Is something missing? Here’s how to find your meaning in life

When you’re about to graduate high school, you’re tasked with finding how you’re going to live the rest of your life. It’s a daunting subject to consider at a young age. 

Career questionnaires help pinpoint jobs that might provide you with success and happiness. You may look to others and think about how they’ve found meaning in life. 

The world is enormous. Finding a sense of purpose can seem like finding a needle in a haystack. You may wonder about your purpose at a young age, and throughout your life. 

Take a deep breath. Avoid being overwhelmed by breaking it down into smaller categories. Here’s what finding your life purpose means and how you can achieve it. 

How to find meaning in life

Starting can be tricky because this isn’t a journey that has step-by-step directions. There’s no simple way to make your life feel like it has meaning. Plus, everyone has a different definition of success. You crave a sense of purpose, a happy life, and something worth living for — but what does that look like for you? 

To begin, here are 12 tips to get you on pace to find a sense of meaning in your life:

1. Learn all that you can about happiness
2. Let your talents lead you to new opportunities
3. Make connections with people with whom you share interests
4. Set goals that are challenging but clear
5. Follow your internal compass when making decisions
6. Help others when you can 
7. Listen to inspirational podcasts for energy and motivation
8. Commit to something you’ve always wanted to do
9. Practice self-care along your journey
10. Change up your routine and try new activities
11. Take breaks and make sure your physical well-being and mental health are looked after
12. Consider if something is missing in your environment

How can finding your purpose help you accomplish your goals?

People often think that finding meaning in life is synonymous with finding happiness. They aren’t wrong, but there’s more to it than being happy and carefree; purpose helps you accomplish your goals.

Finding a sense of meaning makes you examine your own life and how it feels for you at the moment. What do you want to do with your life? How interactive do you want to be with all that the world offers?

To live a meaningful life, you need a plan. Your goals require plans, too. Understanding yourself as a whole person can lead to accomplishing big goals. With greater self-awareness, you can establish your strengths and play to them. 

One day you could set a goal to learn something at your new pottery class because it might introduce you to a new passion. You could accomplish that goal the following week because of your concentration and hard work. Keeping this mentality will benefit many areas of your life.

Without a driving purpose, it’s easier to abandon goals and set plans aside. Don’t feel like this is a solo task. 

Support with goals makes a big difference. A BetterUp coach can provide support while developing the skills you need to achieve whatever’s on your to-do list.

What you should know before searching for meaning

Get comfortable with your core values and beliefs. This way, you’ll stay true to yourself as you seek life satisfaction. Your core values guide you through life, dictating your behavior and characteristics. When your values and beliefs don’t align, you’re more likely to feel disconnected and lost.

Remember, you aren’t trying to find someone else’s meaning; you’re trying to find what enriches your own professional and personal life. 

If you’re struggling to identify your values and beliefs, here’s a quick list of areas where you can try to find your personal north star:

• Family relationships
• Romantic relationships
• Hobbies and leisure activities
• Career development
• Religious communities
• Personal growth

After you’ve found your values, assign them each a rating. Some values may be closer to your heart and more personally meaningful than others. Giving them a rating helps you see where you want to spend the most time and energy each day.

Moving forward

The meaning of life isn’t going to come to you overnight. It can sometimes take years of searching. Every day, you could ask, “Who am I?” and still not know.

Expect to experience ups and downs. One day you’ll feel like you’re so close to finding purpose, and others, it’ll feel impossibly out of reach. Be patient and kind to yourself along the way. 

Above all, remember that you have one life to live. A BetterUp mentor will work with you on your individualized plan to never forget that you can find the purpose of your life with the proper mindset and strategies.