Find my purpose in life

I’d say I’ve completed this. My initial search for a “purpose” was sidetracked in a good way I think. It seems to me that there is no “purpose” in life. I read what another user said, maybe it’s just a search for what makes you happy. What that IS will change throughout your life I’m guessing.

I’ve found what makes me happy for now. I’d call that my purpose for now.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve gradually developed and become comfortable with the concept that my career and my purpose can and may be totally separate.

Shortly after initially conceptualizing this, I took some time to resume a hobby that I’ve enjoyed on and off throughout my life. Some would consider my hobby work, but when I spent my entire Saturday at the library researching my hobby and still felt like going back on Sunday, it was clear to me that I was on to something.

I’m not ready to say that this hobby is my purpose, but it’s the closest I’ve ever come to finding my purpose, so I must continue down that road.

What’s ironic is my hobby could generate income; not millions, but I may be able to live off of it.

I’ve spent weeks, months, maybe years trying to make my current career fit into my life. I didn’t even realize this until a few weeks ago when I finally gave up trying.

About three weeks ago after a conversation with a close friend, I realized that my “purpose” in life is to enjoy life and my purpose doesn’t need to have anything to do with my chosen career. My purpose doesn’t need to be saving the manatees. It doesn’t need to be something big or dramatic. It can change over time.

My career should fit a place in my life. My career does not have to be my purpose, but it can and must allow me to pursue my purpose. In my case, it must finance my enjoyment and it must allow me the work/life balance I need to pursue my purpose.

Does my career need to satisfy my purpose in order for me to be happy? Can I be happy even if the two don’t align? I think for me the answer to this question is: it’s a more complex than that.

I think my career needs to be a part of what makes me happy, but I don’t think I should depend on just my career to satisfy all my happiness triggers. When someone asks me ‘what’s the perfect career for you?’ The answer is always something that doesn’t exist: ‘I want to do whatever I want, whenever I want, not do what I don’t want to do, and get paid $10 million a year for it.’

Throughout my relatively short working life, I’ve been looking for the closest thing to that perfect job. But I think I’ve been misled. If I want to sleep late, then I need a job that doesn’t start at 8AM. If I want to do whatever I want, then I need to run my own company. However, these don’t necessarily lead to me making $10M / year. (Maybe I need to marry a rich cougar for that).

The point is this: I’ve been looking for the perfect career that will satisfy all my happiness triggers and really I should be looking for the career that fits my lifestyle the best way possible and allows me the opportunity to satisfy the most important happiness triggers through whatever means available.