Purpose is a choice

The most common topic people talk about around personal development is the meaning of life, "why exactly am I here?"

Life is less about discovering purpose, and more about choosing a meaning to give to life. When a dog wakes up in the morning, it doesn't ponder the reason for being a dog. It didn't have to go on a quest to discover its purpose. The dog simply gets up and does doggy things, it has no choice in the matter

Fortunately, or not, people get to choose their own purpose. For most, selecting a reason to live is frightening. The thought of committing to a single mission can be more intimidating than getting a permanent tattoo, or picking a partner, for life!

Those seeking a life mission often seem to wait for the heavens to open, as they watch a beautiful white dove flutter down and land of their shoulder. With a voice like James Earl Jones, they then expect the divine messenger to tell them what to do in life. Life is more grounded than that, and purpose is a lot less flamboyant.

By involving yourself in charity work, or volunteering to do community service, you will recognise a need in others that you can, and want to, fulfil. You wont find your "calling" on your first outing, maybe not even within the first one hundred times. Somewhere, some day, your emotions will be evoked by a situation or by someone, challenging you to be a champion for the cause. Then, you make a simple choice whether or not you will pursue the cause.

Finding something or someone that you can stand up for is liberating and satisfying to the soul, but getting off the couch is going to be your first real challenge. Making the effort is your second challenge. Get past those two hurdles, and the rest... well, let's just say that then the fat lady will warm up her voice.