What exactly is "purpose?" Moreover, what are the ways we can seek purpose? Here are some tricks you can use to find your purpose more easily.

1.     Get clear on your goals. One way people seek purpose is through achievement. To seek purpose through achievement, you could start a project or take on a leadership role at church or work. This strategy can provide a quick boost in feelings of purpose. However, you might feel amazing when you achieve something you have been striving for, but do not expect those feelings to last. So be sure to try the other strategies below to get longer-term boosts in well-being.

2.     Get creative. Another way to cultivate life's purpose is by being innovative. When we are creative (perhaps through art, music, writing, making videos, or starting our own business), we feel good about creating something that future generations may experience. Being creative can also help us open our minds and feel more connected to others who are different.

3.     Do your best. A third way to find life's purpose is by building expertise and doing your best. We can often feel a sense of purpose when we excel at something (at work or in a hobby) and can offer insights that did not previously exist. For example, you could strive to be an expert in your field, help the world or planet uniquely, or strive to win an award for your work. This approach can help us feel knowledgeable, which feels good. However, again, this approach often leads to a short-term boost in purpose, so be sure to try being creative or prosocial.

4.     Be prosocial. One of the best ways to cultivate life’s purpose is to be prosocial. Being more prosocial means being kind, compassionate, and generous–by doing so, you may feel more aligned with your values and ethics. To be more prosocial, you could try community service, helping struggling others, or joining a program to clean up the environment. When you are prosocial, you might start to feel that you are providing something that helps others and are living a life of integrity. Indeed, purpose is most easily found by having positive interactions with others.

References

Hill, P. L., Burrow, A. L., Brandenberger, J. W., Lapsley, D. K., & Quaranto, J. C. (2010). Collegiate purpose orientations and well-being in early and middle adulthood. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 31(2), 173–179.