up your own tune and keep repeating it; put your focus on the words and tune into yourself.
• Calligraphy – write positive words that represent how you want to feel; read them on a daily basis and make space for them to happen.

Apart from these, I want to share something personal with you that changed my life.

I mentioned it earlier – the incredible video by Justin Brown.

You see, a lot of the methods I gave you above may work, but equally, like I did, they may miss the mark. When I tried popular new-age methods, they actually led me further from finding my purpose rather than closer.

But now I see my life path with much more clarity. With Justin’s guidance, I finally found what I’m passionate about and I’ve learned how to center my life around it.

That’s why I always recommend The Hidden Trap video to anyone who’s facing a similar situation.

Click here to find out more.

The amazing journey to your soul’s aspiration

Nobody is born knowing what their main objective is. It takes a lot of work and a lot of energy to find who you really are.

Some people say that it’s destiny or fate and many think that it’s in the stars, but there’s no one answer that can contain everything about your purpose.

Your purpose will keep showing up until you make sure you’re ready for it, but there won’t be a point where it appears out of nowhere or just be there waiting for you at the end of your journey.

Everyone goes through their own process, but there are many common processes or phases that people go through before they find their true selves and finally see what their purpose in life is.

This isn’t something that normally happens overnight or even something that happens within a year.

There will be ups and downs along the way, but with the right mindset, you can make it through to the other side and awaken the purest part of yourself.

Just like anything else in life, it takes time and effort. It takes work on your own behalf, but it’s worth every second you put into it.

You need to keep putting in the work no matter how hard it seems at first and stop looking for any shortcuts. You’re not a machine and there isn’t a single formula that works for everyone.

Everyone is unique and everyone has their own process to finding their true selves.

There will be times when it feels like the answer is right in front of you, but then it just slips through your fingers. It’s normal to feel disappointed and discouraged, but don’t let any of that get in the way of your journey.

Your purpose can show up at any time or at any place and you might find yourself right there next to it, without even knowing that it was right there all along.

5 main stages of finding your purpose in life

1) Awakening to your potential

Think about your journey and let the answers come to you naturally.

Your purpose is always connected to your entire life. Like the backside of a coin, there are two sides to it and you need to find out which one is the real side and which one isn’t.

2) Finding your passion

In order to find out which of your interests are purely for fun and which ones have the potential to become something more, you need to explore your sense of curiosity.

“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” – Bishop T.D. Jakes

3) Setting the right mindset

If you’re not fully present in what you do every day, or if you’re distracted by things that don’t really matter, then it’s time to change something.

Allow yourself to notice what your subconscious is trying to tell you.

4) Finding your voice

Find the source of your strength and power, it doesn’t matter if it comes from within or from the people around you.

5) Finding your truth

You are your greatest gift to the world, and it’s up to you to discover what makes you unique and special.

Mantras that will help you find your purpose in life

No matter how far or where you’ve gone in life, all the answers you need are within yourself. The mantras below can be very helpful:

“I am my purpose”

“I’m doing what I came here to do, even if it doesn’t always seem that way.

“I’m being true to myself, now and forever.”

“I am who I am and this is where I’m meant to be.”

“I don’t have to look outside myself for guidance.”

“My true purpose will appear when there is harmony between mind, heart and spirit.”

“I’ll meet every challenge head on and stand up for what I believe in.”

“Everything that happens in my life is leading me to my purpose.”

“Everything that happens around me is a reminder of who I am.”

“I know that wherever I go and whatever I do, I am always enough.”

“I know who I am and why I’m here.”

“I am at peace with myself, my life and this world.”

Conclusion

What we want you to take away from this article is that it’s never too late to change and find your life’s purpose.

You are the only one who can make a change; however, you can do it, if you’re willing to do whatever is necessary.

You have a lot of work cut out for you but at the end of the day, your life will be changed by taking action.

When you create space for the big picture to come in, you’ll also have the strength to ignore naysayers who say it’s impossible or wrong for you to live that way.

Life’s limitations will no longer bother you.

Keep in mind that some people are naturally inquisitive while others have a genuine desire for spiritual growth; this doesn’t always translate into knowing their purpose in life.

However, when you’re capable of finding an answer to every question that comes your way, it’s a sign that life is beginning to make sense. It’s about finding those answers and moving on from there.

You’ll realize that taking life as it comes is the best way to live.

Additionally, you’ll experience an undeniable feeling of tranquility, no matter where life takes you, who surrounds you and how many challenges await at every turn.

When everything feels like a roller coaster, you’ll naturally want to take things into your own hands.

Some might say you won’t be even afraid to die – you’ll be too busy doing the things that matter most to even think about it!

“Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write if they are ultimately to be at peace with themselves. What humans can be, they must be.” – Abraham Maslow