A Sense of Purpose

​At several times throughout my life, I’ve felt adrift and as if my life was lacking in purpose. Most often, these periods of what I felt were aimlessness were actually the periods that immediately preceded me finding a new, greater sense of purpose.
 
It’s natural from time to time to feel like you’ve lost your sense of forward movement; your feeling of contributing to something greater than yourself. These feelings may arise during times of contentment, when you’re feeling safe in secure within your overall life situation. They may come when your children grow up and move away. They may come when you’re working a job that just doesn’t seem to allow you to contribute anything meaningful in the world (one of mine was when I was doing marketing writing for a company that made industrial automation equipment – I was utterly bored and knew that my work truly had very little value).
 
What I’ve discovered in my own life, however, is that a sense of purposelessness isn’t necessarily me driving a rudderless ship. Instead, it is a state of openness, where I am ready for something new and significant to enter my life. And typically, it doesn’t take much time after I’ve identified that feeling before something new enters that allows me to feel directed and driven as I move forward towards something important.
 
Do you feel your life lacks purpose or meaning? Here are some strategies to try to help as you move forward.
 
Acknowledge the Feeling
If you’ve read my articles before, then you’ve probably seen me say this before: just the fact of acknowledging something brings it to light and begins the process of change. Instead of ignoring it, allow yourself to truly feel your purposelessness, noting how it feels in your body, mind, and spirit. Be with the feeling with no requirements other than the experience that it is there.

Reframe It
Once you’ve been with the feeling for a while, redefine it. Is it purposelessness you are feeling, or are you in a state of open readiness, willing to accept what the universe brings next? Being in a state of open readiness lets the universe know you are ready and willing for something new and significant.
 
Set Your Intention
Intention is the precursor to action. Deliberately (aloud, in writing, in prayer, in meditation, or however you talk to the universe) state your intention for new purpose to come into your life. In other words, ask for it. Express gratitude that before you have asked, the universe has already answered, and it is on the way.
 
Don’t Force It
Being without purpose can feel empty, but that doesn’t mean you should force yourself into something new just for the sake of having a purpose. Events in the universe take time to unfold sometimes, and it would be a shame to be tied up with busywork and totally miss it when THE THING you’ve been seeking comes along. Likewise, trying to force purpose may limit the universe, which is prepared to bring you the very thing you need if you allow it.
 
Say Yes!
When you exist in a state of open readiness, the universe will bring you exactly what you need, but it’s still up to you to say yes when it arrives. How will you recognize it? Because inside, there will be a knowing that, whatever it may be, this is the right thing for you to do, the right path for you to follow, the exact place you need to be. Don’t let fear of the unknown hold you back. When the opportunity arises, grab it with both hands expressing gratitude that the universe provided you with exactly what you needed, when you needed it.
 
Embracing the Space
It’s natural from time to time to feel like your life lacks purpose, but these times don’t need to be difficult. Instead of feeling lost or empty, know the universe is conspiring in your favor to bring you the perfect opportunity you need to move forward in the interest of your greatest and highest good. In the meantime, move into the space in gratitude, knowing you are sitting in a place of readiness for the perfect opportunity to come along that will support you on your path.