I'll be open and honest with you, when I was just coming out of school and I lost my way, I heavily sunk my teeth into partying and alcohol. This may come as a surprise if you only know me now, but that's a part of my journey that's brought me here today. I lacked meaning and direction and tried to escape that (unbeknown at the time - I was having great fun living what I thought was my best life), and unfortunately this only lasts so long. Countless times I've encountered in podcasts, books, social media posts... that as humans we need purpose and meaning. "a sense of purpose appears to have evolved in humans so that we can accomplish big things together—which may be why it’s associated with better physical and mental health. Purpose is adaptive, in an evolutionary sense. It helps both individuals and the species to survive." - A science-based article on the subject It's quite literally built into us! So how do you find purpose? Firstly, purpose and meaning doesn't have to come from your career or success, it can come from your family and friends, your hobbies, your pets, your daily encounters with your community, and so much more. In the broader scheme of things, your own life and career path has a lot to say for your purpose, and here are a few quick tips from me to help guide you:
Don't pressure yourself to find purpose, some of us take years to find it.
Grab and explore as many opportunities as you can.
Surround yourself with people who also want to find a greater purpose.
Steer clear or don't listen to those who discourage any kind of path you want to take.
Don't be afraid to fail - one of the quickest ways to find what gives you purpose is to cross off the things that don't.
Enjoy and trust the process, control what you can and have faith that the rest will figure itself out!