How to find your purpose in life

We’ve seen how knowing our purpose helps us to succeed in a changing world.

We also know that living in line with our purpose brings us extra focus and energy, increases our ability to adapt, and even changes our genes.

So how do we find out what our purpose is?

Some people just seem to know what their purpose is. But for the rest of us, the best way to make a start is by following these four steps. They will give you a ‘first pass’ purpose that you can try out, see how it fits, and refine and improve as you go forward.

Start by answering these three questions:

1. What are your two best qualities?
   What are the two best qualities you bring to the world? Not skills or knowledge but qualities.
   (If you find it difficult to pick just two, ask some trusted friends. Listen to their answers, keep what you like, ignore what you don’t. And then pick the two qualities you think best describe you: qualities you love to express, which summarise the essence of who you are.)
2. How do you love expressing these qualities?
   Next, describe how you most love putting these qualities into practice.
   (You might describe this in terms of the way you like to apply your best qualities or in terms of the outcomes you love to create. Do this in whatever way works for you.)
   How do you most love…