8 Tips on How to Find Your Purpose As a Man
Takeaway: Being a man in today’s world is much different than it was ten or even 20 years ago. We’re more focused on finding our purpose now than ever, deconstructing what it truly means to be a human being. In this blog, we’ll explore:
Ways to explore your core values
Why we fall victim to believing our passion and purpose don’t matter
How to create a meaningful life as a man.
Finding your purpose as a man in today’s world can feel like you’re stuck in a maze.
Between societal expectations and your personal uncertainties, the journey of discovering the “why” behind your existence is stressful, confusing, and exhausting – instead of inspirational and fulfilling.
What is a Life Purpose?
So, what is a purpose? A quick Google search will pull up the standard definition of the word, stating that it’s “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.”
In this case, that something is you. Finding your purpose is a journey that goes beyond mere career choices or external achievements; it touches the core of who you are and what you truly value.
For many, this search for meaning involves peeling back layers of conditioned beliefs to discover your authentic desires. However, everyone is different when it comes to finding their purpose in life.
It's not about fitting into a pre-defined mold, but rather about forging your own path that aligns with the things you feel passionate about and your strengths.
Understanding and pursuing your purpose is about embracing your unique identity and living in a way that resonates deeply with your personal vision and values.
It’s about asking yourself: who am I? Why am I here? What do I want to contribute to the world?
Challenges With Finding Your Purpose
Exploring the concept of a purposeful life may be a new concept for you, especially as a man.
Believing the Myths and Shrinking Ourselves
One of the biggest challenges men face in discovering their purpose lies in the myths about masculinity and manhood perpetuated by societal expectations.
We fall victim to the belief that inner satisfaction isn’t possible without conforming to narrow definitions of success and strength.
Too often, we limit ourselves by believing we aren't enough to pursue certain paths or our interests don't align with what we perceive as a "real" purpose. If your life revolves around this principle, it's difficult to move forward with self-discovery.
The fear of stepping outside our comfort zone or confronting failure can prevent us from fully exploring our potential.
We shrink, closing ourselves off from those we love because we’re taught that hiding emotions is the key to avoiding being seen as “weak.”
Overanalyzing
Analysis paralysis can be a real killer, especially when you’re just trying to navigate the concept of purpose. The overthinking and indecisiveness clouding your brain only add to the stress that many men experience. You'll feel frustrated if you ruminate on the same thing, avoiding new perspectives.
If left unchecked, this chronic stress can increase your risk of heart attacks or a stroke – the fifth leading cause of death for men in the U.S.
Wanting to find your true purpose is great, but overthinking every potential interest or career path can leave you stuck at the starting line. The purpose isn’t always found in grand gestures or life-altering decisions; sometimes, it's built from small, everyday choices and embracing a more meaningful way of looking at your well-being.
8 Tips on How to Find Your Purpose As a Man
Finding purpose isn’t about unlocking gigantic secrets or waiting for signs of change. It’s about living intentionally and embracing individuality, from your personality to your career. Here are nine tips to get you started.
1. Spend less time ruminating and more time imagining.
Stop overthinking and allow yourself to dream big. Explore what genuine inner satisfaction looks like for you, imagining your ideal life. Ask:
What excites me?
What kind of life do I want to look back on?
What would my ideal life look like if I could have anything I dreamed of?
2. Trust the people around you.
You’ve made meaningful connections in your life, so use them. Friends, family, and other people in your community and support network are your biggest allies during a vulnerable period.
They’re often better at seeing our potential and interests more clearly than we can. Lean on them to answer some of your questions along your journey.
3. More importantly, trust yourself.
Having confidence in your own instincts is crucial. How can you figure out your own needs and desires if you can’t trust yourself? After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.
But despite the importance of trusting yourself, be careful not to become overconfident as you gain insight into who you are as a person.
Balancing self-assurance with humility will help you take a healthy approach to finding self-discovery and direction.
4. Don’t spend time waiting to see the “full picture.”
When we think of life’s purpose, it’s easy to envision it as a single, monumental revelation that happens suddenly. However, the reality is more intricate.
There are many different ways to focus on purpose because it evolves over time as you gradually discover new passions, interests, and values — rather than a one-time epiphany.
Waiting for complete certainty can mean never making a move, so accept that some uncertainty is a part of the journey. You’re only one person, it’s not healthy to try and take on everything at once in hopes of a faster conclusion.
5. Try not to take everything in life at face value.
This tip reminds you to adopt a mindset of curiosity as you work to achieve your goal of finding your life purpose. Dig deeper beneath the surface of situations, people, and experiences, and that there's often more than meets the eye.
Some of the richest opportunities and insights frequently hide beneath our initial impression or even a fear that exploring further could lead us to something we’re unprepared to address.
So, rather than accepting things at face value, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and seek a deeper understanding. You may even find that you have more than one purpose.
6. Understand that finding your purpose won’t solve all your problems.
Identify the why behind your desire to search for a new purpose.
What do you want to achieve by learning this new information?
While discovering your purpose is meaningful and worthwhile, it's not a magic cure for every challenge you’ll face in life. Acknowledging this helps you approach a balanced perspective while discovering a sense of purpose, ensuring you don't have unrealistic expectations.
7. Do the inner work.
Devote time to self-reflection to better understand your perspective. Starting a meditation and mindfulness practice is one way to do this.
At first, you might not feel like you’re doing anything.
However, once you find the right type of meditation for your needs, being present and sitting in stillness becomes easier each time you do it. Here’s a guide to meditation for men to help you get started.
8. Discover what you love about life.
What are you passionate about? What do you enjoy doing? Write your thoughts about the things you hold a passion for, whether that be your career, a new business idea -- whatever makes you feel naturally good.
Don’t be afraid to take a new course or begin a new hobby, but don’t forget to return to the things you love.
Investing energy and time into rediscovering your interests and values puts you, not anyone else, at the center of your journey to find purpose. It also helps you lead a happy life, develop higher levels of self-acceptance, and discover your purpose in life.
Get Support in Finding Your Purpose As a Man
You don’t have to go through this discovery phase on your own. Finding support from a therapist can give you the freedom to start living outside the box, become more confident in your abilities, and deconstruct the myths that may be holding you back from learning more about your purpose as a man.
At Madrega Wellness, we offer ketamine-assisted therapy and other evidence-based practices are options available to help integrate mental health care into your routine. Schedule a consultation with us to learn more about our services.
