Why Are You Here?
Eleven Questions To Help You Find The Answers

by Bill Asenjo, Ph.D., CRC

Some people believe we each have a specific purpose—a calling or mission that transcends our daily routine. It may be the talent we came to Earth to develop, a service we are here to render, a part of the planet we came to improve. Much broader than a job or career, our life purpose pervades our entire existence. Fulfilling it need not require deprivation, suffering, or living in poverty. As the renowned author Joseph Campbell observed, it’s about “following your bliss.”

True, fulfilling our life purpose does require commitment. But who wouldn’t want to commit to a fulfilling life?

Clues to finding our purpose in life

As you consider the following questions, forget what others might say or think about your answers. 

1. What do you love to do? When you have spare time, how do you like to spend it? The answers likely hold seeds of opportunities you’ve yet to realize. For example, in a career counseling session two women said they loved to watch soap operas. They converted this into a career writing syndicated summaries of the soaps.

2. What would you do if you didn’t have to earn a living? If you had enough money, not Bill Gates wealthy, but enough, so that you didn’t have to work, what would you do with yourself? And after you’ve traveled the world, paid off your debts, shopped till you dropped — what then?

3. What aspects of your present job or life activities do you thoroughly enjoy? Even if you’re unhappy in your present job or career, ask yourself why you chose that job or career. What appealed to you?

4. What do you naturally do well? What comes easy to you? Are you handy fixing things? Learning languages? Do people seem to confide in you? Do others look to you for leadership or direction? If you are a natural in something, AND you enjoy it, pay attention.

5. In your opinion, what are your five greatest successes? Put aside what others consider your greatest successes. Was it the time you helped someone in need — that no one else knew about? Maybe it was a widely publicized improvement you brought about in your company’s efficiency. What was it about that accomplishment or event that makes it a success? The money? The sense of satisfaction?

6. Is there a cause you’re passionate about? Our commitments often indicate life purpose. For example, do you feel passionately about saving the whales? Think about it. Is it the whales you care most about? Or is it more about preserving nature? Maybe your passion lies in saving the environment overall. Think about why you’re passionate about a cause.

7. What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life? Why are they important? Are they values and principles you’ve embraced? In what way?

8. Are there issues or perceived problems that occur over and over again? Our problems often hold the most important life lessons. Has an issue prevented you from doing something? Detoured you into doing something you didn’t want to do? Could this problem be telling you to choose another path? Can you view this issue in another way?

9. What do you daydream about doing? Daydreams, and sleep dreams, are rooted in the subconscious. They’re keys to our deepest desires. As a boy, Stephen Spielberg spent all his spare time in movie theatres. Neighbors dismissed him as an irresponsible dreamer.

10. What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? This question invites you to look beyond your perceived limitations. Have you ever thought about doing something only to say to yourself that you couldn’t succeed? What if you were guaranteed that you would?

11. What do you want to be remembered for after you’ve died? What would you like others to say about you? How will you like to have changed the world? 

Implementing your life purpose

Now that you’ve discovered, or begun to discover, your life’s purpose, take action. 

Take some action related to fulfilling your purpose in life the first thing each morning

This may require sacrifices — getting up early before daily responsibilities distract you. One author wrote his first book by composing one page each morning. In less than a year he had written his first book. As the Chinese sage, Lao Tsu, said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.”

Make choices that take you towards your life purpose

Each time you’re faced with a decision, ask yourself: “will this bring me closer to my goal?” Life purpose isn’t often accomplished in grand, sweeping events. Usually it’s accomplished by accumulating the results from many seemingly insignificant decisions or choices.

Be willing to change.

Rather than wait until you have it all figured out, start now. Do something, ask questions, investigate. Even if it’s uncomfortable, take action. If you wait for everything to be perfect, if you expect to be comfortable with change, you may never begin.

Discovering your life purpose is the beginning of life. Have a good one.

In 1986, a NDE (near death encounter) with a brain tumor sent Bill Asenjo back to college for a second time (he failed out the first time) to find his own life purpose. Today Bill is a vocational consultant, freelance writer, speaker, teacher of a college course on “Discovering Your Purpose in Life”, and is a certified rehabilitation counselor. Visit his website at www.billasenjo.com  .

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