Human beings need purpose. Without purpose, we find ourselves trapped in a world of just getting by. If we don’t know what inspires us, we can never truly find happiness or fulfillment. When we do not have purpose, it can be difficult to accomplish anything that helps us feel good about ourselves. Having a purpose is an important key to addiction recovery; having goals for life is a motivator for sobriety.
When someone is an addict, it can be difficult to know their purpose. If they had a purpose, they lost sight of it. If they were looking for a purpose, it was given up as a lost cause. In recovery, it is important to overcome this mentality. In the path to recovery, rediscovering your purpose is essential.
But how can one go about finding their purpose? It might take some soul searching, but there are five questions that you can ask yourself to get you started on the right path:
1. What did I love to do as a kid? Anyone who has been around kids knows that every child knows what they like and what they don’t like. If we can remember what we enjoyed doing as a kid, we’ll find clues about what might make us happy as adults.
2. What is my deepest pain in life? It is possible to find purpose in pain. Someone who lost a loved one to an illness might go on to become a doctor or nurse. Something that deeply impacted you negatively at one time can go on to become a driving force in your life for good.
3. What is my secret fantasy? If you consistently daydream about something, no matter how unrealistic it may seem, then you have an interest and you can find a way to work with it.
4. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? It might seem like a superficial question, but this can be an important part of figuring out what is truly important to you.
5. What makes me tick? Think about the times in your life when you were excited. Think about the times when you felt fulfilled. Then think about how you walk through life in a moment-by-moment basis. When does your life give you energy? When you’re excited, fulfilled, and energetic, you’re ticking. And whatever makes you tick is probably related to your purpose.
If you can answer these questions thoughtfully, you can identify your purpose and you’ll have a clear direction in life. With this purpose in mind, you’ll have a reason to continue on the path to recovery. Finding your purpose is key to the rest of your life.