There is so much angst around purpose - not knowing what it is, not doing it “right”(whatever that means), and judgments upon judgments heaped onto one’s life’s purpose. This question is central in spiritual communities, social media, and the self-help universe. It shows up in different forms and flavours, but all roads feel like they lead to the question - “What’s my life purpose?” Compulsively seeking out and working with people who can help you find your purpose is a surefire way to feel demoralised, impotent, confused, and at the end of the day, not find your purpose.

We discuss things you may want to look for in your quest for purpose and some things you can do to help you on your personal journey of purpose.

Comparison is not only the thief of joy but will also effectively will stall any progress you are making. Comparison is toxic and our culture sells it to us with social media and celebrities. On this one, we urge you to get out of the comparison trap.

The time you spend trying this is well-spent because you can learn valuable lessons. You may think you have reached a dead end, which may be true for you within the arc of that particular part of your journey. It does not mean your time was wasted. Now you know what does not work for you. It’s all valuable information. Everything has a purpose.

This isn’t a race. As a modern person, the day will not come when you wake up and say, “I am healed from everything I have ever gone through in this life.” Perhaps some monastics who live in caves can say this, but they are the exception. You can certainly get to a place where the emotional or psychological charge you feel from a trigger is decreased significantly or no longer there entirely. The pain can be so distant that you may even forget it exists. It’s a magical place to be, but that takes work and time. But you’ll never come to a place where you are all completely healed - 100% from everything.