Discovering one’s purpose requires soul-searching, a deeper dive into what makes your life worth living. Here are some suggested strategies to examine what purpose really means to you in your recovery:
- What matters most to you? Without overthinking it, write down your immediate answers. They will clarify your values as you examine what gives your life purpose. Hint: Consider the simple gifts.
- Think about a person you love and what seems to give their life meaning. This person may be alive or deceased, but either way they need to be someone you trust and respect. Make a list of things that appear meaningful to them. These items will give you a solid example of what gives others a reason to wake up in the morning.
- How do you give back to others or not? Helping a disabled person across the street or volunteering at your local animal shelter are both legitimate examples. Track any acts of kindness and additional ways you would like to be of service. By giving back, you will automatically find meaning within yourself.
- What are you grateful for in your life? For the next thirty days (or one week if that feels like too much), make a gratitude list each morning. Those items will reveal possibilities of what gives your life meaning.
- Who do you feel most connected to? Who tends to be most emotionally- dependable? Friends, family, co-workers, pets? Ponder this question to determine where the deeper contact in your life exists. These will be the people or animals who provide greater meaning.
- A mission statement provides direction and purpose. If your actions and core values are congruent, you’ll move forward more easily. If you feel inclined to write a mission statement, you might consider the following formula: Actions + Values + Receivers
- Finding purpose in recovery is an unfolding process. Be patient and stay open-hearted to the possibilities.