How to find your life purpose – your North Star
Finding one’s purpose in life can be a lifelong journey filled with self-discovery and reflection. It is a question that often plagues many individuals, as they search for meaning and fulfillment. In this blog post, we will explore how finding your “true north,” or North Star, is the key to helping you find your purpose in life.
Much has been written about finding your North Star, the ever-guiding light that orients us to our calling/purpose, and reorients us when we get lost. Like ancient mariners who used the North Star to guide their travels, we seek a point outside ourselves to guide the direction of our lives.
Seeing others as your North Star
Human emotions and brains develop by mirroring the gaze of our caregivers, regardless of what the adult is feeling. So, from a very early age, we are conditioned to seek what is true outside ourselves.
Over time, we develop an awareness of our internal states, but it is easy to fall into a pattern of assigning more power to what others think. We look to what caretakers, teachers, religious leaders, politicians, or partners think we ought to do, feel, and be rather than trust our inner voice.
Conditioning and others’ reactions to our deepest desires can keep us from exploring the inner frontiers of our heart and psyche and looking for that North Star within. Some go through their entire lives believing that if they attend to the self, they are selfish.
Exploring our values and beliefs
Looking within for your North Star leads us to our inner certainty, sense of peace, and our passion. But it requires self-awareness and reflection. You’ll want to take the time to identify activities or topics that ignite excitement and joy within you. Consider your hobbies, skills, and the things you naturally gravitate towards. Reflect on what brings you a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
However, you might be like me and find that taking time to reflect on what values and principles are most important to you gives you the greatest insight.
I began my career in banking and financial planning while I was searching within for my “true” calling. I enjoyed my work, but a small voice inside reminded me that it wasn’t my True North.
As I evaluated the things and times I felt happiest and most fulfilled, I culled from both career and inner experiences and began to write an inner resume of qualities and values of the heart/soul.
I valued my roles as educator, problem-solver, and translator of scary concepts into simple ideas. I also valued my role as a supporter of dreams, nurturer, researcher, and awareness-raiser. Ultimately, I knew I had a deep desire for others to be free of suffering. All of these led to an outer calling of a psychologist and an inner sense of being a healer.
I had found my North Star.
How do you know if you’ve found your North Star?
You’ve taken the time and done the inner work. You know more about yourself than ever before and have started moving in the direction of your own North Star. But there are still times when you feel unsure. How do you know if you’re really going in the right direction?
The litmus test is the congruence between this direction and your values, your wants, and your needs. This leads to effortlessness. When you move toward your North Star, you no longer resist what others believe you should be or how you should live your life. Resistance takes vital energy from being, and instead, you’re choosing from inside who and how to be. With the resistance removed, you feel the effortlessness.
True North is the basis of one’s inner power. You know it when you get there.
Finding your purpose in life is a deeply personal and individual journey. It requires self-reflection, exploration, and a willingness to embrace yourself. By reflecting on your values, you can embark on a path that aligns with your true purpose. Remember, it is a continuous process, and it’s never too late to discover your purpose and live a more fulfilling life.