Do you ever come to a point in your life where you sit there and think to yourself, “How in the world did I get here, and what in the world am I doing with my life?”  Well, if that’s you, know that you’re not alone.  The more people I talk to through various walks of life, I find that we’ve all either been there before, or are currently there trying to figure it out.  Allow me to encourage you, and say that you’re in a good spot.  Now, I’m sure you’re thinking to yourself, “How can she say that?  She doesn’t even know the half of it.”  While you’re right that I don’t know all your situations, what I do know is that you’ve made it this far, so congratulations!  Keep going!  Some people just keep doing the same old thing that they know they weren’t born to do, yet they do nothing to change it.  That’s not you; you know that you’re made for more, and you’re just trying to figure out what that exactly looks like for YOU–not for anyone else.

Since I’ve been here before and know what it feels like, and I know so many others who have been here as well, I decided to pass along a few things that have helped me discover my God-given purpose.  These five tips have helped me tremendously, and I pray they inspire you as well.

1) Be patient

As they say, patience truly is a virtue.  And it’s something I constantly I have to work on each and every day.  However, being patient in figuring out your purpose in life is essential.  While I know it’s tough, it’s necessary.  Otherwise, if you just jump right into something that you haven’t given much thought to, you’ll most likely find that it wasn’t what you were truly meant to do.  So, give it enough time.  But, also set a goal for when you’d like to know by, so that you can keep yourself accountable and have something to shoot for.

2) Pray

This one is huge for me.  Without communication with my Lord and Savior, I am completely lost.  Knowing that I can talk with Him whenever and wherever, and that He is always listening, is so reassuring.  In saying that, communication goes both ways.  I can’t just do all the talking–I must listen as well, in order to hear His voice and know it’s Him, and not just the distractions of the world telling me what to do.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  -Romans 12:12

3) Do your part

What I mean by this, is that you need to actively be seeking out those things that truly set your soul on fire!  And don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things.  After all, you won’t know if you like something until you actually try it.  That’s all part of self-discovery.  And while it won’t come overnight, I promise you it will come, as long as you want it bad enough and continue to do all that’s in your power to figure it out.

“Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.”  -Orison Swett Marden

4) Take a trip

Sometimes a little getaway is just what you need to give your mind a rest from the daily routine of things and time to focus on YOU and what you really want out of life–and not just what you want, but what you want to give.  A little adventure allows your mind to be creative, which will get you thinking outside the box.  And when you’re trying to figure out your purpose, that’s just what you need.  You won’t find your purpose in thinking like you’ve been thinking; in order to gain clarification, you’ll have to think differently.  So to get your mind thinking, take a trip, jam out to music in the car, get out in nature (maybe stand on your head on a mountain, because, why not?), and just explore in order to find yourself.

5) Just breathe

Take time to simply breathe and reflect.  Think about where you are now, what got you to that point, and where you want to be.  And know that it’s all going to be okay.  Sometimes things have to fall completely apart in order for them to be rebuilt like they’re supposed to be.

My prayer is that you find some hope and encouragement in this, and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark it may seem.  For me, all of my personal struggles through this process are all worth it, in order to be able to help even just one other soul going through the same thing.  Know that I believe in you and that you’ll get through this–you will overcome, and I’ll be right here cheering you on each step of the way.

xoxo,

miranda