There’s lots of career advice to let your purpose guide your career aspirations. But what if you don’t actually know what your purpose is? Here are steps you can take to sort out what your overarching intention in life should be. 

* Seek out new experiences. Explore your interests by trying out new things. Look for opportunities to meaningfully connect with individuals and communities with different backgrounds, beliefs, and values than yours so you can reflect on what matters to you.

* Reflect on your experiences. Find positive meaning in the things you do. Ask yourself: How did this experience shape who I am? How did it impact my values and worldviews? The goal here is to gain insight into the aspects of the experiences you’ve most enjoyed, derived meaning from, and want to continue pursuing.

* Discuss your life goals and gather feedback. Once you’ve done some personal self-reflection, it’s important to discuss your aspirations with friends (not just with a therapist or coach). For example, you might share with your friend: “I’ve been thinking about what I want from life lately and would love to share some of my ideas with someone. Do you have time to talk? I would enjoy learning about your life goals as well.” These conversations can help you see your goals in a new light and articulate your purpose.
This tip is adapted from “How to Find Your Purpose,” by Ayse Yemiscigil, Melis Sena Yılmaz, and Matthew T. Lee
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