{"id":71937,"date":"2022-07-12T13:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-12T17:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=71937"},"modified":"2022-07-20T13:29:45","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T17:29:45","slug":"understanding-your-purpose-in-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/understanding-your-purpose-in-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Understand Your Purpose in Life With This Easy Activity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are the simplest ways of understanding your purpose in life<\/a>? How can understanding your purpose improve your life? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simon Sinek<\/a> argues that finding your Why\u2014or purpose\u2014can help you make better choices in your work and your life that lead to greater fulfillment. That\u2019s what he found in his own life after struggling with depression until he identified his purpose<\/a>: \u201cTo inspire people to do what inspires them so that, together, we can change our world for the better.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn more about Sinek’s simple exercise for understanding your purpose in life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why Should You Understand Your Purpose in Life?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Purpose-driven people and organizations are more successful and fulfilled, and they contribute more to the world around them, according to Simon Sinek, best-selling author, coach, and popular TED Talk speaker. Find Your Why<\/a> <\/em>distills Sinek\u2019s theory and his experience working with organizations and individuals into a workbook you can follow to understand your purpose in life and your strengths, or those of your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Sinek, understanding your purpose in life means finding the single core belief that inspires you to do the work you choose to do and be the person you want to be<\/a> in all spheres of your life. He believes every individual and organization has a purpose, though not everyone has discovered theirs or put it into words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Purpose Discussion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To determine your Why and come up with a written statement, Sinek and his co-authors created a step-by-step process that individuals and groups can follow in a group discussion or workshop. Sinek\u2019s process for understanding your purpose in life helps you or your team explore past experiences for insight into what moves you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this process, you\u2019ll identify important stories in your personal or company experience, share them with a partner or group facilitator, and pull out themes. You\u2019ll then distill these themes to write your Why or purpose statement<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: While Sinek argues that you can find your purpose by looking inward, Viktor Frankl argues the opposite in Man\u2019s Search for Meaning<\/em><\/a>. He contends that you can only find meaning out in the world\u2014in other people or causes\u2014not in your own mind<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stage 1: Tell Your Stories<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To begin, share the stories you came up with with your partner. While you share, they should do two things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n