Purpose Archives - Heal your health yourself

When Pursuing Your Passions You Can Discover Your Purpose

HYHY Team — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 22:19:07 +0000

I woke up and groaned. It was a Monday, again. My calendar was choc-a-bloc with meetings and presentations. I dragged myself out of bed, looked at the figure in the mirror, and started crying at the sight of the tired face with sunken eyes and slumped shoulders.

Prestigious education degrees, dream campus placement followed by impressive lateral movements, and a high-profile corporate job with a seven-figure salary. I was a successful professional by the world’s yardsticks. Yet I was crying like a loser in my bathroom.

‘You haven’t slogged this long to spend your days on autopilot. You have not come so far to not have time for family and friends,’ said a voice in my head. This time I didn’t silence it.

I was disenchanted and disillusioned for the last few years of my corporate career. The voice in my head had been goading me to change my life’s direction. But I felt trapped. This career was what I had aspired for, was good at, and what I had done all my life. I had no hobbies and passions.

While I loved my husband and daughter, my work was my identity. I was afraid of losing this identity and the associated independence.

‘Then be prepared to spend Mondays waiting for Fridays for the rest of your life,’ the voice in my head whispered.

“No,” I screamed, wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks, and shouted, “I want to wake up with a smile every day.”

That day I gave my notice at work. “You have lost your head,” people said. For a change, I didn’t listen to them. I was willing to incur the sharp pains of self-discovery than endure the dull ache of listlessness for the rest of my life.

That was a year ago. Today I get up from bed early in the morning and enjoy two newspapers at leisure while sipping tea on my scenic balcony. I have the privilege of choosing the people I work with. I enjoy doing what I do, and work doesn’t feel like work.

So, how did everything change? How did I find my direction and make a successful career pivot after losing myself?

“When you stay on purpose and refuse to be discouraged by fear, you align with the infinite self, in which all possibilities exist.” – Wayne Dyer

How I first uncovered my passions…

I used my notice period to think, reflect and figure out that I needed to pursue my passions to feel fulfilled. Either at work as a profession or outside work as a pursuit. So, uncovering my passions was the first step.

Here are the lessons from my self-discovery phase:

1. Ask for help from your trusted friends. Then eliminate and select.

Reach out to a set of people close to you whom you trust and who have known you for at least five years. Be direct and specific about the support you want from them to get constructive results.

I reached out to four of my closest colleagues to list five areas of my strengths with reasons and examples. As a result, I not only got a list of skills but also a third-party validation of these capabilities — a much-needed confidence booster.

2. Reflect on what gets you to a state of ‘flow’.

The answers to all your questions lie within you. Spend time with yourself to get those answers. I asked myself three specific questions:

What did I love doing as a child, as a teenager, when I first started work?
When was I last so absorbed in something that I lost track of time? What was I doing?
If I were accidentally locked in a bookshop overnight, which section would I camp out in?

It became apparent to me where in which areas I should apply my skills even as I noted the answers.

3. Upskill yourself.

You put in the hard work while pursuing your degree to land that job, didn’t you? You will have to do the same again to transform your passion into a pursuit or profession. Especially if your chosen future area is entirely different from your current domain.

Choose wisely and prudently among the virtual courses, certifications, diplomas, and degrees. The aim here is to build a foundation for your future success and not simply add an extra credential to your LinkedIn profile.

I decided to pursue two divergent careers, both completely different from one another, and unrelated to my previous background, opting for simultaneous certifications in both areas. This helped me transform my nascent ideas into a structured plan.

…and then transformed them into professions.

After I had zeroed down on my passions, I dived headlong into my new careers. These are my learnings from the phase:

1. Do while you learn.

How did you learn to ride a bicycle? By riding it. How did you become adept in your first job role? By doing it. It is no different during the transition.

If you wait to complete that course or degree to restart, you will be short of confidence and time. The best time to put your knowledge to use is while acquiring it. I started publishing my writings on online platforms within the first two weeks of my writing courses. I followed the same approach for my other venture.

2. Join peer support groups.

A peer support group that bonds over a common goal is crucial during your transition. It helps you to be accountable, encourages you to give your best, provides constructive feedback and pulls you up when you are down.

A peer support group will help you not feel alone on the lonely road of transition. Some of the best ideas for my new ventures came during my interactions with people in these groups.

3. Take small but consistent steps.

Transformation is an outcome of several incremental steps. Consistency establishes a process. Process brings results.

If I had imagined myself as a published author on day one after I quit my job, I would have been paralyzed by fear. Instead, I focused on writing at least 500 words every day. And I have been doing that ever since, even on my vacation and sick days.

4. Embrace the new you — with your backstory.

‘What do you do?’ You might fumble to answer this common question during your career transition. That’s what happened to me in the initial months after my pivot.

Then I realized that the world would not accept me in the new roles unless I accepted myself. So, I wrote and recorded my new professional introduction and listened to it daily till I got comfortable answering this question.

You are a different person at 25, 35, 45, etc. Be grateful for your past, enthusiastic about your present, and excited about your future. The world will follow your lead.

Tapping into your inner self will bring you the happiness you deserve

Stop being busy and tap into your inner self. Uncover at least one activity where you will enjoy the process as much as the outcome. Then pursue that activity. Your life will acquire a new meaning.

Listening to that little voice in my head made me find my life’s purpose. I now wake up with a smile every day and am the happiest I have ever been. So is my husband.

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Explore Stoicism to Lead Your Life With Purpose and Meaning

HYHY Team — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 23:11:28 +0000

With the advent of technology and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR), there is increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity globally. People find it challenging to predict where the technology will take them to the next level. They are excited with the innumerable advantages arising from automation and artificial intelligence but they are equally concerned about the threats arising out of them. Precisely, humans are caught between peace and prosperity.

Stoicism is a way of life. It is the unofficial religion of the Roman world. It is closely connected with mindfulness. It helps you identify what you can and cannot control. It enhances your self-awareness and enlightens your life. It strengthens your self-control, increases your inner strength, and enhances your endurance. It is an amazing therapy against heartache.

Stoicism can be defined as the ability to encounter adversaries and face failures with a cool, calm, collected, and composed demeanor. It is working under pressure with grace. Life throws several curveballs and people must be ready to face them squarely which is possible when they adopt stoic philosophy. The philosophy of stoicism was founded in the 3rd century BC in Athens by Zeno of Citium and practiced by eminent philosophers including Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, Cato, Cleanthes, Hecato, and Musonius Rufus. It is practiced in the military also.

Stoic philosophy is based on the pillars of character, courage, convictions, conscience, communication, charisma, compassion, consideration, and contribution. There are innumerable advantages of adopting stoic philosophy. For instance, you differentiate between what you can control and what you cannot control. You make choices wisely. You don’t criticize, complain and condemn others. You become mature, remain calm, and evolve as a philosophical person.

Myths and Truths about Stoics

There are several myths about stoicism and stoics. For instance, there is a myth that stoics are stone-hearted. The truth is that they have a heart with emotions, egos, and feelings, but can control and manage their emotions, egos, and feelings internally. They are extraordinary people who don’t exhibit their inner emotions and feelings to others. They appear calm like ducks because ducks struggle with their feet beneath the water to stay afloat but appear calm externally.

There is a myth that stoics suppress their emotions but the fact is that they channel their emotions creatively and constructively to remain calm and composed irrespective of the outcome. There is a myth that stoicism is a religion. The truth is that stoicism is a way of life and not connected with any religion. It is a philosophy of living mindfully rather than existing in this world.

Characteristics of Stoic Leaders

Stoics are different, not indifferent to the sensitivities of others’ egos, emotions, feelings, and the external environment. Their attitude prepares them for failures and guards them against the arrogance of success. They are silent and resilient accepting the external realities and controlling and channeling their inner energies to turn the tide in their favor. They are emotionally intelligent and balanced and take both successes and failures equally. They know their limitations and work within the available resources without blaming external forces and factors.

Stoic leaders have a high internal locus of control. They live in the present. They have detached themselves from the desire for an outcome. They emphasize excellence and have an attitude of gratitude. They live with the ground realities and lead simple and humble life. They expect less and embrace more. They understand that life is full of peaks and valleys and embrace change effectively.

They know when to hold and when to fold. They suffer silently to achieve their goals and objectives. They are visionaries and optimistic and adopt different strategies to accomplish their goals. However, they are unsure about the duration of their success as they are aware that many things are beyond their control. They remain calm and collected despite encountering adversity after adversity.

“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius

They internalize their education and experience to spark action with smarter and wiser decisions. They take feedback at the end of each day, journal regularly, and reflect a lot to improve themselves. They enjoy their solitude. They handle conflicts effectively and overcome crisis successfully. They lead all stakeholders mindfully. Precisely, they compare less, criticize less, and consume less. They create more, learn more, and live more.

Some of the Stoic philosophers such as Cato the Younger influenced leaders including George Washington, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin. Eminent American leaders including Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt, political thinker John Stuart Mill, and economist Adam Smith followed stoicism. The leaders who remained stoic in the face of adversity include Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, James Stockdale during the Vietnam war, and Lieutenant Michael Murphy during the Afghanistan war. Here is a blueprint to be stoic in adversity. Understand and appreciate the fact that there is increased volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) across the world. Have an internal locus of control. Improve your attitude, personality, and behavior. Leverage your uniqueness. Treat your failures as lessons. Convert your negative thoughts into positive thoughts. Convert your threats into opportunities. Convert your scars into stars.

Remember that troubles of the past and anxieties of the future are the thieves of present-day happiness. Hence, live in the present mindfully to lead your life with purpose and meaning. Observe the following nuggets to lead your life mindfully. Decrease your computer screen time. Avoid excessive viewing of TV. Avoid thinking too much about your unpleasant experiences. Avoid shopping addiction. Overcome relationship issues. Don’t procrastinate. Avoid clutter physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you view it negatively, life looks full of pain, problems, and challenges. If you view it positively, life looks full of harmony, happiness, and beauty. Hence, view life positively to overcome the challenges successfully and add value to others.

Explore Stoic Philosophy

Entrepreneurs and leaders encounter unprecedented challenges regularly. Adopting stoicism helps them greatly to overcome their challenges. To summarize, stoicism is a neglected field in ancient philosophy. Stoic philosophy is relevant in today’s world. It is time to understand and adopt it in the current complex world. You cannot change everything in the world but you can change your attitude by acting towards them proactively to lead a happy and peaceful life. To conclude, explore stoic philosophy to achieve inner harmony, peace, and happiness.

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Meaning, Definition and Purpose • Healyourhealthyourself

HYHY Team — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 21:44:38 +0000

Anyone who’s taken a yoga class has probably heard the term “asana.” Asanas are the physical body positions or poses of yoga that form the foundation of a modern hatha yoga practice. While most classes only teach the basics, there is a wide range of difficulty and complexity of the yoga asanas. To fully understand and learn the asanas, we will need to uncover the history of them, their origin, and how they’re used today in yoga. Gaining this knowledge opens up the doors for us to have a deep, profound and insightful practice.

Asana meaning and definition in Yoga

Asana is a Sanskrit word meaning “posture,” “seat,” or “place.” Asanas are the physical positions we assume during a hatha yoga practice. Each pose has its own Sanskrit and English name. Almost all of the Sanskrit names for the poses end with “asana.” For example, the classic lotus pose is named Padmasana, and the common tree poses is named Vrikshasana. Many of the asana names have come from the shapes and movements of animals and elements of the natural world. Some names differ by different schools of yoga, and some of the names have changed over time. There are several asanas that have been known by multiple names at different time periods.

There are many different types of poses, but they all follow the same basic principles of alignment and muscular engagement. They include everything from simple twists and backbends to advanced balancing poses. There can be many variations on the individual poses, and each variation has its own benefits, purpose and challenges.

An asana can be performed as a still and static position that can be held for several breaths, or it can be a posture that is part of a dynamic flowing movement that lasts for less than one inhale or exhale. The period of time it is held is dependent on the school of yoga followed and the intensity and difficulty of the physical posture. For example, Iyengar Yoga emphasizes yoga anatomy and physical alignment so the poses are held a while. In contrast, Ashtanga Yoga and Vinyasa styles move quickly between poses linking movements with breath as in the sun salutations.

While there is no wrong way to do any asana, there are a general principles of alignment, breathing techniques, and mindfulness that should be followed to prevent injury and maximize the benefits of yoga.

How many yoga postures are there?

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras was one of the first yogic texts to mention the word asana. Patanjali includes it as one of the eight limbs of yoga and in sutra 2.47 he notes that asana should be “steady and comfortable.” The classic Hatha Yoga Pradipika text describes 18 postures but goes on to state that “Shiva taught 84 asanas.” Yet a later text called The Gheranda Samhita notes that “there are 8,400,000 asanas described by Shiva. The postures are as many in number as there are numbers of species of living creatures in this universe. Among them 84 are the best; and among these 84, 32 have been found useful for humankind in this world.” Most yoga teachers only lead about 15-25 poses in their classes. YogaBasics’ pose directory has 120 of the main modern asanas listed with photos and step-by-step instructions.

The history of the asanas

The original asanas were simple seated positions designed to be performed by yogis during meditation. They were steady yet comfortable shapes designed to focus the mind and calm the nerves and allow one to enter a deep meditative state.

Since those early days, more and more asanas were created for different reasons. In the 11th century at the Goraksha Sataka text was the first to describe a non-seated asanas. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika was written in the 15th century and describes 18 poses, but none of these are standing poses. Non-seated poses first appear in the Gheranda Samhita which was composed in the 17th century.

In the famous 1966 asana book Light on Yoga, B. K. S. Iyengar included the asanas his teacher Krishnamacharya created from a fusion of traditional Indian wrestling, gymnastics, and British Army calisthenics. In 1974 yoga instructor Sri Dharma Mittra created an “Ultimate Yoga Chart” poster that contained a list of 908 asanas which was later published as a book.

The difference between asanas and other physical exercise

The practice of yoga combines stretching, breathing, mindfulness and meditation to improve your health, reduce stress and increase strength and flexibility. It’s less of a workout and more of an exploration into the mind-body connection. It’s a holistic lifestyle that is a mental and spiritual journey rather than a physical challenge.

In contrast, gymnastics and other physical exercise focus on building muscle mass, endurance and stamina through quick repetitions or sets of movement. There is no emphasis on breath work, mindfulness or developing the mind-body connection. Yoga is not a competitive sport like running or weight lifting. It is designed to develop balance, coordination and concentration through controlled movement while embracing non-judgement, kindness and compassion for yourself and others.

Asanas purpose and benefits

The modern practice of asana focuses primarily on its health benefits, and is used as a low-impact form of exercise. The traditional goals of asana also included preventing disease and promoting a healthy body but focused more on its spiritual purpose and benefits. By learning to control and discipline the body, the body’s energy and mind are also calmed and focused. Below are the more traditional and perhaps unknown purposes of a regular asana practice:

Yoga asanas are practiced to increase inner strength and focus to create a strong container to withstand the intensity of tapas, the austerity practices used to reach a state of enlightenment.
Yoga postures are used to control, purify and cultivate prana, the life-force energy the flows through the nadis or energy channels of the body.
Asana practice creates mental, emotional and energetic balance. When you perform asanas regularly, it helps reduce negative thought patterns and regulate the emotions.
Asanas are one of several yogic practices used to reduce bad karma and prevent its accumulation.
A grounded and steady physical practice facilitates the deeper practices of pranayama, bandha, and mudra. These hatha yoga practices help direct and calm the energy and promote further exploration of the subtle body.
A strong asana practice enables one to explore the conscious and unconscious mind through the layers of the koshas and subtle body. This allows one to gain insight into the true nature of self and reality.

The relevancy of asana in the yoga tradition

Asanas are a relatively small aspect of yoga when compared to the overall depth and breath of the tradition of yoga. They are a relatively small slice of an older and much larger body of knowledge, philosophy, lineage, and techniques. For example, you can explore other aspects of yoga such as breathing exercises, meditation, codes of social conduct, self-observances, diet, devotion, or selfless service, without having to do any asanas at all.

The ultimate goal of yoga is the union of one’s individual mind, body, and spirit. Yoga poses are one method you can help you attain peace within yourself by practicing self-discipline and self-awareness. Asanas were not intended to be a standalone practice. Instead, they were meant to complement the other practices of yoga.

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15 Life Purpose Examples To Help You Write Yours

HYHY Team — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 21:11:05 +0000

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

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

15 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.

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

2. Prioritizing Home and Family

“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.

3. Finding Career Success

“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.

4. Living Authentically

“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.

5. Enjoying Creative Expression

“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 i 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.

6. Inspiring Others

“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.

7. Fostering Connections

“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?

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8. Living Mindfully

“I envision a life where I take things slowly and stop to smell the roses. I never want to miss out on an opportunity to find joy in the little things. I will explore my world with open curiosity and be fully present with all experiences.”

Not everyone enjoys living in a fast-paced and career-oriented environment.

This statement is an excellent example for people who admire beauty, value small treasure, and find meaning in living a more mindful and engaged life.

9. Achieving Life Balance

“In my life, I want to achieve a harmonious balance between my career, my family, and fun. I plan to work hard but also seek excitement and adventure where I can.”

You can have it all. Some of you may be working out how to balance many different elements in your life.

Writing a life purpose statement like this one is an excellent place to start when figuring out how to achieve your goals.

10. Protecting the Environment

“My life’s purpose is to be a caretaker of the Earth by living a life of zero waste and reducing my carbon footprint.”

Climate change and environmental causes are a valuable focus for a life purpose for many people.

Collaboration and community are a central component of this goal. If you find inspiration from this example, consider fleshing out specific examples of how you can contribute to helping Mother Earth.

11. Raising Successful Children

“My purpose is to raise a family of caring, passionate, and independent children who will find success in their own way and with integrity. I believe that being a parent is the joy of my life.”

Here is another example of a family-oriented life purpose statement, There are many different ways to center your family life in your personal goals, and each parent or family member will have their own view.

12. Living with Joy

“I want to live enthusiastically. I want to marry my best friend and settle into a long life together. I want to be fulfilled in my work and find meaning through art. I want to die knowing I lived the best way I knew how.”

This example shows that you can have many different types of goals in one mission statement.

Your goals can be oriented towards career, family, marriage, or anything else.

You don’t have to dedicate your life to any singular thing. We are complex creatures with many desires and interests.

13. Leaving a Legacy

“I hope to achieve great things in my life. My life’s purpose is to leave a legacy behind me. I want to have the highest quality of life, and live abundantly.”

Some personal statements are more qualitative, describing the type of life you want to lead.

It is not necessary to list specific goals, but rather, you can paint a picture of the direction you’re headed.

14. Making Others Happy

“My purpose in life is to make others laugh. I want to leave a smile on the faces of those I love, those I meet, and those who remember me long after I am gone.”

Other life purpose statements are joyfully simple. If you wish to lead a joyful life, consider this example. When reflecting on your statement, think of the ways you can apply this perspective in your life.

How can your sense of humor and happy demeanor contribute positively to your career or your relationships?

15. Teaching Children

“My goal in life is to be an educator and help students reach their greatest potential. I want to help young kids find great success.”

This example is perfect for teachers whose profession is their main passion in life.

When we have found careers that genuinely make us happy, our life purposes are often shaped around finding success within them.

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.

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5 Ways to Rediscover Your Purpose in Life

HYHY Team — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 01:13:33 +0000

Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a writer. But my quintessential Indian father thought that was a terrible idea, and well, so did everybody else I knew. Eventually, thanks to nasty teachers and being in the wrong stream (IT engineering), I resigned myself to having a purposeless existence. But after graduation, I could not bring myself to conform any longer. So I dove into the world of writing.

Soon, I discovered that my childhood dream was not something to be taken lightly. Over seven years, I figured out what I wanted to write and why. I even wrote two books and launched a blog. For the first time in my life, I felt that I was making a difference in the world. But then the pandemic came, and everything changed.

Suddenly, I began to feel that I was no longer following my purpose. My contribution to the world did not seem impactful enough. I tried to resist this stream of thought as I knew words are powerful, and mine had certainly helped people. Also, I did not want to rock the career boat after all my struggles. I hoped that this was only a phase brought on by the uncertainty of the pandemic. But as days turned into months, my thoughts remained the same. I took a deep breath and realized that I would have to rediscover my purpose all over again.

The prospect of starting all over again was daunting. Plus, I had never heard of anyone needing to rediscover purpose. But on introspection and research, it became clear that this was normal, just not talked about as often as it should. As people change and evolve, so does their purpose. Once I accepted this fact, I set out to rediscover my purpose. I did it by following the steps below.

1. Adopt a beginner’s mindset

As the term indicates, a beginner’s mindset is all about seeing things through the eyes of a beginner. In this context, you need to explore your interests and values as if you are doing it for the very first time. Disregard your likes, dislikes, biases, and opinions about yourself and the world in general. Let go of all your professional knowledge so that your mind is like a clean slate.

This is easier said than done, but you need to get in this headspace. For example, I used to believe that writing is my sole purpose in life. Even when I was not feeling that way anymore, I found it hard not to cling to this belief. Once I let go of it, I felt like I had a world of possibilities. And I’m sure you will feel the same when you adopt a beginner’s mindset.

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” – Allen Saunders

2. Take a couple of career tests

Now that you have a beginner’s mindset, this step should be easier for you. Pretend that you are a graduate student who has no idea what you want to do in life. Then go ahead and take a couple of career assessment tests. Take 3-5 tests and save the results of each. Each test will show you a bunch of careers that might be a good fit for you. Zero in on career choices that interest you and career choices that show up repeatedly. Make sure you focus on the change you want to make in the world instead of the usual ‘follow your passion’ cliche.

Once you do this, you will have a list of potential careers that you are likely to excel in because you have the required aptitude. You are off to a great start! Now all you have to do is marry your strengths and interests. For this, you have to conduct substantial research on what each career involves regarding job responsibilities and how they align with your interests and personality. Doing so will help you further narrow down your list of professions. For example, if you are an introvert who dislikes attention, and one of your potential careers is actor, it’s not a good fit. Full disclosure: this is the only reason why I had to cross acting off my list.

3. Write down what you want and what you don’t want

In my experience, career test results can be overwhelming. Like me, you are likely to get a long list of potential careers. Having too many choices can lead to anxiety, confusion, and analysis paralysis. I figured that the best way to deal with this issue is to write things down. So I made a list of things I want and a list of things I don’t want in my professional life.
One of the items on my ‘don’t want’ list stated that I don’t want to work with people with major mental health issues. And one of the items on my ‘want’ list stated that I want to help people with mental health issues. Only after I figured this out could I choose between counseling psychology and clinical psychology.

4. Listen to your gut instinct

Once you complete the above steps, you should have one or two solid career options in front of you. When you can’t pick one, or if you have a longer list, you know who you should rely on, right? Your gut instinct. Even when you have all the data you need, your gut instinct is powerful and should not be ignored.

Towards the end of my evaluation, I was torn between becoming a counselor and a life coach. Both options change lives for the better. But my gut said I would be far more suited to the field of counseling than coaching. Plus, I always wanted to study psychology. So I have enrolled myself in a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. And now, I can’t wait for classes to begin!

I hope this four-step process helps you rediscover your purpose in life. And once you do that, make sure you pursue it. Self-motivation helps and so does public accountability. I just did it by making this public declaration. Remember, no one has all the answers, and life is unpredictable. The wisest way to avoid regrets and succeed is to give everything your best shot.

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How to Get Out of a Funk and Live a Purpose Driven Life

HYHY Team — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 21:29:40 +0000

Despite being committed to living a life of success and accomplishing your goals, things don’t always work out as planned. Our minds have the ability to spiral to a dark place quicker than we’d care to admit. That place affects the action we take.

When you’re just not feeling how things are going, it’s easy to give in to bad habits and making decisions that don’t align with where you’d like to go in life. You think you’ll take a day off, then two, and before you know it, the last time you lived a purpose-driven day was months ago.

Time moves quickly, especially when we’re not living in alignment with our future self and personal growth goals. After weeks and months of not doing the work, you realize you’re in a funk. You know you’re not where you want to be and that you need to do something to get out of that dark place.

Here are four steps you can take to get out of a funk and back on the path to creating success. Here’s how to silence your inner negativity and do what it takes to become your best self.

1. Commit to making yourself a priority in every decision you make.

We spiral because we don’t make ourselves a priority in the daily decisions we make. We let others cross our boundaries, stop any self-care routines we’ve established, and think twice before doing what we know is best for us — we put other people’s needs before our own.

To overcome a funk, you need to get back to putting your needs, goals, and decisions first. This means you schedule self-care without thinking about it, setting boundaries and enforcing them, stopping feeling guilty about doing what’s best for you, and spending each day working on the things that bring you joy.

Make yourself a priority in more than words, and you’ll overcome a funk quickly. Your more significant purpose in life is rooted in making sure you do what sets your soul on fire and leads to the consistent growth in your success journey.

“We are our choices.” – J.P. Sartre

2. Set a success routine and focus on implementing it one day at a time.

Healthy habits and growth-focused routines are essential in creating progress and success in your life. If you wake up each day and try to make it up as you go — you’ll spend your days confused and not accomplishing as much as you could.

There’s power in building consistency, and a solid daily routine can get you there. You can:

Schedule your days the night before.
Set days for physical movement.
Decide how much time each day you’ll devote to learning and personal development.
Batch tasks and decide what days you’ll let others have some of your time.

Once you have a solid routine in place, focus on implementing one day at a time. If you think about the bigger goals and what it will take to accomplish them — you’ll get overwhelmed and put yourself in a place that keeps you stuck in a funk. Take your success journey one step at a time. Make progress your measuring stick for growth.

3. Invest time and energy into optimizing your body.

It takes a lot of daily energy to do the work that allows you to accomplish your goals. To have enough energy, you’ll need a body that’s working with you — not against you. What you eat and how you move your body will help or hurt your daily journey to create success.

Investing time, resources, and energy to optimize your body will strengthen your mindset and give you the fuel you’ll need to do the work. I won’t tell you what you should eat or how much you should exercise — there is plenty of information about that online. I will tell you that it’s a crucial part of success.

Become your best by optimizing your body and the way you see yourself. Make it a daily habit to give your body what it needs to operate at a peak level.

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.” – Jim Rohn

4. Celebrate your progress as you do the work.

One of the reasons we end up in a funk is because we’re all work and no play. We don’t take time to celebrate our wins and have moments of being “off” from the grind. If you’re always in “super thought leader to the world” mode, you’ll burnout and spiral.

You have to be your biggest cheerleader. When you accomplish a goal — even a small one — celebrate as if you just won the Olympics. That trains your brain to want more of those wins, and it will give you the fuel to keep doing the work.

Celebrate and take time off. Schedule days where you chill and enjoy life. Have dedicated off days in which you do fun things. The point of creating freedom is so that you enjoy it. Tap into fun and joy, and you’ll create a habit that motivates you to continue doing the work.

If you’re in a funk, you can overcome it. If you find yourself heading that way, close your browser and starting planning — then, do something fun. Creating success is not easy, but it’s worth it. You are powerful — you have everything you need overcome spirals, strengthen your mindset, and live an extraordinary life.

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