If You Know, You Know

I always encounter people who are struggling with purpose.  Many feel that they simply do not know what theirs is!   Knowing, in this context, centers on the ability to recognize.  A lack of self awareness can hinder that capacity for recognition.  

When you recognize something, you can establish its identity based on previous experience or familiarity.  Your purpose is joined together with your very being, so if you can’t recognize it, maybe you are unfamiliar with your true self.  

Experiencing your authentic self is a crucial step in identifying  when a role, task, or state of being actually resonates with it.  If you know you, you will know your purpose and vice versa.  Here are some tips for bringing awareness to your authentic self: 

Spend Time Alone

Be intentional about creating boundaries that allow you to have alone time that works with your lifestyle.  Even if you can’t physically be alone, maybe you can use headphones and clear communication with those in your household to black out a certain time period for you to be alone with your own thoughts.  During that time, reflect on your experiences and ask yourself open-ended questions.  

Revisit Things You Enjoyed in Childhood

Try indulging in your favorite childhood pleasures to reconnect with who you were before the world had a major influence.  The music you listened to, television shows you watched, and books you enjoyed reading, just might contain patterns that illuminate an authentic characteristic or passion. 

Journal or Voice Record

Helping your inner thoughts to flow into a tangible form can help you discover or rediscover parts of yourself.  Journaling can be a great way to capture that stream of consciousness.  If writing isn’t your thing, try voice recording instead.  

Pay Attention to Problems You Enjoy Solving

Can you spend hours fixing certain things, figuring something out, or looking for solutions to specific types of problems?  Next time, you’re in your zone, narrow down the particular part of that process that captivates you.  Is there anything similar to that element anywhere else in your life?

Allow Yourself to Daydream 

If you have stopped daydreaming or otherwise using your imagination, make space for that. Our daydreams often center on things we wish we had more of in our lives.  They could contain clues to the things that reflect the core characteristics that are stifled or dormant.

As you get to know you, you will recognize those characteristics and passions when they show up in the process of learning your purpose.