‘Why am I here’ is one of the age-old questions in life, with the modern twist being the quest to find your purpose. A quick Google keyword search shows that globally the search term ‘how to find your purpose’ has increased steadily in the last 10 years, with the highest spike occurring just a few months ago. You could almost say that we are obsessed with finding our purpose.
According to Amy McLaren in her debut book, Passion to Purpose: A Seven-Step Journey to Shed Self-Doubt, Find Inspiration, and Change Your Life (and the World) for the Better, “purpose is your unique contribution to the world”. Amy goes on to suggest that “everyone’s purpose (and therefore, the impact they are bound to make) will have its own unique flavor”.
So, purpose is not prescriptive. Perhaps that’s what makes it seem so elusive. Yet, it’s not impossible to find your purpose and live it.
The truth is, your purpose is important. It’s the difference between just existing and thriving in life. Your dreams, your passion, your purpose are all worth fighting for.
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Having just read the Passion to Purpose (affiliate link — mentioned above), I’ve been rethinking what it means to find your purpose. I was on the Passion to Purpose book launch team and got to read it before it was released to the rest of the world. One thing I love about Passion to Purpose is that Amy McLaren not only shares her journey of finding her purpose, but also suggests how you can find your purpose too.
Without giving too much away, I’ll tell you her seven steps for the passion to purpose journey. When you read Passion to Purpose you’ll be able to explore each step more fully, but for now, think of this as your sneak peek. And just for fun, I’ll also share some of my favorite quotes from the book.
How to Find Your Purpose by Following Your Passion
1) Open Up to Possibility
Here you’ll do a deep dive into your passions beginning with an appreciation of the importance of following your passions.
“The world needs you and your passion. You were born to make an impact in the lives of your family, community, and the world—and to open doors to new, more vibrant possibilities for living and thriving on this beautiful planet.” – Amy McLaren
“One of the things I know for sure is that a passion mind-set is a possibility mind-set.” – Amy McLaren
2) Fulfill You
Of course, any journey into becoming your best self will have obstacles. In this step, you’ll identify what those are for you and learn how to prioritize your passions in the day-to-day demands of life. This is an especially important step if you’ve grown accustomed to putting everyone else first.
“While many of us lead busy lives as moms, business owners, wives, and friends, I argue that you can still find time in the in-between moments of your life to follow your passions.” – Amy McLaren
You can still find time in the in-between moments of your life to follow your passions. – Amy McLaren #PassionToPurposeBook Share on X3) Dream Big
It’s one thing if you’re looking for a new hobby, but when your goal is to find your purpose, you’ve gotta go big.
“I believe that our biggest dreams and best ideas come from our passion.” – Amy McLaren
4) Stay the Course
To move from passion to purpose requires intention. This step will encourage you to move forward while tackling any limiting beliefs that could potentially hold you back.
“I know that my life opened up exponentially when I began practicing my purpose—that is, allowing my passion-informed dream project to become a natural, living, breathing part of who I was, not something I dreamed about.” – Amy McLaren
“Even if you feel doubt, even if things aren’t perfect (and there’s no such thing, anyway), you will gain the confidence, strength, and perspective to keep moving forward and practicing your purpose if you stay the course.” – Amy McLaren,
5) Make an Impact
Amy shares examples from starting and growing her non-profit Village Impact to show how the actions you take can create a “magnificent ripple effect”.
“We make an impact daily through the thoughts we entertain, the words we speak, and the actions we take.” – Amy McLaren
We make an impact daily through the thoughts we entertain, the words we speak, and the actions we take. – Amy McLaren #PassionToPurposeBook #HayHouse Share on X6) Build Your Community
Connections are key and in this step, you’ll explore the power of meaningful and lasting relationships, and the key role they play in pursuing your purpose.
“Working with other people is so powerful because it helps you to keep the dream within you alive, and to spread possibility wherever you go.” – Amy McLaren
7) Leave a Legacy
If you’re like me, it’s not enough to pursue your passions or find your purpose. You want to make a lasting impact and that’s where legacy comes in. This section of the book “offers perspective on the long-term effects of letting your passion be a springboard for doing good in the world—and how you can use it to inspire future generations and spark even more hope and creativity in the communities you are a part of.” Just that line alone makes me want to jump on board. You too?
It’s all about you!
If you’ve been trying to find your purpose or you know someone who is, you will benefit from Passion to Purpose. Not only will Amy’s story inspire you, but her thought-provoking questions will also help you dig deep, rekindle your passions and find YOUR purpose.
By the way, if you’ve already found your purpose, yay, go you! Passion to Purpose will inspire you to kick things up a notch by living your purpose more fully and creating a legacy.
Passion to Purpose will no doubt inspire you, but more than anything, your life will be much richer when you do the work of uncovering your passions and living out your purpose. So, yes, pick up a copy of Passion to Purpose and let it motivate you to live YOUR best life.
Find your purpose and live life to the full. Let’s do this!
Get your copy of Passion to Purpose here. (affiliate link)
Share your thoughts
Where are you in the passion to purpose journey? Which of the seven steps do you need focus on?
Did you pick up a copy of Passion to Purpose? Tell me what you thought of it in the comments below.
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