my life purpose essay

21 Life Purpose Examples To Help You Write Yours

As kids, we are asked what we want to be when we grow up.

At that age, our answers are often simple: doctor, fireman, scientist.

Once we get to college or start working, our outlook on the future becomes more complicated.

Our goals are less oriented towards purpose but rather towards success.

However, to live happily, our views of success should align with a sense of purpose.

There are many different kinds of purposes of life to pursue, but it’s essential to find something that brings joy and fulfillment to your life.

To visualize and actualize your future goals, consider writing a life purpose statement.

We have put together fifteen life purpose statement examples to inspire you to write yours.

Why You Should Write a Life Purpose Statement

1. making a community contribution, 2. prioritizing home and family, 3. finding career success, 4. living authentically, 5. enjoying creative expression, 6. inspiring others, 7. fostering connections, 8. living mindfully, 9. achieving life balance, 10. protecting the environment, 11. raising successful children, 12. living with joy, 13. leaving a legacy, 14. making others happy, 15. teaching children.

Writing a life purpose statement can help focus your goals and motivate you to pursue them. Finding this motivation and channeling it into reality is easier when you explicitly articulate what you want to achieve.

Here are a few of the benefits of writing a life purpose statement:

Increased drive and motivation
Focused mindset to achieve your goals and purpose
Clear path to success based on your “why”
Sense of fulfillment knowing you're guided by something vital and meaningful

21 Life Purpose Examples

Now that you're convinced writing a statement reflecting your life purpose, here are a variety of examples.

Each one focuses on an area of life that may be meaningful to you.

If you resonate with more than one of these statements, consider combining them to expand your own to include a broader purpose.

“My life purpose is to stand up for issues that I believe in and to contribute positively to my community. I want to leave the world knowing that I made it a better place.”

If you care deeply about social issues or giving back to your community, this life purpose statement may work for your goals.

women talking in office Life Purpose Examples

In your own statement, feel free to get more specific about how you plan to contribute to your community.

“I hope to build a loving home with my family and to care for my children. I want to support their endeavors while still leaving time for my passions. I will be the best version of myself so that I can lead my children by example.”

For those who find a strong sense of purpose from family, consider a statement like this. Ask yourself how you are personally fulfilled through family, and what you want your life to look like.

“My life purpose is to find success in my career. I would like to be a notable person among my peers and be valued for my contributions to my field. My hope is that I will retire feeling fulfilled with what I have accomplished.”

Many people’s life purposes are centered around careers, as they find happiness through achieving success and contributing to society.

It may be helpful to specify your particular field, the goals you may have, and why your career gives you a sense of purpose.

“The purpose of my life is to be my true self , uninhibited by fear. I want to inspire others to live authentically and with passion.”

This statement is an example for those who value being honest, open, and living their truth. Start by questioning what your passions are and how they empower you.

Define what living authentically means to you and how you hope to achieve that.

“My goal in life is to harness my creativity and imagination to unearth truths about myself, my community, and society at large. I want to pose challenging ideas through my art.”

Many artists have specific mission statements attached to their work. As you grow as an artist, you may find that elements of your statement change, but the central core of your life’s purpose will usually remain the same.

“The purpose of my life is to be a source of light to other people and radiate positivity. I hope to find an inner strength that is inspiring to others.”

Finding peace and modeling that for others is a compelling goal to motivate your self-growth. Many people dedicate their lives to self-improvement and receiving wisdom to pass it on to others.

woman looking at her phone Life Purpose Examples

“My goal in life is to love others unconditionally and foster meaningful connections with people. I want to walk through life with an open hand, being available to form new friendships.”

If you thrive through your connections, this purpose statement may resonate with you. Think about what you are giving to these relationships versus what you are receiving.

How does that impact your purpose?

16. Pursuing Knowledge and Wisdom

“My goal in life is to continuously seek knowledge and wisdom, always striving to learn more about the world and myself. I want to absorb as much as I can, turning every experience into a learning opportunity.”

If you are naturally curious and find joy in learning and personal growth, this purpose might speak to you. Consider how your quest for knowledge enriches not only your life but also how it can positively influence those around you.

How does this pursuit shape your interactions and decisions?

17. Promoting Health and Wellbeing

“My life's mission is to promote health and well-being, both for myself and others. I aim to be a beacon of healthy living, inspiring and guiding others towards a balanced lifestyle.”

If you are passionate about health and believe in the transformative power of a healthy lifestyle, this purpose could resonate with you. Reflect on how your actions and choices can contribute to a healthier community and how this commitment to well-being influences your sense of purpose.

18. Advancing Technological or Scientific Innovation

“I am dedicated to pushing the boundaries of technology and science to create solutions that improve our lives. My purpose is to innovate, discover, and contribute to the progress of humanity through my work.”

If you are driven by a desire to innovate and solve complex problems, this purpose statement may align with your aspirations.

Think about the impact of your innovations on society and how they reflect your personal values and purpose.

19. Championing Social Justice and Equality

“My purpose is to champion social justice and equality, to stand up for what is right, and to make a tangible difference in the fight against inequality. I am committed to creating a more just and equitable world for all.”

If you are moved by a sense of fairness and a desire to advocate for those who are marginalized, this purpose might resonate deeply with you.

Consider how your actions can contribute to lasting change and how this pursuit aligns with your core beliefs.

20. Exploring and Preserving Cultural Heritage

“I am passionate about exploring and preserving cultural heritage, ensuring that the rich tapestry of our past is celebrated and maintained for future generations. My purpose is to connect with history and share its lessons and beauty with the world.”

Do you have a deep appreciation for culture and history and want to ensure its preservation? If so, this purpose statement could speak to you.

Reflect on how this passion helps you connect with others and the past, enriching your life and those around you.

21. Fostering Spiritual Growth or Enlightenment

“My life's goal is to foster spiritual growth, both in myself and in others. I seek enlightenment and a deeper understanding of the spiritual aspects of our existence, hoping to share peace and wisdom along the way.”

Maybe your path is deeply intertwined with spiritual exploration and growth, and this purpose might align with your innermost values.

Think about how your spiritual journey influences your relationships, your approach to life's challenges, and what it means for your overall purpose.

How Do You Write a Purpose Statement for Your Life?

Crafting a purpose statement for your life might seem like a tall order, but it's really about digging deep and reflecting on what truly drives you. It's your guiding light that helps you navigate through life's ups and downs. Think of it as your own personal North Star, keeping you aligned with what matters most to you.

Here's how to get those thoughts down into a coherent, powerful purpose statement:

1. Reflect on Your Passions

Start by thinking about what gets you out of bed in the morning. What activities make you lose track of time? This isn't just about hobbies; it's about the core drives that give your life meaning and joy. Jot these down, no matter how big or small they seem.

2. Identify Your Values

Your values are the bedrock of your purpose statement. They define what you stand for and what you won't stand for. So, take a moment to list out your top values. Are you all about honesty, creativity, family, independence? Knowing these will help shape your purpose statement.

3. Consider Your Impact

Think about how you want to affect the world around you. What mark do you want to leave on your community, your family, or even the planet? This isn't about grandiose achievements but the real, tangible difference you want to make.

4. Draft Your Statement

With your passions, values, and desired impact in mind, start drafting your statement. Keep it simple and clear. It should resonate with you deeply, almost like a personal mantra that you can turn to in times of doubt or decision-making.

5. Refine and Evolve

Your first draft might not be perfect, and that's okay. Life is dynamic, and so are you. Allow your purpose statement to evolve as you grow and learn. It's a living document, not set in stone.

Remember, your purpose statement is deeply personal. It's for you, about you, and should reflect your unique journey and aspirations. So, take your time, be honest with yourself, and let your true self shine through in your words.

How will you use these life purpose examples?

If you are ever asked the question, “What is your purpose in life?” you now have a better idea of what that answer might be.

Your statement should be personal and specific to your interests and motivations. Use these examples to help craft your personal life purpose statement.

Here are a few different ways to utilize this exercise:

Use it as a professional statement in your resume. Many job applications require a personal mission or professional statement in your resume. Craft your purpose statement to support your career goals.
Write it in a journal, and return back to it when you need to refocus your energies. Just the act of writing your statement reinforces it in your mind.
Discuss it with your significant other. Relationships often work for the long term when both parties share a similar sense of purpose and want to share in each other’s goals.

Refer to your life purpose statement regularly as you make critical decisions or plans for your life.

Use it as your compass to guide you through life's ups and downs, reminding you of the higher reason you live on this planet.

May your purpose in life inspire everything you do today and always.

How to Write a Life Purpose Statement (with 5 Examples)

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We talk about a variety of things here on DGH, but a lot of it comes down to one common theme: how you can improve your sense of fulfillment in life.

Think about it, we’ve talked about:

Living according to your values
Books that you can read to help you find your sense of purpose
Fulfilling hobbies you can adopt
How to find your purpose
Personal development
Reaching your goals
Intrinsic motivation
Self-growth

And that’s only to name a few. The reason for developing good habits in the first place is so you can live a fulfilling and successful life–and only you can define that success .

While some people may see success as an early retirement to be able to spend time with their children, others may have no desire to have children and may perceive success as finding a way to create a career out of their hobby .

Because different people are passionate about and find fulfillment in different things, success can be defined in many different ways.

You can think of your definition of success as your “why” in life . What is the end to all of these means? What ultimate outcome are you searching for and working toward? The answer to this can be found in your life purpose statement, which we are going to talk about today.

But first, let’s pause. When considering what the purpose of your life is, you may feel overwhelmed. You’ve got this one life to live and you don’t want to mess it up, so what are you supposed to be doing with it?

When you look at it like that, it certainly does feel overwhelming. You need to let go of the idea that you were born with one specific purpose to live out and you need to identify what that is in order to do yourself justice.

The truth is, we all exist for however many years, during which, we spend our time doing some important and some unimportant things. The important things that we do help add meaning to our lives and make us happy, while the unimportant things really just help pass time.

So when defining your purpose, you’re really uncovering the ways in which you can spend your time that are ultimately important to you.

Thinking of it this way will do a few things for you. Not only will it take some pressure off, but it will also show you that you can have more than one life purpose statement– and your life purpose statement will likely change with time.

So whatever you end up with today isn’t set in stone for life. But, it will be a good motto to keep in mind for the time being as you’re making your daily/weekly/monthly schedule and prioritizing your life.

Let’s get started by looking at a definition of a life purpose statement and why you may want to write one. Then we will go over a step-by-step process that will guide you through creating your own. Finally, we will review 5 different examples of what a life purpose statement could look like.

Table of Contents

What Is a Life Purpose Statement?

Far too often, we end up chasing after dreams, goals, and careers based on other people’s expectations of us. But when we focus our energy on things we’re not passionate about, we end up living a complacent, unfulfilling life without even really knowing why .

There are very few things that are worse than going through years of hard and demanding work, going nowhere while pursuing the wrong goals.

Living your purpose is a critical part of achieving success and living a fulfilling life. Your purpose connects you to your mission for making your impact on the world and leaving it just a bit better than how you found it.

A life purpose statement is one that clarifies your reason for being and why you do what you do every day, helping to direct your decisions and priorities.

After reading your statement, anyone should be able to explain back to you what the reasons are behind your actions and what goal(s) you hope to achieve during your lifetime.

Having a life purpose statement can benefit you because it can help you focus on your goals and change your outlook on life.

While your everyday routine may remain the same after writing your life purpose statement, your attitude behind it and your sense of motivation can shift as your priorities become more clear.

Finding your motivation and channeling your energy into turning your dreams into a reality is easier when you have a specific and explicit statement that helps guide you by communicating what you want to achieve.

You may also begin to find more opportunities to live out your purpose in small, everyday moments that can help boost your confidence and motivation to succeed. So to start actualizing your long-term goals, consider crafting a life purpose statement. Let’s look at how you can do this.

How to Write a Life Purpose Statement in 4 Steps

1. identify your strengths and skills.

While the terms are often used interchangeably, your strengths and your skills aren’t quite the same, and you want to identify both.

Your strengths are your innate abilities that come naturally to you. You can use your strengths to your advantage and you can build upon these personal characteristics to increase your sense of accomplishment in life.

In fact, research has found that people who recognize and intentionally use their strengths in their everyday lives are happier and less depressed than those who do not.

Some examples of personal strengths are:

Open-mindedness
Authenticity
Persistence
Emotional intelligence

While your strengths exist within you, they’re also refined by your life experiences. For example, let’s say you were born with a knack for creativity. If you don’t find yourself in creative environments very often, this strength may not shine through.

On the other hand, with practice, you can cultivate strengths that don’t come naturally to you. Neuroscience has found that with enough practice, our brains can build new neural pathways throughout our lives that help us excel in new behaviors.

And while it may take t housands of hours of practice , neuroplasticity and determination make it possible to develop and adjust your ingrained strengths.

Oftentimes, people are unaware of their strengths. If there’s something that you find to be easy, you may assume that it’s easy for everyone without recognizing it as a unique strength.

You may not realize that something that comes naturally to you is a strength until you’ve taken some time to do some self-reflection or you’ve been exposed to situations in which the strength really worked to your advantage.

For example, you might not know that you’re very good at keeping things in perspective until you witness just how much someone else allows some of life’s minor, everyday inconveniences to negatively impact their attitude and wellbeing.

And as you experience this more throughout life, you’re able to pinpoint your ability to cope and your refusal to allow minor setbacks to derail you as one of your strengths.

When it comes to your skills, unlike your strengths that may be part of your persona from day one, your skills refer to the expertise that you develop through education and experience.

You can always learn new skills, which is important because some of the skills that you have today may be irrelevant in the future with evolving technology or simply due to your evolving interests.

When writing your life purpose statement, you need to be realistic about the skill set that may be required to have in order to be successful. And, if there are skills that you need that you don’t have yet , you will need to formulate a plan to cultivate them.

To write a truly effective life purpose statement, there needs to be some congruence between your strengths, skills, and purpose. Otherwise, you’ll experience conflict between what you’re trying to do and what comes naturally to you.

2. Identify Your Values and Passions

Your core values are the things in life that you refer to when determining your priorities , and they’re probably the factors you take into account when you’re doing a quick inventory on whether or not your life is going the way you had hoped.

When your actions and decisions align with your values, you’re probably pretty satisfied with your life. However, when there is conflict between your everyday routine and your values, you may start to feel discontent.

You have values, whether you recognize them or not. And knowing your values is a great way to help you make decisions that will make or keep you happy in the long run.

For example, if you value lifelong learning and self-improvement , you probably won’t choose to spend a whole lot of your time sitting around watching reruns of old tv shows unless you’re stuck at home sick, as this is not an activity that will help you progress in life.

life purpose statement worksheet | steps for writing a life purpose statement | my purpose in life as a student

Or, if you don’t value a competitive working environment , you probably wouldn’t be satisfied with your job if you worked in an extremely competitive sales position.

It’s best to understand your values when planning your life in this way because it can help you make decisions that align with what’s important to you and what fulfills you and help you avoid getting into situations that don’t make you happy.

Your passions are a little more short-term than your values, in that these are the things in life that really interest you, you want to devote your time to, and you feel like you’re in your element while you’re engaging in them. Consider the following:

What fascinates and excites you?
What could you spend hours talking about?
What do you do in your free time ?

While your values aren’t likely to change too much throughout your life, your passions may change quite a bit with age and experience. However, if you’re disconnected from your passions, you will probably feel unfulfilled.

So by identifying the things that motivate you at this point in your life, you can pinpoint ways that you can make some changes to increase your contentment by spending more time engaging in these activities.

When you identify your values and your passions, you’re one step closer to knowing your purpose, which will help you live an intentional life and set goals that are aligned with who you are.

When your strengths, skills, values, and passions all line up, you’ll live a life of purpose that will be fulfilling both in the short- and long-term. Alternatively, if your days are spent doing something that is not on a relevant path, you will not feel satisfied with life.

3. Determine Your Desired Result

When all is said and done, what do you want to be remembered for doing? What outcome do you want to produce from all of your passion and hardwork? What direction do you want your story to go?

Researchers studying the correlation of happiness, meaning, moods, relationships, health, etc., found that one’s sense of purpose in life generally comes from the act of giving to other people –while happiness derives from what other people give to you.

So what can you give to the world? What problem can you help fix? What difference can you make? The feeling of making a difference is critical to feeling a sense of fulfillment, as it will help you feel important, which equates to having a purpose.

4. Create a Draft

When you’re creating a draft of your life purpose statement, don’t overthink the process or your wording. Allow your thoughts to flow freely on paper as you’re drafting, knowing that you will come back later to clean it up and make your purpose statement more concise.

Write in the present tense and use an active tone. Rather than writing about things that you will avoid doing, focus on what you plan to experience and achieve starting today.

Getting your thoughts and first draft on paper will give you a launchpad for writing your life purpose statement, which shouldn’t end up being more than a sentence or two. Your final statement should be clear, concise, inspirational, and realistic.

Before you get to work, let’s take a look at some examples of life purpose statements that you can use to help guide you in writing your own.

Examples of a Life Purpose Statement

1. “my purpose is to become an expert in my career and add valuable contributions to the field. i hope to feel fulfilled with what i have accomplished when i retire.”.

Many people find satisfaction through career success and their personal contribution to their field of practice. Having a career that fulfills your desire to do meaningful work will keep you intrinsically motivated to get up and get moving every day.

Finding purpose in your work may result from dedicating your life to something aside from just climbing the corporate ladder, which is how many professionals feel more content in a position where they can make some kind of unique contribution.

This is especially true in positions that focus on helping the community and those which are more oriented toward service than simply building the bottom line of the company.

Finding purpose in your career comes from doing something that you’re passionate about instead of simply finding a way to clock in and out every day to earn a paycheck.

If your life purpose statement is centered around your career, consider what it is about your career that gives you such a deep sense of purpose. This way, you can make sure to not lose sight of this aspect of your career as time progresses.

2. “My purpose is to foster meaningful relationships with other people by loving unconditionally, practicing generosity, and always being open to form new friendships and connections.”

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If you find satisfaction through your personal relationships, having a purpose statement like this may feel right to you.

Research has found that the intensity and quality of people’s friendships is directly associated with life satisfaction. The more social integration that one has in their everyday life, the more satisfied they will be.

With this in mind, it’s not surprising that many people may revolve their life purpose statement around their relationships with other people .

3. “My purpose in life is to be a positive role model for others. I will empower younger generations to be independent, confident, and self-reliant through supportive individual and group activities.”

If you’re a great leader , you believe it is your purpose to inspire and motivate other people to become the best version of themselves. This life purpose statement likely resonates with people who care about and are hopeful for future generations.

Spending time helping our future leaders with their personal development is a very important task that many people could find meaning in doing.

Being a mentor is a great way to not only improve the lives of other people, but to also set yourself up for a life filled with learning yourself as you meet and interact with new people and hear about other people’s experiences and struggles.

Working with people on a regular basis with whom you have no natural connection by offering guidance and support will help you continue to hone your leadership skills and self-growth as you help people figure out their best path forward.

4. “My purpose is to instill healthy eating and exercise habits in children to help protect the physical wellbeing of our population.”

Encouraging positive lifelong eating and exercise habits at a young age can help set children up for a healthy future. Children who give their bodies proper nutrition and plenty of exercise are building the foundation for healthy growth and development, leading to lifelong wellbeing.

And these days, too many children aren’t receiving the proper nutrition or getting enough physical activity during the day, which is allowing the obesity epidemic in our country to continue.

The national prevalence of obesity in children lingers around 20%, which puts kids at risk for health complications once they get older.

Those who are passionate about physical health and disease prevention may feel it’s their purpose to make a difference in this sector of society, which would make this an appropriate life purpose statement.

5. “My purpose in life is to motivate and inspire positive change through my writing.”

If you’re passionate about writing and communicating with people in this way, you may feel that your purpose is to make a statement and a difference in people’s lives through the written word.

Whether this is by doing research and writing peer-reviewed publications to share your findings or you feel that you can be inspirational through more subjective writing, this purpose statement demonstrates exactly how one may want to make a difference in the world.

Final Thoughts on Writing a Life Purpose Statement

In summary, your life purpose statement will be unique to you –not catered toward the expectations of others. Your life purpose statement will guide your time and attention and help you determine what goals to set and how to spend your free time.

By creating a life purpose statement, you will be able to understand yourself better to help you become the best version of you. (To learn more, check out our post on mission statements vs. goals .)

Follow the step-by-step process laid out in this article and use these examples as a guide to write your own statement. Display it somewhere that you can see it often to remind you of why you do what you do every day.

If you need more inspiration, check out our roundup of the the best Find Your Why worksheets to get started . You can also read this post on how to manifest something by writing it down if you are interested in law of attraction.

Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals .

life purpose statement | life purpose statement examples | how to write a life purpose statement

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How to find your purpose in life, are you struggling to discover your purpose that may be because you feel isolated from other people. here's how you can overcome that..

Do you have a sense of purpose?

For decades, psychologists have studied how long-term, meaningful goals develop over the span of our lives. The goals that foster a sense of purpose are ones that can potentially change the lives of other people, like launching an organization, researching disease, or teaching kids to read.

Indeed, a sense of purpose appears to have evolved in humans so that we can accomplish big things together—which may be why it’s associated with better physical and mental health. Purpose is adaptive, in an evolutionary sense. It helps both individuals and the species to survive.

Many seem to believe that purpose arises from your special gifts and sets you apart from other people—but that’s only part of the truth. It also grows from our connection to others, which is why a crisis of purpose is often a symptom of isolation. Once you find your path, you’ll almost certainly find others traveling along with you, hoping to reach the same destination—a community.

Here are six ways to overcome isolation and discover your purpose in life.

Reading connects us to people we’ll never know, across time and space—an experience that research says is linked to a sense of meaning and purpose. (Note: “Meaning” and “purpose” are related but separate social-scientific constructs. Purpose is a part of meaning; meaning is a much broader concept that usually also includes value, efficacy, and self-worth.)

In a 2010 paper , for example, Leslie Francis studied a group of nearly 26,000 teenagers throughout England and Wales—and found that those who read the Bible more tended to have a stronger sense of purpose. Secular reading seems to make a difference, as well. In a survey of empirical studies , Raymond A. Mar and colleagues found a link between reading poetry and fiction and a sense of purpose among adolescents.

“Reading fiction might allow adolescents to reason about the whole lives of characters, giving them specific insight into an entire lifespan without having to have fully lived most of their own lives,” they suggest. By seeing purpose in the lives of other people, teens are more likely to see it in their own lives. In this sense, purpose is an act of the imagination.

Many people I interviewed for this article mentioned pivotal books or ideas they found in books.

The writing of historian W.E.B. Du Bois pushed social-justice activist Art McGee to embrace a specific vision of African-American identity and liberation. Journalist Michael Stoll found inspiration in the “social responsibility theory of journalism,” which he read about at Stanford University. “Basically, reporters and editors have not just the ability but also the duty to improve their community by being independent arbiters of problems that need solving,” he says. “It’s been my professional North Star ever since.” Spurred by this idea, Michael went on to launch an award-winning nonprofit news agency called The San Francisco Public Press .

So, if you’re feeling a crisis of purpose in your life, go to the bookstore or library or university. Find books that matter to you—and they might help you to see what matters in your own life.

2. Turn hurts into healing for others

Of course, finding purpose is not just an intellectual pursuit; it’s something we need to feel. That’s why it can grow out of suffering, both our own and others’.

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Kezia Willingham was raised in poverty in Corvallis, Oregon, her family riven by domestic violence. “No one at school intervened or helped or supported my mother, myself, or my brother when I was growing up poor, ashamed, and sure that my existence was a mistake,” she says. “I was running the streets, skipping school, having sex with strangers, and abusing every drug I could get my hands on.”

When she was 16, Kezia enrolled at an alternative high school that “led me to believe I had options and a path out of poverty.” She made her way to college and was especially “drawn to the kids with ‘issues’”—kids like the one she had once been. She says:

I want the kids out there who grew up like me, to know they have futures ahead of them. I want them to know they are smart, even if they may not meet state academic standards. I want them to know that they are just as good and valuable as any other human who happens to be born into more privileged circumstances. Because they are. And there are so damn many messages telling them otherwise.

Sometimes, another person’s pain can lead us to purpose. When Christopher Pepper was a senior in high school, a “trembling, tearful friend” told him that she had been raped by a classmate. “I comforted as well as I could, and left that conversation vowing that I would do something to keep this from happening to others,” says Christopher. He kept that promise by becoming a Peer Rape Educator in college—and then a sex educator in San Francisco public schools.

Why do people like Kezia and Christopher seem to find purpose in suffering—while others are crushed by it? Part of the answer, as we’ll see next, might have to do with the emotions and behaviors we cultivate in ourselves.

3. Cultivate awe, gratitude, and altruism

4. Listen to what other people appreciate about you

Giving thanks can help you find your purpose. But you can also find purpose in what people thank you for.

Like Kezia Willingham, Shawn Taylor had a tough childhood—and he was also drawn to working with kids who had severe behavioral problems. Unlike her, however, he often felt like the work was a dead-end. “I thought I sucked at my chosen profession,” he says. Then, one day, a girl he’d worked with five years before contacted him.

“She detailed how I helped to change her life,” says Shawn—and she asked him to walk her down the aisle when she got married. Shawn hadn’t even thought about her, in all that time. “Something clicked and I knew this was my path. No specifics, but youth work was my purpose.”

The artists, writers, and musicians I interviewed often described how appreciation from others fueled their work. Dani Burlison never lacked a sense of purpose, and she toiled for years as a writer and social-justice activist in Santa Rosa, California. But when wildfires swept through her community, Dani discovered that her strengths were needed in a new way: “I’ve found that my networking and emergency response skills have been really helpful to my community, my students, and to firefighters!”

Although there is no research that directly explores how being thanked might fuel a sense of purpose, we do know that gratitude strengthens relationships —and those are often the source of our purpose, as many of these stories suggest.

5. Find and build community

As we see in Dani’s case, we can often find our sense of purpose in the people around us.

Many people told me about finding purpose in family. In tandem with his reading, Art McGee found purpose—working for social and racial justice—in “love and respect for my hardworking father,” he says. “Working people like him deserved so much better.”

Environmental and social-justice organizer Jodi Sugerman-Brozan feels driven “to leave the world in a better place than I found it.” Becoming a mom “strengthened that purpose (it’s going to be their world, and their kids’ world),” she says. It “definitely influences how I parent (wanting to raise anti-racist, feminist, radical kids who will want to continue the fight and be leaders).”

Of course, our kids may not embrace our purpose. Amber Cantorna was raised by purpose-driven parents who were right-wing Christians. “My mom had us involved in stuff all the time, all within that conservative Christian bubble,” she says. This family and community fueled a strong sense of purpose in Amber: “To be a good Christian and role model. To be a blessing to other people.”

The trouble is that this underlying purpose involved making other people more like them. When she came out as a lesbian at age 27, Amber’s family and community swiftly and suddenly cast her out. This triggered a deep crisis of purpose—one that she resolved by finding a new faith community “that helped shape me and gave me a sense of belonging,” she says.

Often, the nobility of our purpose reflects the company we keep. The purpose that came from Amber’s parents was based on exclusion, as she discovered. There was no place—and no purpose—for her in that community once she embraced an identity they couldn’t accept. A new sense of purpose came with the new community and identity she helped to build, of gay and lesbian Christians.

If you’re having trouble remembering your purpose, take a look at the people around you. What do you have in common with them? What are they trying to be? What impact do you see them having on the world? Is that impact a positive one? Can you join with them in making that impact? What do they need? Can you give it them?

If the answers to those questions don’t inspire you, then you might need to find a new community—and with that, a new purpose may come.

6. Tell your story

Reading can help you find your purpose—but so can writing,

Purpose often arises from curiosity about your own life. What obstacles have you encountered? What strengths helped you to overcome them? How did other people help you? How did your strengths help make life better for others?

“We all have the ability to make a narrative out of our own lives,” says Emily Esfahani Smith , author of the 2017 book The Power of Meaning . “It gives us clarity on our own lives, how to understand ourselves, and gives us a framework that goes beyond the day-to-day and basically helps us make sense of our experiences.”

That’s why Amber Cantorna wrote her memoir, Refocusing My Family: Coming Out, Being Cast Out, and Discovering the True Love of God . At first depressed after losing everyone she loved, Amber soon discovered new strengths in herself—and she is using her book to help build a nonprofit organization called Beyond to support gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians in their coming-out process.

One 2008 study found that those who see meaning and purpose in their lives are able to tell a story of change and growth, where they managed to overcome the obstacles they encountered. In other words, creating a narrative like Amber’s can help us to see our own strengths and how applying those strengths can make a difference in the world, which increases our sense of self-efficacy.

This is a valuable reflective process to all people, but Amber took it one step further, by publishing her autobiography and turning it into a tool for social change. Today, Amber’s purpose is to help people like her feel less alone.

“My sense of purpose has grown a lot with my desire to share my story—and the realization that so many other people have shared my journey.”

About the Author

Jeremy Adam Smith

Uc berkeley.

Jeremy Adam Smith edits the GGSC's online magazine, Greater Good . He is also the author or coeditor of five books, including The Daddy Shift , Are We Born Racist? , and (most recently) The Gratitude Project: How the Science of Thankfulness Can Rewire Our Brains for Resilience, Optimism, and the Greater Good . Before joining the GGSC, Jeremy was a John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University.

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Home — Essay Samples — Philosophy — Meaning of Life — Finding The True Purpose Of Life

Purpose in Life, Its Importance and Meaning

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19 Life Purpose Examples to Find Your True Purpose

Since the dawn of time, philosophers and common people alike have mused over the idea of a “life purpose.”

But what defines one’s life purpose? And what should yours be?

In simplest terms, a life purpose is your reason (or reasons) for getting up in the morning.

True purpose can guide your decisions.

It will influence your behavior and help you prioritize goals to make room for what really matters.

Purpose can offer a sense of direction… and create meaning. For some people, purpose is connected to a vocation- meaningful, satisfying work.

Ancient Greek classicists called it a “telos,” or the ultimate goal of life. They believed that a life purpose should be was one’s central focus on their journey through time on earth.

Modern thinkers conceptualize it as that what they were meant to do or be… what they were made for.

Whichever way you prefer to think about it, having an idea of your greater aim in life makes every day more significant and precious. It allows you to harness your energy into something bigger than just yourself.

In this article, I will provide 19 life purpose examples that may help you take one step closer to eudemonia… or “Living the Good Life”.

Table of Contents

Exercises to Find Your Life Purpose

Self-inquiry and examination through good habits help you center your thoughts and really focus on what you enjoy most in your life and gives you meaning.

Everyone has different skills and talents that make them great… and taking the time to analyze what you excel at can give you further direction to what you can call your life purpose. Pro tip: you can have more than one!

Journaling what matters most to you

Creative journaling has many proven health benefits . From writing down your crazy dreams, to taking note of interesting flowers you've seen that day, it gives your left brain a chance to express itself… or your right brain time to make sense of the day.

Consistency is what is important.

If you choose a narrative approach, you give your loved ones a valuable record and tool to peer into the daily life of your family.

When you select a creative approach, such as poetry or sketching, you can get a glimpse into your subconscious and the themes of your life.

Either method works… and many of the world's most successful minds practice journaling .

You can also start using your journal as a tool to implement your life purpose. Everything from affirmations, inspiring quotes, or a daily to-do list will be able to help you navigate the waters of setting sail in the direction of your dreams.

Writing a life purpose statement

Are you feeling bold?

If so, sit down and write down a mission statement of the purpose of your life. You might be surprised what you think of!

For your first draft, don't put too much thought into it and let the feeling of what you want to most express flow through you. Be true to yourself and don't be shy; you don't have to share it if you don't want to.

Later, revise it and flesh it out. Write out a personal manifesto if you want to. Let the written word inspire you to greater things and pay attention to the most vivid details.

Don't think too much about it, either. You can have a seemingly small or narrowed down purpose, such as becoming a vegan. Or you may discover something greater, like becoming a human rights activist or uncovering a musical talent.

Take what you learn from this exercise and use it to make bigger and better choices for your life.

Find good literature or media to support your new vision, and if you are really feeling inspired, volunteer or take classes to improve.

Verbalizing to someone else what matters most

Talking about things to a compassionate listener helps our minds process what's going on in our life.

Even the process of listening to ourselves talk can help make what's going on “real” and, more importantly , give us some ideas of the right action steps to take.

Just talk about what matters.

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Always wanted to get a higher degree? Was your dream to be a painter?

Find a trusted person and talk to them about it. The enormous healing properties of letting someone know your secret desires will always shed light on those corners of your life and give you hope and a different perspective.

Visualizing what is most important in their life and what may be lacking.

Looking within helps you to clarify what's important and minimize distractions.

For example, if being healthy is important to you… you might change your diet, learn new recipes, or start a daily exercise plan.

If having more fun with your community is a goal, then you might be on the lookout for opportunities to meet new people.

Visualize what your ideal life would be like, and take steps every day to achieve it!

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” -Walt Disney

Take a deep breath, light a candle, and close your eyes. Relax and think: where could my life go? What would I have? Where would I be? What would it feel like?

Now, let yourself write out what an ideal day would be like. Let your imagination go wild. Where would you vacation? What would you eat? What gifts would you buy the people you love?

You get the idea.

Now, ground yourself, and let yourself figure out a realistic way to align yourself to the life choices you could make to more embody that lifestyle.

It's easier than it sounds, and you can be amazed at all of the resources that reveal themselves to you when you're open and ready to receive or when you go out there and take action.

People from all walks of life benefit from the power of visualization. From CEOs to elementary teachers, walking yourself through the necessary steps in your mind's eye helps guide you to techniques or tools for an improved life.

It can be anything from a power color to a special spot in nature from which you draw inspiration.

19 Life Purpose Examples You May Draw Inspiration From

1. having a strong sense of family.

“I will always work to do what is best for my family. Without neglecting myself, I will seek to meet their needs. I will seek to understand their insecurities, and give them the support and unconditional love to make them feel special, important, and irreplaceable.”

Around the world, “family” ranks as the top choice when selecting one’s purpose in life. It's the foundation from which people come from… and where many people return. If you feel that friends and family are priceless treasures that can never be replaced, this purpose is definitely for you.

2. Helping Children

“I want to be a positive role model for children. Whether it's with tangibles like food or clothing, or by giving emotional support… I want to give children what they need to feel wanted, loved, and secure. I want to give children what they need to be healthy, happy, and productive.”

Whether you're a parent or not, if you're passionate about helping children, there are many ways to achieve this goal. The obvious is to provide financially by giving food, clothing, and shelter. You can also give your time and support in other ways.

Helping with homework, listening when a child needs to talk, donating to children's causes, or volunteering are some examples.

3. Giving Back to the Community

“I want to contribute something to my community that will leave it better than it was before my contribution. I want to show others that connecting with your community is important and vital.”

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Communities don't exist without individuals, and individuals cannot exist without being a part of some type of a community. We are interdependent beings. If you have a sense of appreciation for the significance of community, there are many ways to meet this purpose.

You can enhance it aesthetically, or participate in other activities. You may want to take a more interpersonal approach, like being a mentor or helping a neighbor.

4. Helping Animals

“All creatures deserve to be treated with kindness. I want to show compassion to animals through caring acts that help protect them and help them survive.”

It’s no coincidence that veganism and vegetarianism grow in popularity every year. Whether it's by aligning yourself with groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), or adopting a pet , you, too, can contribute to ensuring animals are treated humanely.

5. Living a Healthy Lifestyle

“I will prioritize taking care of myself by putting my health first. I will take care of my physical and mental health needs by being mindful of what I put in my body, and focusing on my emotional and mental well-being. Self-care activities will be a part of my regular routine.”

Self-care is one of the essential ways that health can become part of a life's purpose. In order to meet any other goals in life, you must first be in good mental and physical health.

6. Prioritizing Fitness

“I will feed the inside and outside of my body with the nourishment it needs. The right food is an obvious necessity, but I will also make sure I feed it physical exercise, and prioritize being physically fit.”

Fitness goes hand in hand with living a healthy life. It may be for medical reasons, or your aim may be to achieve a certain physical appearance or build strength . This life purpose is for you if you're passionate about the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of exercise.

7. Incorporating Music

“I will make music an integral part of my life. I will use it as a source of healing and enjoyment. I will also use it as a way to connect with others, and to connect more deeply with myself.”

If you feel drawn to music, incorporating it into your life more will give many emotional benefits.

In every culture, music seems to be the thread that binds people. Whether you're a musician, a dancer, or simply someone who loves to listen… there is so much meaning and purpose that can be gleaned from music.

8. Appreciating Art

“I will appreciate the beauty of art. I will find ways to include it in my life, by being both a spectator and finding ways to explore my own artistic talents.”

Art has many forms and expressions, and whichever one you feel “drawn” to is totally up to you and entirely beautiful. Many people have amazing latent artistic gifts that they go their whole lives regretting not having explored further.

You can take advantage of adult learning or community college opportunities to enhance your artistic skills.

9. Embracing Spirituality

“I will be a spiritual person and connect to something higher than myself. I will concern myself with being the best person I can be for myself and others. I will be guided by thoughts and actions that are kind and in my best interest, and the best interest of others.”

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Being spiritual can be a powerful way to embrace a larger identity and life purpose. If your focus is to grow and develop to be the best person you can be, and live a life where you show compassion to others, this mantra is ideal.

10. Living a Happy and Ethical Life

“I will first and foremost do what it takes to make myself happy. With this continued state of being, I will be able to treat others in a respectful and kind way. My happiness will lead to actions that are just, fair, and ethical for others.”

We've probably all heard the saying, “Hurt people hurt people.” It would then follow that we can say the opposite is also true. If you're in a state of contentment, you'll give off a sense of peace that will positively affect others.

This statement probably hits home for you if you're someone who's mindful about existing in the here-and-now. It's definitely for you if you're self-aware and value the multitude of health benefits from having a harmonious emotional and spiritual state.

11. Empowering Others

“My life purpose is to help others see their own power and strength. I want to make each person I encounter feel better about themselves and have an added sense of self-efficacy and self-confidence.”

Here's a statement that takes infecting others with happiness and peace to a different level. The drive to empower others is ideal for someone who loves interacting with people. It requires being able to see the positives and helping individuals identify their strengths.

12. Being True to Myself

“I want to live a life where I present to myself and others my authentic self. I want to maintain my true self while being genuine and sincere in all of my relationships and interactions with others.”

If you are someone who values your individualism, this example falls right in line. Being true to yourself may include maintaining your own unique fashion sense, dietary choices, or spiritual beliefs.

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It can be more interpersonal, where you value remaining true to another purpose you have in life, no matter what others think or say. For example, you may want to stay true to living a life as a starving artist, rather than conform to the American standard of climbing your way up the corporate ladder.

Or, it may mean holding onto independent thinking that sets you a part from the rest, and not changing your opinions or methods of expression to please others or to fit in.

At any rate, being your authentic self in all areas of life helps to achieve a healthy mental and emotional state.

13. Achieving a Meaningful Career

“I will continuously pour into myself the tools needed to be the best at what I do. I want to have a career that improves the life of others and society in some way.”

Many people choose careers based on their skills, passions, or natural talents. This purpose can help you decide what career to pursue and, therefore, what actions you need to follow to achieve it.

It can help you determine if you need to pursue a higher degree, what region you may need to live in, and even give you a realistic picture of what your income may be. For example, if you're on the fence about whether to become a social worker or a marketing executive, you may decide that a social worker better meets the task of improving lives.

14. Cultivating Healthy, Reciprocal Relationships

“I will treat others as I want to be treated. I will make sure I give as much as I receive. I will communicate with others to understand and give them what they need, instead of going off of my assumptions of their needs, so that I am truly treating them in a manner that makes them feel important and respected.”

Any time you're having multiple interactions with someone, you're having a relationship. Whether it's close friends, relatives, or co-workers, interactions with others that are built on respect and mutual give-and-take are the most productive and healthiest.

If you appreciate the value of relationships and the positive rippling effects they can have on all aspects of life, this statement may speak to you.

15. Reaching My Fullest and Highest Potential

“Realizing self-actualization means reaching your fullest and highest potential. I will use self-reflection to understand my thoughts, behaviors, patterns, talents, and skills. I will also identify my growth areas (I will not call them weaknesses). I will seek to educate myself and increase my knowledge through research, and by engaging in meaningful discussions with others who hold different viewpoints than my own. I will use all of these avenues to improve all aspects of who I am.”

If you are dedicated to self-growth and self-development , this example does a great job of summarizing many of the components necessary to accomplish a higher state of self.

You may have more than one purpose. This one goes hand-in-hand with “Being True to Myself.” To accomplish both, you must be ready to accept the self-discovery that comes from honest self-reflection. Achieving self-actualization also requires accepting the actions or changes you find you need to make as a result of those self-discoveries.

16. Bringing Others Joy

“Simply put, I want to make others laugh. Laughter is healing. I want to give people the good feelings, relief, and connection that comes with sharing a good laugh together. Even when there's sadness, laughter can provide a glimpse of hope and joy. I want to provide the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Some purpose statements are more serious, some will take a little work, and others will take a concerted amount of time to achieve. This one is just pure fun.

If connecting with others and enjoying life are what gets you out of bed in the mornings, this example is the perfect fit. We can choose happiness , and help others to choose it, too.

17. Helping the Less Fortunate

“I will help someone who is hurting or going without. I will give my assistance in some way to help someone else gain what they are missing, to help them have a better quality of life.”

purpose in life meaning | personal purpose examples | why is it so hard to find your purpose in life

This is for the altruistic. Helping the less fortunate takes the life purpose of contributing to the community to the next level, by getting a little more specific. It requires you to identify or consider a type of person or group of people, and the resources they need.

18. Sharing Wisdom

“As I learn and grow from my experiences, I want to share that wisdom with others.”

This example is great for teachers, religious leaders, mentors, or anyone who enjoys articulating the lessons of their failures, successes, and life journey. Knowledge is priceless. Because everyone's experiences are different, we all have a little bit of knowledge we could share with someone else.

19. Appreciating the World Around Me

“I will embrace nature and all of its wonders. I will take the time to enjoy what cannot be bought and sold, but what gives us its beauty and utility every second of every day, unconditionally. I will appreciate the small things, and do my part to preserve the natural reserves that make life possible.”

If you enjoy nature and the simpler things in life, and see the environment as something that needs protecting, this may resonate with you. It incorporates both appreciation and action. Like some of the others, this purpose statement is also integral to mindfulness. There's an indirect sense of benevolence, too. Without the beauty and necessities of nature — like water, land to grow fruit and vegetables, and the many valuable things that only an ecosystem left intact can provide — human life cannot exist.

Final Thoughts on a Life Purpose

No two people have the exact same life purpose… even if they value the same things, like family, they may share different visions of how that life looks.

You can use this list of 19 life purpose examples as a springboard to launch your own journey towards finding your “why.”

While these are some of the most common themes that bring meaning to many people, that isn’t to say they are your true purpose.

Which ones stand out most to you?

Has a lightbulb of inspiration appeared over your head?

Have you thought about an interest or passion that could further enrich your life?

If so… follow that fire! Don’t let it burn out!

When you take the right steps, you can make big changes with daily choices in the right direction. With these life purpose examples, you can be well on your way to developing a life you're truly proud of.

Finally, if you want to increase your happiness and life satisfaction, then watch this free video that details the 7-minute habit for planning your day to focus on what's important .

life purpose examples | what is your purpose in life | my purpose in life essay examples

Essay on Purpose Of Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on Purpose Of Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Purpose Of Life

Understanding the purpose of life.

Life is a precious gift. Its purpose is different for everyone and depends on individual beliefs and experiences. Some people find purpose in helping others, while others find it in learning or creating. It’s about finding what makes you happy and fulfilled.

Finding Your Purpose

Discovering your purpose can take time. It’s not always clear and may change as you grow. You can start by thinking about what you love to do, what makes you feel good, and how you can make a positive impact on the world.

The Joy in Purpose

When you find your purpose, life becomes more meaningful. You feel a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. This joy can motivate you to work harder and achieve your goals. It’s like a guiding light that leads you through life.

Living with Purpose

To live with purpose, you need to follow your heart and stay true to yourself. It’s about making choices that align with your beliefs and values. Remember, your purpose is unique to you. So, embrace it and live life to the fullest.

Also check:

Paragraph on Purpose Of Life

250 Words Essay on Purpose Of Life

What is the purpose of life.

Life is a precious gift, and everyone has their unique way of living it. Some people think the purpose of life is to be happy, while others believe it is to help others.

Finding Happiness

Many people believe that the purpose of life is to find happiness. This could mean doing things that make us feel good, like playing games, eating our favorite food, or spending time with friends and family. It is about enjoying every moment and making the most of our time.

Helping Others

For others, life’s purpose is to help people. They find joy in making others happy or making the world a better place. This could mean doing volunteer work, helping a friend with homework, or simply being kind to everyone around us.

Learning and Growing

Some people see the purpose of life as a chance to learn and grow. They want to gain knowledge, learn new skills, and become better people. This could mean studying hard at school, reading lots of books, or trying new things.

In conclusion, the purpose of life can be different for everyone. It could be about finding happiness, helping others, or learning and growing. It’s about finding what makes you feel fulfilled and doing that. Remember, the purpose of life is a journey, not a destination. So, enjoy every step of your journey.

500 Words Essay on Purpose Of Life

Understanding ‘purpose of life’.

The ‘Purpose of Life’ is a big idea that everyone thinks about at some point. In simple terms, it is the reason why we are here. It is what gives our life meaning and direction. It is like a personal goal that guides our actions and choices.

Individual Purpose

Everyone has their own purpose in life, which can be different from others. This purpose can be anything that makes you feel happy and fulfilled. For some, it could be becoming a doctor and saving lives, while for others, it could be becoming a painter and creating beautiful art. It is not about what others think is important, but what you feel is important.

Common Human Purpose

While each person has their own purpose, there are also common purposes that all humans share. These include learning, growing, and contributing to the world. We all want to learn new things, grow as people, and make the world a better place. These common purposes can help bring us together and create a sense of community.

Finding your purpose in life can take time and is often a journey of self-discovery. It involves understanding your passions, values, and strengths. You can start by asking yourself questions like, “What do I love to do?”, “What am I good at?” and “What do I feel strongly about?” The answers to these questions can help guide you towards your purpose.

Living Your Purpose

Once you find your purpose, it is important to live it. This means making choices and taking actions that align with your purpose. For example, if your purpose is to help others, you might choose to volunteer at a local charity. Living your purpose can give your life meaning and make you feel fulfilled.

The Importance of Purpose

Having a purpose in life is important because it gives our life direction and meaning. It helps us make decisions and set goals. It also gives us a sense of fulfillment and happiness. Without a purpose, life can feel empty and meaningless.

In conclusion, the purpose of life is a deeply personal and important idea. It is the guiding force that gives our life meaning and direction. While each person’s purpose is unique, we all share common purposes of learning, growing, and contributing to the world. Finding and living your purpose can bring great joy and fulfillment to your life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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The Meaning and Purpose of My Life, Essay Example

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In determining the meaning and purpose of my life, I believe that it must fulfill qualities within myself and cater to others. That is, I believe that we must strive to be the best human beings that we are able to be, while contributing to society and being able to help others. Purpose in my life is found in intertwining the needs of others from what I am able to do and share.

In regards to my life, I believe that I should remain optimistic and positive in all walks of my life. While I will falter, this is something that is important and that I continue to strive after. Using my talents and abilities to these ends is also important for me, so that I may be successful, accomplish my goals, and be able to contribute to those around me.

Ultimately serving others is essential. It would be unethical or immoral to believe that I can find meaning or purpose in my life, if I am not making others’ lives easier and more meaningful as well. Personally and through my work and other endeavors, I wish to be able to serve others’ needs and desires to be able to contribute to society.

I believe a large part of meaning in life is dynamic. Here and now I don’t believe that I can summarize the meaning and purpose of my life, as this is ever changing and evolving according to the dimensions and experiences of my life. Therefore, to a certain extent, I am still figuring out the purpose of my life.

Wherever life takes me, I believe it is vital nonetheless to hold on to certain high standards. Making the best of myself and opportunities presented to me, I believe, is one important aspect of finding meaning in life. Additionally, I see being able to share gifts and talents with others is crucial in living a meaningful life as well. In these standards I hope to find the constantly changing meanings in my life and life experiences.

Personally I find Plato’s Theory of Forms and Allegory of the Cave particularly engaging. These two concepts are very interesting to approach academically as well as in a personal light. In this I have found a couple of ways that it has impacted the way I view reality and life in general.

Theory of Forms

One engaging aspect of the theory of forms is its dual meaning. On one hand, according to Plato, the Theory of Forms is ontological. However, on another, it is metaphorically and accurately true pertaining to knowledge and its pursuit. In these two views the Theory of Forms has a number of implications.

I believe there are personal implications to the ontological view of the Theory of Forms. For instance, when we are younger, we certainly ascribe to the concept of a “perfect person” and try to emulate it in some way. Perhaps for some, like myself, this carries on into later stages of life as we try to be perfect, at least in beneficial ways.

In this manner, the Form can allow us to see something real, even if we do not believe in an ontological reality of something perfect existing. For instance, perhaps there is not a perfect person or a perfect love, at least outside of religious contexts, yet people in all walks of life seem to hold on to the Form of something. Why? Even if it can only exist in our minds, it is certainly relevant, applicable, and positive for our lives.

In this manner the ontological reality of Plato’s form can be metaphorically applicable to one’s life. One doesn’t have to hold that all things truly have a Form, a perfect construct of something. Yet it can certainly hold meaning, even if it exists only in the mind.

From this I find the Theory of Forms enlightening in the pursuit of knowledge. It is perfectly reasonable to hold the ideal of a concept or state of being in one’s mind. It can certainly allow us to move forward and grow as a person.

Allegory of the Cave

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave also presents a number of interesting implications in one’s life. It certainly provides those along the same lines of the Theory of Forms, as it is of course interrelated. In regards to how it has changed my thinking, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave I believe has allowed me to appreciate the pursuit of knowledge more fully.

In regards to the essence of the Allegory of the Cave, in more practical terms we certainly find ourselves in limited knowledge at times. At time we may only see the shadows of a situation, and are often led to wrong choices and observations at times in our life due to ignorance. Quite simply, in keeping with philosophy in general and the Allegory of the Cave, we must realize the worth of knowledge and more accurately, wisdom.

To this end in itself the Allegory of the Cave is quite interesting. I think we can all recall a difficult time in our lives, or a wrong decision that could have been made better with wisdom. While this can be certainly made into a generalization if we perpetuate this line of logic furthermore, it serves as an example of why wisdom is important.

The Allegory serves as a lesson in times of insecurities. Relative to personal and more general terms, we often find ourselves lost in certain situations. For instance, one can find himself or herself lost with regards to politics, or the turmoil of a personal relationship. Yet, in a sense, we often see the shadows of the situation.

In this we are called to realize our own limitations. We must realize the place of true knowledge and wisdom, which is, as Plato expresses, not of this world. In responding to personal and general situations, we must find true knowledge from within, and not necessarily in reaction to events in the temporal world.

I chose these two concepts from Plato as they certainly link to the meaning of one’s life. In my life these two concepts, when applied, allow me to see the significance and purpose of my life. When these are used the purpose of my life is better clarified.

The Theory of Forms represents the way in which I can strive to be a better person. I hold to the ultimate concept of something, the Form. In the Form, such as becoming the “perfect” version of myself, in regards to my goals and standards, I can adhere to some extent in this way.

The Allegory of the Cave also allows me to view the limitations of one’s knowledge. As I develop my knowledge and wisdom in my life, a part of this involves knowing one’s limits. We must, out of our own wisdom, realize that we lack it in some respects. While this is certainly reminiscent of Plato’s “knowing that I know nothing at all,” I think this can hold true for all of us. We must realize that we only see the shadows in life at times, and strive after the Form of what we are attaining. That is how we are better able to clarify meaning and purpose in life, and certainly in my life.

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Home / Essay Samples / Life / Purpose / My Purposes In Life And How I Am Going To Achieve Them

My Purposes In Life And How I Am Going To Achieve Them

Category: Sociology , Life
Topic: Personal Life , Purpose

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21 Life Purpose Examples To Help You Write Yours

Why You Should Write a Life Purpose Statement

21 Life Purpose Examples

16. Pursuing Knowledge and Wisdom

17. Promoting Health and Wellbeing

18. Advancing Technological or Scientific Innovation

19. Championing Social Justice and Equality

20. Exploring and Preserving Cultural Heritage

21. Fostering Spiritual Growth or Enlightenment

How Do You Write a Purpose Statement for Your Life?

1. Reflect on Your Passions

2. Identify Your Values

3. Consider Your Impact

4. Draft Your Statement

5. Refine and Evolve

How to Write a Life Purpose Statement (with 5 Examples)

What Is a Life Purpose Statement?

How to Write a Life Purpose Statement in 4 Steps

2. Identify Your Values and Passions

3. Determine Your Desired Result

4. Create a Draft

Examples of a Life Purpose Statement

2. “My purpose is to foster meaningful relationships with other people by loving unconditionally, practicing generosity, and always being open to form new friendships and connections.”

3. “My purpose in life is to be a positive role model for others. I will empower younger generations to be independent, confident, and self-reliant through supportive individual and group activities.”

4. “My purpose is to instill healthy eating and exercise habits in children to help protect the physical wellbeing of our population.”

5. “My purpose in life is to motivate and inspire positive change through my writing.”

Final Thoughts on Writing a Life Purpose Statement

Mind & Body Articles & More

2. Turn hurts into healing for others

Join the Purpose Challenge

3. Cultivate awe, gratitude, and altruism

4. Listen to what other people appreciate about you

5. Find and build community

6. Tell your story

About the Author

Jeremy Adam Smith

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19 Life Purpose Examples You May Draw Inspiration From

2. Helping Children

3. Giving Back to the Community

4. Helping Animals

5. Living a Healthy Lifestyle

6. Prioritizing Fitness

7. Incorporating Music

8. Appreciating Art

9. Embracing Spirituality

10. Living a Happy and Ethical Life

11. Empowering Others

12. Being True to Myself

13. Achieving a Meaningful Career

14. Cultivating Healthy, Reciprocal Relationships

15. Reaching My Fullest and Highest Potential

16. Bringing Others Joy

17. Helping the Less Fortunate

18. Sharing Wisdom

19. Appreciating the World Around Me

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