“How to Know Your Life’s Purpose in 5 Minutes” was the name of a Ted Talk I recently viewed. Seriously. This is a game-changer. The speaker, Adam Leipzig, made the observation that at a twenty-five year college reunion few of his classmates had not yet figured out their purpose in life. In fact, as he conducted an informal survey, he was stunned to realize 80% of them said they were unhappy with their lives. And, let’s be clear, these were not people who had graduated from PoDunk Valley Junior College. Nope. These were all Yale graduates who were making some serious money.
In the short video Leipzig asks the audience five simple questions which help them figure our their purpose in life. Here’s what I like about it. At the end of the video you will have a one sentence answer to this question: “So what do you do?” Have you ever been asked that question and just sort of floundered around for an answer? I sure have, especially in the last year of my life as I struggled to find God’s will for the next chapter of my life.
As I quickly worked through the video I was stunned to see I had arrived at an answer to that important question in the previous paragraph. Here’s what just jumped out at me: “I help people to journey from hopeless to hopeful to hope-filled.” That’s it. And of course, I do that by pointing people to Christ.
Here’s an idea. Why not watch the 10 minute video, answer the questions, and write out the answer to the question “So what do you do?” THEN, be brave and share it on this page in the comment section. Your reply will help yourself and it just might help someone else!
Here’s the link which will take you to the Youtube video…
I had to comment Pastor Randy, as we have gone back and forth on the passion scheme. :) There are some elements of truth in this video, particularly during 6:43. Ultimately, I think the problem is society defines who we are by what we do. It was definitely ingrained in my generation to take the Myers Briggs test to figure out who we were, what we would love to do, and that is our life’s purpose. The problem with that line of thinking is that I am not defined by what I do. If I were, I would be disappointed. You could say, “I am intelligent” or “I am loyal.” The minute you are not intelligent or loyal, then your identity is shattered. If you could not speak/preach, you would have to preach in sign language or texting! Another problem with that line of thinking is that makes me focus on myself. Where do I fit in with this life? Where do I find me? Am I in Health? Law? The Church? This has been a recent discovery to me, as I could not pinpoint how someone who knew what they were supposed to do was different from me who had no clue. The truth was they didn’t look for their glory in their profession or life. They didn’t look for themselves at all. They saw someone in need and helped them. That’s why the good Samaritan’s identity is so much stronger than Pontius Pilate. Sorry for the long tangent. I don’t think one will ever find his/her life’s purpose. That’s the beauty of the journey spelled out in 1 John 3:2-3, 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.
Thanks so much for your comments! You are helping me to clarify. So, as a Christian I can say that’s WHO I am: a Christian. But WHO you are then ought to drive WHAT you do. so WHAT you do, driven by WHO you are, is then filtered through your passions and abilities. I think our self-esteem ought to be based in whose we are not in what we do. Does that sound right?
I understand what you are saying. But if WHO you are then ought to drive WHAT you do, then technically I am a sinner. That’s my identity. But God calls me to be saint. I can’t do saintly things without God. 1 John 3 is great with the identity of all people.
In fact, I wouldn’t even say WHO I am is a Christian. That’s WHAT I do. Follower of Christ=Follow Christ. Who I am is a beloved son of God. I am loved by God is my identity. As for passions and abilities go, they are meaningless I think when it comes to defining WHO I am and WHAT I do. If I could run a mile in under 4 minutes, or write a Pulitzer prize Novel, does that mean I should do them? Does that define my identity? I would say no. Those things ephemeral. They depend on if I have legs, what time in my life is it, if I can read and write, etc. God is interested only in things that are eternal. That’s why we see Paul the tent maker. Jesus the carpenter. Passions and abilities are, if anything, bonuses you bring to the table of what God is telling you to do that day.
Thanks for your further contribution to the conversation.