How to Figure Out What to Do With Your Life: 15 Questions to Discover Your Life Purpose

January 16, 2025

Navigating the journey of figuring out what to do with your life, especially in your twenties, can feel overwhelming. It’s a pivotal time when societal expectations, personal aspirations, and career uncertainties often collide. If you’re searching for clarity about your purpose or wondering what to study in college or pursue professionally, you’re not alone. Let’s break it down step by step, blending insights, research, and actionable strategies.

Why Finding Your Purpose Matters

According to Stanford professor and researcher William Damon, purpose is “an active commitment to accomplish something meaningful to the self and of consequence to the world beyond the self.” Purpose isn’t just about dreams; it’s about actionable, sustained intention. Finding your purpose can lead to greater fulfillment, stability, and motivation in both personal and professional life.

For many, purpose intertwines with work. While some find meaning in family, community, or hobbies, this guide focuses on discovering purpose through fulfilling careers.

My Personal Journey to Discovering Purpose

As a child of immigrants, societal expectations dictated that success looked like becoming a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. For years, I pursued biology, believing it was my path. But after a life-changing injury that ended my cheerleading career, I had to confront hard truths about what I truly wanted. This pivotal moment led me to embrace my passions for teaching, speaking, and helping others—and ultimately, to my purpose.

Your journey may not look the same, but it’s crucial to ask yourself tough questions and reflect deeply on your interests and values.

What Is Purpose?

To fully grasp how to find your purpose, let’s revisit Damon’s definition. Purpose is:

Active: It’s not just an idea or dream; it’s something you actively work toward over time.
Meaningful to You: It must resonate deeply with your own values, not just external expectations.
Of Consequence to Others: Purpose involves contributing to the world beyond yourself.

Debunking Purpose Myths

Your Purpose Isn’t Your Profession: Purpose is the underlying reason behind your work, not the job title itself.
It’s a Process, Not a Destination: Purpose develops over time, shaped by experiences, setbacks, and reflection.

How to Figure Out What to Do in Life

1. Reflect on Your Childhood Passions

What activities captivated you as a child?
Which parts of those activities brought you joy or fulfillment?

2. Evaluate Your Current Interests

What do you naturally gravitate toward in your free time?
What topics or activities excite you, even if they seem impractical?

3. Identify Role Models

Whose career or lifestyle do you admire?
What aspects of their journey resonate with you?

4. Pinpoint Your Dislikes

What about your current career or studies feels misaligned?
What values or interests are missing?

5. Focus on Impact

How do you want others to feel after encountering your work?
What problems do you feel drawn to solve?

6. Journal Through Guided Questions

Answering these 15 questions can clarify your life’s direction:

What did you enjoy doing as a child?
What are you curious about right now?
What would you do if money weren’t a concern?
Whose career do you envy, and why?
What energizes you during your day-to-day life?
What are your unique strengths or talents?
What activities make you lose track of time?
What’s a problem in the world you’d love to solve?
What are your core values?
Who do you want to impact most?
What do you dislike about your current job or studies?
What dreams have you set aside as “impractical”?
What’s your vision for your ideal day?
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
How do you want to grow personally and professionally?

Overcoming Common Roadblocks

Fear of Failure

Stepping into your purpose often means stepping outside your comfort zone. It’s natural to feel fear, but remember: growth happens in discomfort.

Societal Expectations

Many feel torn between personal desires and societal norms. Consider this: the number one regret of the dying, according to palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware, is, “I wish I had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

Lack of Confidence

Your subconscious mind may harbor limiting beliefs. Rewiring these beliefs can involve affirmations, visualization, and consistent action toward your goals.

Purpose vs. Profession

Your purpose is the through-line that connects your work, hobbies, and relationships. For example:

If your purpose is to educate and inspire, you might fulfill it as a teacher, coach, content creator, or parent.
If your purpose is to innovate, you could achieve it as an entrepreneur, researcher, or artist.

How to Incorporate Purpose into Daily Life

Start Small: Integrate meaningful activities into your daily routine. Volunteer, take up a hobby, or mentor others.
Experiment: Try different roles or projects to see what aligns best with your purpose.
Reflect Regularly: Periodically assess whether your actions align with your values and goals.

Key Takeaways

Purpose is about actively contributing to something meaningful to you and impactful to others.
It’s okay if your purpose evolves over time.
Reflection, experimentation, and self-awareness are essential tools in discovering your path.

Whether you’re figuring out what to study in college, making a career pivot, or simply seeking clarity, embracing the process with an open mind will help you uncover your purpose.

Share Your Journey

Have you discovered your purpose, or are you still searching? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on Instagram at @ThePostGradPlaybook. Let’s keep this conversation going and inspire each other to live authentically.