Finding Your Life Purpose: A Journey to Meaning Beyond Survival

Many of us grow up without ever truly thinking about finding your life purpose — until one day, the question hits.

Have you ever paused – maybe in childhood or during a quiet moment – and wondered, “Why am I even here? What am I doing on this earth? Was I born for something more than just existing?

I’ve asked myself these kinds of questions often. That curiosity has lived in me since childhood. And while most people may shrug it off and say,” What a silly question,” if you ask them for a real answer, they often fall silent or say something vague like,” Just to survive,” or quote the same generalized life draft I mentioned in my earlier blog.

But that answer never satisfied me.

So I kept searching – and through that search, I came to understand something: each of us is born with purpose. A mission. And strangely, that idea started making sense to me. But then another question came up – What exactly is my purpose? And why would I be given one?

Let’s start with the “why”.

We humans have one powerful gift that sets us apart from other species: our intellect. The ability to reflect, question, observe, and understand. That’s not just luck or coincidence. That’s intentional.

We’ve been given this ability for a reason. Not just to survive, but to contribute – to rise above instincts and create meaning. Sadly, most of us don’t use this power for what it was meant for. We use it only to chase survival and comfort.

So I often ask myself: If a superhero, born with extraordinary powers, chooses to live like an ordinary person, isn’t that a waste? That’s exactly how many of us live.

Now, someone might ask,” Why go through all this efforts to find your purpose? Why not just live a simple life and enjoy?

And honestly, that seems like a fair question. After all, what’s wrong with comfort? But here’s the thing: comfort without meaning eventually turns into emptiness. You may laugh, love, earn and even succeed – but in quiet moments, something still feels missing.

Purpose isn’t just about ambition. It’s about alignment – between your soul and your actions, between what you do and who you truly are. When you find your purpose, life doesn’t suddenly becomes perfect – but it becomes real. It becomes yours.

Because if you’re not living your purpose, chances are, you’re living someone else’s idea of life.

There are people who achieve incredible things in life – wealth, fame, success – but still feel empty. Why? Because somewhere, they strayed from what truly resonated with their soul. Even those who “have it all” sometimes feel like they missed “something” is their true purpose.

So how do you find your purpose?

There’s no fixed guide. No five-step formula. That’s why most people never attempt to find it. It’s difficult. It takes time. It required discomfort.

When I asked myself these questions at age 10, I didn’t get answers immediately. But now, at 16, things are clearer. My purpose is still evolving – but at least now, I’m aware of its presence. I feel the direction.

What helped me? A few things:

Knowing yourself: When you understand your emotions, your strengths, your abilities – you move closer. Purpose is always connected to your natural being, not someone else’s dream.

Self- reflection: Introspection is necessary. And it requires space – not a crowed , busy mind full of distractions.

Faith in life’s events: Good or bad, every experience shapes you. And strangely enough, it’s often the bad experiences that pull you closer to your purpose. They shake you, break you, and then show you a path you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.

As Samantha Ruth Prabhu once said, “The things that bother you are often the ones that take you towards your purpose”. That line hit me hard – because it was exactly what I felt.

The more open, curious, and self-aware you are, the more paths reveal themselves. And if you look closely at the lives of reformers, freedom fighters, artist, or visionaries, you’ll see one common thing: they all lived with purpose. And often, purpose isn’t just about you. It’s bigger. It uplifts others. It serves the world in some way.

That’s why we remember them – because they didn’t just live for themselves.

Truth is, many people are born, survive, and die without ever touching their purpose – because from birth, they’re stuck in survival mode. And that’s not their fault.

But if you’re privileged enough to have your basic needs met – food, shelter, safety – then why not think beyond? Why not look at life through a larger lens?

Purpose is not about chasing perfection. It’s about connection – to yourself, to others, and to the world. And when you live it, you feel whole.

If you’re even slightly moved by this idea of purpose, I highly recommend reading the poem “Manushyata” by Maithili Sharan Gupta. It reflects deeply on what it truly means to be a human – beyond survival. Sometimes, a poem gives more clarity than a thousand books. This one might do that for you.

“In the end, finding your life purpose isn’t about achieving something grand – it’s about doing what truly feels right to your soul. If this blog made you pause and reflect, even for a moment, maybe that’s where your journey begins. Please feel free to share your thoughts – I would love to hear them.   

If you connected with this reflection on finding your life purpose, you might also resonate with my first blog— where I shared how societal norms aren’t meant for everyone.

https://intentfulink.com/rethink-societal-norms/