How can I find my purpose?

You can download a blank version of the diagram to complete yourself.

Click here to download the diagram so you can fill it in.

Dr Rachel Collins provides some tips on what to think about when finding your sense of purpose. Rachel says "It is important to find something you enjoy and don’t be afraid of trying different things. When filling out the diagram you may want to think about the following:

• What or who is important to me? – the most important thing is to do something you enjoy and brings happiness and meaning to both yourself and maybe others. You are then more likely to continue, develop a habit and achieve that sense of purpose. Also, think about any charities, causes or organisations that are important to you and may be able to help.
• What interests me? – what hobbies, activities or jobs do you do or may have done in the past, that you found enjoyable and stimulating? This could be doing something you like doing quietly and peacefully on your own, like drawing and painting. It could be that you find activities involving lots of people, such as working with a local charity, the most stimulating and rewarding.
• What time do I have? – decide on how much time you want to and can dedicate to the activity and how often. You might want to undertake something that requires a few minutes every day, or a couple of hours every week. You might prefer to do something that requires more time commitment but is less frequent. Whatever you choose has to be realistic. It needs to fit in with your existing commitments and lifestyle without overburdening yourself.
• What skills do I have? – think about the skills you have. For example, are you good at talking to people, writing, languages, music, sports? Focus on what you can do and not what you can’t do. However, some activities may require you to learn new skills and so ask yourself “Do I want to learn something new or would I rather use the skills I already have?”
• How much support or help do I want? – do you want to be able to do the task independently or with input from others? If you do want extra help or support, what type and how much do you want? For example, would you want help with setting up a computer but then be left to get on with it? Or alternatively do you want to be part of a large supportive team and network, such as helping on a research project?
• How practical is it? – this also links with some of the points discussed above. You may have decided on a fantastic idea that you want to do but you have to be practical and realistic, and ask yourself some serious questions. Can you get to the location? Does it require going out somewhere and are there the facilities available to support your needs? Can you financially afford to undertake the activity on a regular basis? Would you be putting your own health and wellbeing at risk?

Finally, it doesn’t matter how big or small the activity is as long as it helps you. I hope these tips help with finding your sense of purpose."