Exploding the Myths about Your Life Purpose

There are misconceptions about what it means to fulfill your life purpose. I want to clear up three of the most common:

Myth #1: You have only one life purpose.

Many people believe they must search for a single, grand life purpose. In reality, your purpose is not just one thing—it’s many things. Your purpose evolves as you grow, and it can be expressed in multiple ways throughout different areas of your life.

Myth #2: You are only fulfilling your purpose if you work in a service, healing, or spiritual profession.

It’s a common belief that being a teacher, healer, or spiritual guide is the only way to live a purposeful life. But your purpose isn’t limited to a specific job title—it’s about how you show up in the world. You can fulfill your purpose as a parent, an artist, a scientist, or even through everyday interactions, like offering kindness to a stranger.

Myth #3: Your life purpose should financially support you and your family.

Some people think that if they’ve truly found their life purpose, it should provide financial security. But purpose and income are not the same thing. A fulfilling career and financial success are great, but they don’t necessarily define your deeper purpose. Your purpose is about who you are, not just what you do for a living.

Clues to Your Life Purpose

If you’re unsure about your life purpose, look at what you naturally gravitate toward. Your prayers, dreams, affirmations, and deepest desires hold some clues. For example, do you often pray for enlightenment, inspiration, or trust? If so, those qualities may be a core part of your purpose. Instead of waiting for your purpose to reveal itself, take action: be enlightening, be inspiring, be trustworthy. Your purpose is not something you find—it’s something you embody.

Your Purpose is Not Your Job

One of the most freeing truths about life purpose is that it’s portable. It moves with you, no matter where you are or what you do. Your work is just one part of your life, and while a meaningful career can be fulfilling, it is not the sole definition of your purpose.

Let’s say you’re a musician who plays for joy rather than profit, or a caregiver who offers love and support without expectation of financial gain. Their purpose is alive in their actions, regardless of whether they earn money from it. If you decide to make a living from your purpose, be prepared for the challenges that come with monetising something deeply personal. Monetising your life purpose contains a number of challenges. Here are three challenges that often come with this process:

1. Find the balance between your passion and profit. Your passion is intrinsically motivated. Making a profit is extrinsic motivator. When you turn your life purpose into a source of income, it can be difficult to maintain the same level of passion and enthusiasm. The pressure to generate revenue can overshadow the intrinsic joy and fulfillment you originally found in your purpose.
2. Maintain your commitment to your authentic Self, which is sacred. Monetising something deeply personal can lead to compromises in authenticity and being true to your Sacred Self. You might feel the need to alter or adapt your purpose to fit market demands, which can dilute the genuine essence of what you stand for.
3. Expect to navigate financial uncertainty. Unlike traditional career paths, monetising your life purpose can come with financial instability. It takes time to build a steady income stream, and there might be periods of uncertainty and fluctuation in earnings.

These types of challenges highlight the complexities involved in aligning your personal values with financial goals.

The Real Test of Your Commitment to Your Purpose

If you realise your purpose may not bring financial rewards, would you still pursue your purpose if there were no money involved?

It’s easy to feel passionate about your purpose when life is going well—when the bills are paid, the sun is shining, and everything is in order. But the real test is who you choose to be when life is hard. True purpose is not about what you do when everything is easy; it’s about who you are when challenges arise.

The simple truth is your life purpose isn’t something complex or elusive—it’s actually quite simple: Your purpose is to BE.

You can be inspiring at home. You can be trustworthy in your relationships. You can be enlightening at work. Your purpose isn’t tied to a single role, career, or place—it’s multifaceted. You can live your purpose in every aspect of your life, in big ways and small. So, instead of searching for a single, perfect purpose, embrace the freedom to express it everywhere.