As a transformational life coach, I have the privilege of working with ambitious people who are destined for greatness, but often times, they have a difficult time finding their purpose. Throughout the years, people have approached me and asked me the question: “ How do I know or find what my purpose is?” To help answer this question for my clients and the many people who have asked this, I have created 7 helpful tips I share with my clients and other ambitious people who find difficulty in identifying their purpose.
I am a believer in God, who is my source of living ( some identify it as pure energy, the universe, Allah, etc). Whatever you call the “source”, and in this case, for me, it’s God. I believe God has given every person what they need to succeed in life so that we all can live abundantly. Therefore, I will start this piece with a bible verse Romans chapter 12 versus:6–8.
“6 We all have gifts. They differ according to the grace God has given to each of us. Do you have the gift of prophecy? Then use it according to the faith you have. 7 If your gift is serving, then serve. If it is teaching, then teach. 8 Is it encouraging others? Then encourage them. Is it giving to others? Then give freely. Is it being a leader? Then work hard at it. Is it showing mercy? Then do it cheerfully.”
I believe one of the reasons we are on this earth is to use our God-given gifts to enhance the lives of others. Once you have identified your gifts, it opens the door to your purpose.
Here are my 7 helpful tips on how to identify your God-given gifts that will open the door to your purpose.
Tip 1: Identify all your interest. Identify everything you love to do and everything that just comes easy and write it down.
Take this time to brainstorm and truly focus on what makes you happy and focus on what skills and talents come easy to you without hesitation.
Tip 2: Pray about it or meditate to help calm your mind and center you.
If you are a believer, praying helps you stay grounded and focused. Some meditate to help them become more centered. In this state, what you have identified in tip number 1 becomes visibly clear and the answer will start to appear for you.
Tip 3: Ask your friends & family for guidance.
When you surround yourself with friends and family who are supportive and encouraging and each one loves to see you win, their opinions and perspectives can help you further identify your gifts. Sometimes friends and family can help point you or identify some of the great characteristics that can help you come closer to identifying your gifts. They can help you answer questions such as:
*What are some of the great things about you?
*What do people admire about you?
Tip 4: Narrow Your List
Using what you have identified in the previous process, narrow your list of talents, skills, and interests you have identified.
Tip 5: Come back to the list with a fresh set of eyes
Out of college, I held a job as a healthcare marketing and administrative assistant for a health care policy agency. Every time I created a project and presented it to my manager, she would say, “ Cynthia, good job, but let’s come back to it and look at it with a fresh set of new eyes.” What she said was so excellent, and as an adult and a life coach, I have implemented this thinking in everything I do. Apply this thinking to the list you have narrowed. Coming back to your narrowed list with more clarity can help you become closer to identifying your gifts that will lead you to your purpose.
Tip 6: Number it from 1–10
Using your narrowed list of skills and talents you have identified for yourself, number your interest and the things you love to do with ease from 1–10. If you did not give your identified skill or talent a 10, remove it from the list. What you have removed, can still be a gift, but it is not your passion that can provide you with the tools needed to lead you to your purpose. If it is a 10, that is a passion and will be more purposeful to follow.
Tip 7: Create an action plan for your purpose
Look through the list you narrowed and does anything your friends or family say about you match up with what you have identified? Was there a common skill, passion, or talent that was consistent? Use the list you have identified to create an action plan to unleash your purpose. This tip takes a lot of self-discovery. It is very important to do this with clarity, so take your time to get to the result you are looking to achieve. Here is an equation I have developed to empower you to live your purpose.
Passion+ Cultivate + Persistence + Share with the world to enhance the lives of others consistently = Purpose
A person’s passion often times is tied in with their gift. If you cultivate and persistently pursue your God-given gift and share with the world consistently, you have reached your purpose.
In conclusion, every person on this earth has a gift, and being able to share that gift with the world is what makes you unique, and honing in on that gift is what can empower you to unleash your purpose. The path to self-discovery and following the tips, I have shared with you today will help you get to the results you are looking to achieve and unleash your God-given gift that will lead you to your purpose.
Your Lovable Transformational Life Coach,
Cynthia Appiah, MSW, CLC
