The Link between Fulfillment and Life Purpose

Fifteen years into my business career, I began to feel unfulfilled.  Deep in my soul, I had a desire to make a difference in the lives of other people.  Some people would argue that I was making a difference.  I contributed to the success of an organization; I managed people and helped them grow professionally.  The fact is I was a successful businesswoman, but I wasn’t happy.  I was not making a difference in the world in a way that was meaningful to me.

Each of us is uniquely made by God.  We all have special strengths and talents, and we are all passionate about different things.  We were gifted with these talents and passions for a reason – to use them to serve other people.  When you discover what makes you special, and you tap into the desires of your heart, you are halfway to fulfilling your life purpose.  When you begin using these gifts and passions to positively impact other people, then you are living a life of purpose.  The reward for you is an indescribable feeling of fulfillment.

It’s not always easy discovering your life purpose.  It takes a lot of honest self-reflection and a commitment to discovering who you are and what’s important to you.  It can be a rather elusive process, especially if soul searching is not something you’re accustomed to doing.  In order to simplify the discovery, I have identified three important questions to ask yourself.

What are your gifts and talents?

Take a look at all your strengths.  Some talents you have been naturally blessed with.  You may be an excellent communicator or perhaps you’re a gifted musician.  Some of us have the ability to teach while others are really good at fixing things.  Not only do you have inborn gifts and talents, but you’ve also developed skills over the years.  While working for a small company in the business world, I gained a tremendous amount of experience in how to run a business.  This was not a skill I was born with; it was something I learned.  In addition to your natural and learned skills and talents, you have a set of personality characteristics that serve you well.  Perhaps you’re caring or funny, persistent or objective.  All of these things make up your package of unique gifts and talents.

What are you passionate about?

From the time I was 21 years old, I have been passionate about personal growth.  As a matter of fact, when I look back on my Girl Scout days, I was even passionate about growing as an individual then.  I spent a great deal of time and energy filling up my sash with Girl Scout badges.  It was fun for me to master a new skill.  I have always loved learning and growing, so it’s not a surprise that I help others do that today.  I recently met a woman that runs a doggy day camp.  Her passion is dogs.  My mother’s passion is beauty.  She loves to make spaces, meals, parties and people beautiful.  What is your passion?  What can you get lost in for hours?  What would you be willing to do for free? 

What changes would you like to see take place in your family, community, the nation or the world?

If it wasn’t for all the people using their gifts, talents and passions to make changes, our world would be a very different place.  Mother Teresa wanted to help the poor.  Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to see equality between the races.  Danielle Steele wants women to believe in love.  There are a lot of people out there making negative changes to our world because it’s done so out of selfish desire.  What positive changes would you like to see take place while you’re still alive?  How can you contribute to making these changes?

Living a life of purpose is about making a positive difference in the lives of other people.  It’s about using our gifts, talents and passions to serve other people.  There is not fulfillment in serving ourselves.  When we give unconditionally, we receive.  The gift we receive is personal fulfillment.  All of us want to know that who we are is needed by someone in a meaningful way.  This world needs you to be you.