{"id":1485,"date":"2019-10-01T18:48:18","date_gmt":"2019-10-01T18:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/?p=1485"},"modified":"2020-10-24T21:29:34","modified_gmt":"2020-10-24T21:29:34","slug":"your-life-purpose-what-were-you-built-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2019\/10\/your-life-purpose-what-were-you-built-to-do.html","title":{"rendered":"Finding Your Life Purpose: What Were You Built to Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"life<\/a>
Photo Courtesy of Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We all want to have a life purpose.\u00a0 We want to spend our days doing work that we find rewarding and that comes naturally to us.\u00a0 The challenge is figuring out what our life purpose is.<\/p>\n

Recently, I spoke with a lady who is a very accomplished corporate attorney. She works for a prestigious company and has a senior position. I would suspect that she travels a lot for work, and when she travels, she always flies first class and stays at top hotels. She has a demanding, but from my point of view, incredibly glamorous job.<\/p>\n

After she and I chatted, I said to my husband, \u201cI wish I\u2019d had a career like hers.\u201d Then after a moment\u2019s thought, I added, \u201cBut I\u2019m just not built for that.\u201d He agreed.<\/p>\n

To Figure Out Your Life Purpose, Figure Out What You Were Built <\/em>To Do<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Each of us is \u201cbuilt\u201d to do a certain thing with our lives. The key is to figure out what you were built to do, and then do it. In this way, people are like appliances. For instance, ovens were built to bake pies, and refrigerators were built to keep things cool. Those appliances were made to do very different things.<\/p>\n

Likewise, we each were made to do something very specific with our lives. Admittedly, that can be disappointing. You may look at your friend who is an accomplished pianist and think, \u201cWhy can\u2019t I be as talented as she is?\u201d Well, you are as talented. However, your talents may not lie in piano playing.<\/p>\n

That may seem unfair, but that\u2019s life. We all weren\u2019t built to be equally good at everything. We each have special, God-given aptitudes. For example, you may have an aptitude for math, while your friend may have an aptitude for learning languages.<\/p>\n

Do What Fits Your Personality and Aptitude<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I often say that you can\u2019t put a square peg in a round hole. And I truly believe that. In all areas of life, whether it be your career or your hobbies, you need to do what fits your personality and your aptitude.<\/p>\n

When you do what you are built to do, your life goes smoothly. Now, I\u2019m not saying that your life will be perfect. No one\u2019s life is perfect. But your life will have an ease to it that it didn\u2019t have before.<\/p>\n

You can spot people who aren\u2019t doing what they were built to do. They live their lives in frustration. They struggle in their jobs. Their self-worth is low because they are trying to do things for which they have no natural ability. They live in frustration. And that frustration can result in depression and a general feeling of worthlessness. That is why it is so important to figure out what you were built to do. But how do we do that?<\/p>\n

Identify Your Strengths<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One way to figure out what you were built to do is to reflect on your life thus far. When have you felt that you were doing something well? Have you ever had a teacher or friend compliment you on your skills in a certain area? Have you ever had a boss take note of something that you did exceptionally well? Look for the breadcrumbs. They will lead you to what you were meant to do with your life.<\/p>\n

For example, when I was in high school, I had an English teacher who complimented me on my writing. His comment stuck in my head over the years. Then, as time went on, I received further compliments from supervisors on my writing. And at a certain point, I realized that I was<\/em> built to write. <\/em><\/p>\n

Once I started a daily writing practice, my life truly changed. Writing has given me an energy that I previously did not have. Because I was built to be a writer, the act of writing satisfies me in a way that no other professional activity can. Thanks to writing, my life just clicks.<\/p>\n

This week, ask yourself, \u201cAm I doing what I was built to do?\u201d That is a tough question for many. But if your life isn\u2019t working the way it should, take a hard look at whether your job and hobbies match your talents. If you create a life that capitalizes on how you were \u201cbuilt,\u201d everything will fall into place.\u00a0 (To read more about discovering your life purpose, click here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Email: meerabelle@meerabelledey.com<\/strong><\/p>\n

To receive my free e-book, “The Confidence Course,” and my weekly newsletter, visit meerabelledey.com<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We all want to have a life purpose.\u00a0 We want to spend our days doing work that we find rewarding and that comes naturally to us.\u00a0 The challenge is figuring out what our life purpose is. Recently, I spoke with a lady who is a very accomplished corporate attorney. She works for a prestigious company…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nFinding Your Life Purpose: What Were You Built to Do? - Your Morning Cup of Inspiration<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you want to find your life purpose, look at your natural strengths and aptitudes. 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