Have you ever felt like everyone else received a map for life except you?

Maybe you’ve watched people confidently pursue careers, relationships, ministries, businesses, or dreams while wondering what you’re supposed to be doing.

Or perhaps you’ve decided you have no life-given passions, and therefore no purpose.

If so, you’re not alone.

One of the most common questions people ask themselves is:

“What is my purpose?”

And while the answer may seem difficult to find, it may be much closer than you think.

Rest assured that by the end of this article, you’ll know:

• why you’ve doubted your purpose
• what’s distracting you from your purpose
• signs that your purpose is already being fulfilled
• the exact wording of your individual purpose in this incarnation

What Is Purpose?

Your purpose is your why. It’s the reason why you do what you do.

Yes, you are in control of your actions, but have you ever considered why you take specific actions?

For instance, why do you get intrigued by certain subjects while others dismiss them?

Why do you feel deeper empathy for some more than others when you’ve never experienced the trauma of those you are empathic toward?

The reason is that your purpose lies in your being.

It has little to do with your doing. Yet, it influences what you do.

Your purpose is the intention behind how you use your body in this physical world.

For instance, Michael Jordan’s gift wasn’t basketball talent. It was an unusual passion for winning, discipline, and greatness.

The form it takes is of no consequence. Your essence is reflected in all that you do.

So to put it another way, purpose is simply that which you do on purpose.

It precedes action. It’s what you propose.

But this is not why you are here. By inquiring about your purpose, you’re really asking, “Why do I exist?“

An even better question to ask yourself right now is: “Why does my existence matter to me?”

An obvious answer is, “Because it just does. I’m me, and I matter.”

Go deeper.

Deeper is where you can find the first clue to your purpose.

Because what if you didn’t matter? Or what if you matter more than you ever thought possible?

Start to look at the reason why you’ve taken your most recent actions.

Have they been from a place of purpose or fear, or even fear of purpose?

Ha, I know this is getting deep fast, but you did ask.

So pause to quickly reflect on this and continue.

Muhahahahaha.

Why You’ve Doubted Your Purpose

From the previous exercise, you realized some interesting things about yourself that you’ve never considered.

Good!

You are different, and that’s ok.

You are also the same, in that you’re pure potential that gets to realize itself.

A seed does not doubt whether it should become a tree.

It only struggles when it attempts to become something else entirely, like a turtle.

The reason why you have doubted your purpose is that you are focused outward more than you should be.

The introspective questions above, if actually asked and answered, show you the importance of focusing inwardly.

What’s out is just a reflection of what’s in.

Example time!

Imagine looking in a mirror and noticing your face is frowning.

It would be strange to wish that the face would smile so that you could be happy.

Yet this is how many people approach purpose.

They try to change what they see in the world without first changing what they believe about themselves.

You are looking at the outside world (the frowned reflection) and wanting to change it based on what you observe outwardly.

But change must be internal, or else it could never last.

So you see others with thriving businesses, a great family life, a great single life, or whatever it is you place your attention on.

And instead of deciding you would like that for yourself, you outwardly and physically follow how another would do it instead of accepting how your purpose will naturally lead you toward it.

But JClay, I don’t know my purpose.

You do, and you’ve moved toward it by accepting a version of reality you would like.

So let me simplify this.

You have doubted your purpose because you know you can’t be like the person who is living in a version of the reality you desire.

This is true. You can’t be another.

What isn’t true is that you can’t have what you desire while being yourself.

Ah, double-negative, that’s hard to understand.

You can truly be who you are and who you are meant to be and have what you desire.

Now let’s jump into these purpose myths.

Common Myths About Purpose

Myth 1: You Can Lose Your Purpose

Many people believe they have lost their purpose.

They say things like:

• “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
• “I think I missed my calling.”
• “I had a purpose once, but I lost it.”
• “Maybe some people just don’t have one.”

None of these are true.

You may lose awareness of your purpose.

You may doubt your purpose.

You may ignore your purpose.

But you cannot lose it.

Your true mother is Life.

Life always wants you.

In fact, Life always wants you to live.

Life begets more life. Life lives through you.

A tree does not wake up wondering if it still has a purpose.

A flower does not question whether it should bloom.

And Life is no less interested in expressing itself through you than it is through them.

For that reason, you will always have a purpose.

Not someday.

Not when you become successful.

Not when you finally figure everything out.

Now.

The question is not whether you have a purpose.

The question is whether you are willing to notice it.

Myth 2: Your Purpose Is One Thing

Many people spend years trying to discover the one thing they were born to do.

The perfect career.

The perfect calling.

The perfect mission.

The perfect path.

And because they haven’t found it, they assume they haven’t found their purpose.

But purpose is not a job title.

It’s not a business.

It’s not a ministry.

It’s not a relationship.

It’s not even a talent.

Remember, your purpose lies in your being more than your doing.

Your doing changes.

Your being remains.

For example, a person whose purpose is to inspire may do so as:

• a teacher
• a parent
• a musician
• a coach
• a writer
• a friend

The forms may change.

The essence remains.

This is why some people feel lost after changing careers, retiring, getting divorced, moving, or experiencing a major life transition.

They accidentally tied their purpose to a form.

When the form changed, they assumed their purpose had disappeared.

It hasn’t.

The purpose simply found a new way to express itself.

A candle does not lose its purpose because it is moved to another room.

It still gives light.

Likewise, your purpose may take many forms throughout your life.

But what is expressing through those forms remains remarkably consistent.

Life doesn’t limit you so you shouldn’t limit yourself.

Myth 3: Your Purpose Must Be Discovered

Some people treat purpose like a hidden treasure.

They assume it is somewhere “out there” waiting to be found.

So they search.

And search.

And search.

Years go by.

Books are read.

Courses are taken.

Teachers are followed (… make sure you’re following me on socials 😆).

Yet the answer seems just as far away as ever.

You don’t discover purpose in the same way that Columbus “discovered” America.

Purpose is who you are.

Have you ever noticed that certain interests, values, curiosities, and desires keep showing up throughout your life?

Even when you ignore or dismiss them, they return.

Even when you pursue something else entirely and try to be like someone else, they return.

The irony is that many people are searching for their purpose while simultaneously living it.

The teacher is searching while teaching.

The healer is searching while helping.

The creator is searching while creating.

The encourager is searching while uplifting others.

You get where I’m going.

Purpose leaves clues everywhere.

The question is still not: “What is my purpose?”

It’s more akin to: “What has Life been trying to express through me all along?”

What’s Distracting You From Your Purpose?

Just to make it plain and clear, what’s distracting you from your purpose is your insistence that you must understand it all in order to live out the rest of your life.

You don’t.

You have everything you need right now to experience not only what you’re meant to experience, but what will lead you to your continued highest joy.

Also, you may not be meant to know some aspects of your purpose right now.

Some purposes are revealed gradually.

After all, if you were shown the entirety of your path today, would you even believe it?

Would you think you aren’t worthy?

You are, but you get my point.

Start to trust the unfolding moment more.

In other words, focus on what your intention or purpose is now and not on what it is for years to come.

Signs You’re Already Living Your Purpose

In saying all of this, you may already be living your purpose.

Let’s confirm.

Sign 1: Certain Things Matter To You

There’s a reason you see things the way you do.

There’s a reason why you’re passionate about what you are passionate about.

This is not a coincidence.

It’s confirmation that your unique perspective is needed and requested by the world.

Dive into that. Explore your patterns.

Sign 2: You Keep Returning To The Same Things

When you explore your patterns, you realize that you keep returning to the same things.

For instance, I’ve actually quit music a couple of times.

The first was when I accepted that I may not make it in music.

This led to deep introspection, which later led to a spiritual awakening.

The second was after I completed my first album IAMNOBODY, IAMSOMEONE.

I genuinely believed I had completed what I came here to do.

Yet somehow, music kept calling me back.

That’s the point.

Purpose has a funny way of returning.

The things that matter most to you tend to reappear throughout your life.

Not because you’re stuck.

Because Life is still trying to express itself through them.

Sign 3: Others Ask You Questions

This may seem like a small thing, but it’s not.

Questions birth worlds.

It’s even in the first part of the word … quest.

Each question sets you on a quest.

If someone is asking you a question, you now have the purpose of fulfilling their request (re – quest).

Here’s a funny note.

I’m currently learning Spanish (I’m on Duolingo @jclay1st).

The word for “question” is preguntar, which reminds me of the English word pregnant.

That may be a stretch, but maybe not.

A purpose is carried out through the body. A question ignites new purposes.

Purpose allows Life to continue to expand.

Anyway, whether you are asked questions or you question yourself, you are living your purpose.

The Simple Truth About Purpose

At this point, you may be disappointed by how simple purpose really is.

Or perhaps relieved.

Your purpose is not hidden and it’s not hidden in a cave.

It is definitely not being withheld from you by God, the universe, or Life itself.

Your purpose is simply that which you do on purpose.

Read that again.

Your purpose is simply that which you do on purpose.

The problem is that many people imagine purpose as a destination when it is actually an intention.

Purpose is not a place you arrive. It’s the spirit in which you arrive there.

A person can build a business with the purpose of serving others.

Another can build the same business with the purpose of gaining approval.

The action is the same.

The purpose is different.

Likewise, a person can become a parent, artist, teacher, coach, scientist, janitor, or president.

The form is not what makes it purposeful.

The intention is.

This is why your purpose has been with you your entire life.

It has been expressing itself through every chapter, every relationship, every success, every failure, every question, and every dream.

The way your purpose expresses itself may be different from everyone else’s.

But if I had to simplify it as much as possible, it would be this:

Your purpose is to be fully yourself and allow Life to express Itself through you.

Everything else is merely the form that purpose takes.

But I know. I made a big promise to tell you your exact purpose in this incarnation.

Here it is.

Your purpose is to love without conditions, forgive all no matter what, perform miracles, heal your own mind, and release the ego.

This purpose is universal.

It applies to every person regardless of their profession, talents, circumstances, or life story.

Wait… if that’s everyone’s purpose, what about my individual one? Me, me, me!

Alright, if you insist.

The Exact Wording Of Your Purpose In This Incarnation

To sound like an 80s cartoon …

In today’s article:

• You’ve learned that purpose cannot be lost.
• You’ve learned that purpose is not one thing.
• You’ve learned that purpose often reveals itself through patterns that have been present your entire life.

But what about your specific purpose?

This is where systems such as Gene Keys and Human Design can be incredibly useful.

While I don’t believe a system can define you, I do believe certain systems can help reveal what has always been true about you.

One of my favorite examples comes from the Gene Keys.

According to my Gene Keys profile, my purpose is:

Whew, pretty powerful. I know.

When I first read this, something inside me immediately recognized it.

Not because it told me something new.

Because it reminded me of something I had always known.

That’s the difference.

Purpose is often remembered rather than discovered.

If you’re curious about your own purpose, I highly recommend exploring your Gene Keys profile.

It’s free!

Trust me, if my purpose scared you, then yours will be nothing like it.

However, if you could see it as your own, chances are, it will reveal itself to be similar.

And if you’d like help understanding what your profile means, I’ve recently started offering Gene Keys Purpose Readings.

During this 45-minute session, we’ll explore your purpose, gifts, challenges, and the deeper themes that may be shaping your life.

You can learn more here: https://calendly.com/jclay1st/gene-keys-purpose-reading

Life has been telling you who you are your entire life.

Through your interests.

Through your patterns.

Through your questions.

Through your joys.

Through your struggles.

Through the things you keep returning to.

Perhaps your purpose isn’t waiting to be discovered.

It’s waiting to be accepted.

Accept your purpose.

If this resonated with you, this song explores many of the same ideas.