We all want to have a life purpose.  We want to spend our days doing work that we find rewarding and that comes naturally to us.  The challenge is figuring out what our life purpose is.

Recently, I spoke with a lady who is a very accomplished corporate attorney. She works for a prestigious company and has a senior position. I would suspect that she travels a lot for work, and when she travels, she always flies first class and stays at top hotels. She has a demanding, but from my point of view, incredibly glamorous job.

After she and I chatted, I said to my husband, “I wish I’d had a career like hers.” Then after a moment’s thought, I added, “But I’m just not built for that.” He agreed.

To Figure Out Your Life Purpose, Figure Out What You Were Built To Do

Each of us is “built” to do a certain thing with our lives. The key is to figure out what you were built to do, and then do it. In this way, people are like appliances. For instance, ovens were built to bake pies, and refrigerators were built to keep things cool. Those appliances were made to do very different things.

Likewise, we each were made to do something very specific with our lives. Admittedly, that can be disappointing. You may look at your friend who is an accomplished pianist and think, “Why can’t I be as talented as she is?” Well, you are as talented. However, your talents may not lie in piano playing.

That may seem unfair, but that’s life. We all weren’t built to be equally good at everything. We each have special, God-given aptitudes. For example, you may have an aptitude for math, while your friend may have an aptitude for learning languages.

Do What Fits Your Personality and Aptitude

I often say that you can’t put a square peg in a round hole. And I truly believe that. In all areas of life, whether it be your career or your hobbies, you need to do what fits your personality and your aptitude.

When you do what you are built to do, your life goes smoothly. Now, I’m not saying that your life will be perfect. No one’s life is perfect. But your life will have an ease to it that it didn’t have before.

You can spot people who aren’t doing what they were built to do. They live their lives in frustration. They struggle in their jobs. Their self-worth is low because they are trying to do things for which they have no natural ability. They live in frustration. And that frustration can result in depression and a general feeling of worthlessness. That is why it is so important to figure out what you were built to do. But how do we do that?

Identify Your Strengths

One way to figure out what you were built to do is to reflect on your life thus far. When have you felt that you were doing something well? Have you ever had a teacher or friend compliment you on your skills in a certain area? Have you ever had a boss take note of something that you did exceptionally well? Look for the breadcrumbs. They will lead you to what you were meant to do with your life.

For example, when I was in high school, I had an English teacher who complimented me on my writing. His comment stuck in my head over the years. Then, as time went on, I received further compliments from supervisors on my writing. And at a certain point, I realized that I was built to write.

Once I started a daily writing practice, my life truly changed. Writing has given me an energy that I previously did not have. Because I was built to be a writer, the act of writing satisfies me in a way that no other professional activity can. Thanks to writing, my life just clicks.

This week, ask yourself, “Am I doing what I was built to do?” That is a tough question for many. But if your life isn’t working the way it should, take a hard look at whether your job and hobbies match your talents. If you create a life that capitalizes on how you were “built,” everything will fall into place.  (To read more about discovering your life purpose, click here.)

Email: meerabelle@meerabelledey.com

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