Some helpful advice?

[lilybug]

I don't really have many people in my life to turn to for advice of the personal development nature (most of my family are very strict LDS) so I guess I'm hoping that someone in the forums can point me in the right direction here....

My concern is with finding my purpose in life. I don't seem to be able to do it. I've tried Steve's technique numerous times and while I believe it has great merit it simply isn't working for me. I keep waiting to find an answer/purpose that I'm really passionate about - something that really strikes a chord with me but instead I don't seem to get anything but weak answers that I quickly lose interest in. I've tried other books/exercises and read other articles but nothing seems to be working. Is it possible that I don't have a purpose in life?

I feel rather stuck with the whole thing and it's affecting how I make other decisions in my life. Right now I'm trying to decide whether or not to go back to school or to simply get a job. I'm unemployed (in the traditional sense) and I'd love to keep it that way and start my own business or find some other way that I can really contribute value by doing something I love (and still be ok financially) - but without knowing my purpose I feel like I have no clue as to what direction I should head in. I'm not thrilled with the idea of going back to school because I already know I'd be doing so just so I feel like I'm doing something (anything). To be totally honest I'm running out of savings and if I don't figure something out soon I worry that I may not have much choice in what I end up doing. Everyone has to eat right?

Everyone on the forum here seems to be so passionate about their own purpose. I have plenty of things I enjoy and that make me happy but no one thing or idea that I'm really passionate about which makes me concerned that maybe there isn't anything I'm meant to do with my life. If there is why am I struggling so hard to find it? Should I just start working again until I figure out what to do or would that just make it even harder for me to discover what I'm meant for? I feel like I'm really open to what the universe has in store for me but for some reason I'm just not figuring things out....

Steve writes:
What’s important is that we each make the best contribution we can. If you’re working in a job you hate just to pay the bills, you’re robbing this wonderful planet of the real contribution you could be making. I’m sure you have plenty of reasons why you must play it safe, but deep down you know they’re just fear-based excuses. Would your excuses still seem rational if you felt no fear? The world doesn’t need any more Einsteins working as patent clerks, no matter how worried they are about paying their bills.

How am I supposed to make the best contribution I can without having a sense of purpose?

I know I've got a lot of questions up there ^^ but if there's anyone that has some advice or maybe knows what to do I'd really appreciate the help.

-lilybug

[SimonaRich]

People complicate the ways to find your true calling. There is nothing hard in that.

Whenever you feel great, it means you are going towards your life's purpose. It does not matter how long it will take but if you keep being positive you will find your purpose.

Feelings are the core indicators if you are heading to your life's purpose or away from it.

So if you feel angry or upset you can rest assured that you are steering away from your life's purpose.

[overarch]

The most difficult and therefore most rewarding endeavor we can take on is to become self-actualized... or to become who we are meant to be. The first step in achieving self-actualization is to know what your purpose is. I read a book entitled "How To 'Find' Yourself" that just blew me away when I read it. It's the most profound 26 pages on self-discovery I've ever read. If you go to this site, you can get it for free.

[Trey Baird]

I agree with Simona. When you are enjoying life, you are on the path to your calling. What occupies a good portion of your free time? Do you enjoy movies? Maybe you should write about them, or even start making them?

If you like animals, consider veterinary work. If you like food, be a food critic or a cook.

That's really all I can say. Identify all of your likes, and try to come up with as many jobs or careers as you can for each category. Then list your dislikes, and list all the opposites.