Purpose is a word that we hear a lot in today’s society. But what does it actually mean to live with purpose and how can we live with purpose each and every day? Living with purpose is living your life by doing the things that you love, in alignment with who you are. It’s about living your life with authenticity, knowing that each day you are contributing towards something much bigger. That thing is your purpose.
Trust your intuition
Your purpose is specific to you. This is one thing that must be stressed. Your path is your own and your purpose is your own. I can’t tell you what that means for you, only you know what that means for you. Have you ever experienced those times in life when you just feel right? You feel like you are on the right path – YOUR path – and that everything is happening for you, not against you. This is a sign that you are following your purpose, a sign that you mustn’t ignore and instead continue to follow.
Trust your intuition. There’s a reason why that voice inside is telling you to do this instead of that, or to attend that event instead of staying at home. When you are in alignment everything seems to come naturally, things almost feel easy at times. You are completely sure of yourself, even when you experience fear, you don’t doubt yourself or look for ways out.
Forget what others think
I remember when Covid-19 first hit – I was in China at the time. Many people were telling me to leave the country but I didn’t want to. Something inside of me was telling me “Tony, live through this”. What followed turned out to be one of the best times of my life. I had wonderful times with my friends, from going to empty parks together, to talking about our situation and how surreal it was to experience something like that. I also met my then-girlfriend who I’m so grateful for, and built up a lot of resilience just to name a few things.
This wouldn’t have been possible if I had ignored myself and what I wanted, just to escape from a situation that seemed terrible to others. Ironically the lockdowns lasted much longer in the UK – during that period – than they did in China.
When we aren’t living with purpose, life constantly feels clouded and we aren’t making the progress that we truly wish to make. We also lack motivation because there is no clear direction in how we are living our lives. This can result in us not evolving or growing and ultimately diminish the relationship we have with ourselves.
Seize the day
Living a purpose-driven life is about living purpose-driven days. A good question to ask is: what can I do today to ensure that I am living in line with my purpose? This helps to break down our days into purpose-driven moments which can add so much colour and value to our lives!
My purpose is to empower others through communication. Last night I decided that I would write a blog about purpose, thanks to the suggestion of my good friend Will. Writing this blog aligns with my purpose and therefore helps me to live a fulfilling day. Although every day isn’t productive for me, aligning my day with my purpose helps me to feel better about myself and assure me that I’m still on the right path.
This is what it’s all about. We all wish to live fulfilling lives where we feel authentic and proud of who we are and what we are doing. But to live a fulfilling life means to live fulfilling days. Start now, live with purpose each day and shape your life to the way that suits you. You owe it to yourself.
Thanks for reading,
Tony.
