These are two HUGE elements you need to create a happy life.
If you already know what your purpose in life is, you might also have already found that you won’t be able to fulfill it without setting up actionable steps.
Annnnnnd, that’s where Samantha comes in!
To live intentionally, you must align your goals with your purpose in life.
Do you feel like you’re a bystander in your own life?
I can relate.
For many years, I felt like a fly on the wall, watching my life unfold from a distance. I didn’t think my existence would ever have meaning.
I wasn’t sure what my purpose was.
As a young adult, I started actively seeking my purpose in life. It bothered me that I didn’t have the motivation to do anything for myself. I went to college and got a job, but I did those things because my family wanted me to.
I didn’t have my own purpose in mind.
One day, I created a blog and started posting my writing online. I loved it.
Blogging was the first thing that truly felt right to me. From that day, I knew that my purpose was to create content and share it with the world.
Now, I make sure my life goals align with my purpose of creating content to help others—and I’ve never been happier!
From my experiences, I’ve learned how crucial it is to set goals that align with my life purpose, and you should do the same.
Don’t ignore the signs that you’re not in alignment with your purpose.
If you dread Mondays, hate your job, or don’t feel happy in life, something needs to change.
Maybe you’re like me and you spent years chasing someone else’s dream. Or perhaps you simply feel like your life doesn’t have meaning.
Either way, it’s time to figure out what fulfills you.
Once you’re in alignment, you’ll feel motivated to achieve your goals.
Lack of motivation is a sign that you might not know your purpose in life.
Purpose is driven by passion. As long as both your purpose and goals are in alignment, your passion will motivate you to work toward your goals.
If you struggle with motivation, it’s likely that your purpose and goals don’t align.
You might feel like something’s missing.
You don’t have to feel unhappy every day when you wake up. In fact, you shouldn’t.
If you discover your purpose, you’ll wake up ready to slay the day and take steps toward achieving your goals.
You’ll view each new day as an opportunity instead of an obligation.
Every person has a unique purpose in life.
Your individual purpose is important because it sets you apart from all the other people in the world.
Your purpose determines the impact you’ll make on society.
Just think about it. There are over 7 billion people on Earth. Each person plays a specific role in the global community. That includes you!
Society isn’t shaped by individual people. It’s a group effort.
But in order to make an impact, you must find your unique purpose and fulfill it alongside the other people in the world.
Your life purpose is a marriage of your skills, interests, and talents.
It’s not always easy to discover your purpose in life. Some people know their purpose from an early age, but that’s not usually the case.
If you’re not sure what your purpose is, ask yourself these questions:
- Which skills do I have?
- What am I interested in?
- What am I naturally good at?
When you find the perfect combination of your skills, interests, and talents, that’s when the real magic happens.
Although talents come naturally, skills and interests can develop over time. When looking for your life purpose, you don’t have to confine your search to the things you’re already good at.
Here’s an example: You feel passionate about writing, but grammar isn’t your strong suit. You can read books, watch informational videos, or take an online course to improve your grammar skills.
If you’ve truly found your life purpose, you’ll feel driven to develop your skills in that area. You just need to set actionable goals to fulfill your aspirations.
Go deep and look beyond the superficial to find your purpose.
You’re unlikely to find fulfillment in superficial things like money, fame, and power. Stay away from those ideas when you’re thinking about your purpose in life.
I once dated a man who swore that money made him happier than anything else in life. But after getting to know him, I found out that he really wasn’t happy at all.
Although money might temporarily buy happiness, it can’t sustain joy in the long-term. However, if you spend each day working toward goals that fulfill your purpose in life, you’ll feel happy and satisfied.
Get to the root of what motivates you.
Motivation can be fleeting, especially if you’re unsure of your purpose.
Ask yourself these questions to figure out what motivates you:
- What makes you happy?
- What are you passionate about?
- What makes you feel alive?
In my opinion, the third question is the most powerful.
When I started my blog, I realized that creating content made me feel alive more than anything else.
After that, my whole outlook on life changed. Instead of feeling like a zombie when I woke up every morning, I felt full of life.
Once you know your purpose, organize your goals and activities around it.
Even if you aren’t 100 percent sure about your purpose yet, it’s okay. As long as you have an idea of what it could be, you’re ready for this step.
Know the value of time. If you spend time on the wrong things, your personal growth won’t progress as quickly.
Your goals must align with your purpose. Your activities must align with your goals.
This could mean…
- Writing poetry instead of playing video games.
- Taking an online course instead of going to the bar.
- Reading a book instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media.
Eliminate distractions. Be intentional with your time every day. You’ll experience growth like never before!
Assess your current goals and make sure they align with your purpose.
I spent most of my life doing things that other people wanted me to do. My goals weren’t in alignment with my purpose.
Once I finally discovered my purpose in life, I had to reassess my goals.
Some of my family members wanted me to get a PhD or go to law school, but I realized I didn’t want to do those things. I wanted to focus on my blog.
Therefore, I shifted my focus and set new goals to help me become a professional blogger.
As soon as I aligned my goals with my purpose in life, my motivation skyrocketed!
Set new S.M.A.R.T. goals.
The “S.M.A.R.T.” method will help you set goals that are organized, focused, and achievable.
S.M.A.R.T. stands for:
S – Specific: Make sure your goal is unambiguous. Get very specific about what you want to achieve.
M – Measurable: You’ll want to make sure you have a benchmark to measure your progress. That way, you can celebrate your success!
A – Attainable: There’s nothing wrong with setting big goals. However, it’s important to choose goals that are attainable.
If you have really big goals, try breaking them down into mini-goals or “steps” along the way to achieving the larger goal. That way, you can shoot for the stars without getting burned out along the way.
R – Relevant: Make sure your goals are relevant to your life purpose!
T – Time-bound: For every goal you set, you want to make sure you also set a deadline. This isn’t meant to stress you out. Instead, it’s supposed to motivate you!
Goals without deadlines are often lost or forgotten.
But if you set an end date for your goal, you’ll keep it at the forefront of your mind.
If you set S.M.A.R.T. goals that align with your life purpose, you’ll be unstoppable!
Create a personal mantra to stay focused.
A personal mantra is one word or statement that inspires you to fulfill your purpose in life. It’s simply an affirmation that motivates you, keeps you on track, and reminds you of who you are.
Mine is “Create and inspire.”
When you choose your mantra, try to keep it short and sweet. It doesn’t have to be super-specific. Just make sure it’s in alignment with your purpose and goals!
Once you have your mantra, keep it in sight. Scribble it in your planner. Write it on a sticky note and put it on your bathroom mirror. Make it your phone wallpaper.
Your mantra will be more effective if you look at it often!
Are your purpose, goals, and activities in alignment?
It’s easier said than done. However, I can assure you that once you strike the right balance, your life will finally make sense!
Samantha Warren is a self-improvement blogger from Florida. She writes about how to be productive, maintain a positive mindset, and make the best of every situation. With her content, she aims to help you achieve personal growth so you can be the star of your own show!
Always be happy,
Britney