Some people arrive in this world knowing what work they are meant to do. They don’t need to search for their purpose because they’ve never lived a day without it. 

I watched this up close with both of my daughters. 

From the time they were big enough to sit at the kitchen table with me, art was the air they breathed. Crayon projects turned into award-winning pieces and art program scholarships. There was never really a question about what they would do when they grew up.  

For many of us, like me, finding your life purpose is an arduous challenge. 

Among the barriers to finding our life purpose are financial responsibilities, other people’s expectations, opportunities we happened to accept, and careers that unquestionably unfolded. Before we know it, years have passed, and we may be very good at work we were never truly are passionate or engaged with. 

Think of your life as an archaeological site. Scattered throughout it are clues—interests, talents, experiences, relationships, moments of joy, challenges you’ve overcome, and things you’ve always been naturally drawn toward. 

Some clues may go all the way back to childhood. 

What did you love doing before anyone told you what was practical? What could hold your attention for hours? What did people consistently come to you for? What subjects fascinated you? 

The child who constantly organized neighborhood activities may have been revealing a gift for leadership. The teenager everyone confided in may have been demonstrating an ability to counsel, coach, or connect. The person who was always creating, fixing, teaching, writing, building, advocating, or solving problems may have been leaving clues all along. 

Look at What Lit You Up 

Now excavate your work history. 

Even in jobs you disliked, there were probably pieces of the work that energized you. 

Maybe you hated managing budgets but loved mentoring new employees. Perhaps you dreaded meetings but came alive when you were solving a customer’s problem. While you may not have been passionate about your industry, but discovered that you loved training, writing, designing, organizing, selling, leading, or creating something from nothing. 

Those moments matter. 

Ask yourself: 

• When did I feel most alive in my work? 
• When did you feel most like yourself? 
• What have you survived? 
• What have you learned the hard way? 
• What do you now understand that you wish someone had taught you ten years ago? 

Your purpose might involve helping people see possibilities they can’t yet see for themselves. It might be creating beauty, solving complicated problems, bringing people together, teaching, healing, protecting, building, encouraging, leading, or serving. 

There could be dozens of ways to express that purpose professionally. 

That distinction becomes especially important after getting fired because your old title is gone. Instead of immediately asking, “What job should I get next?” try asking: 

“What contribution do I want to make next?” 

That’s a very different question. 

And it can lead to a very different future. 

Start Digging 

You don’t need to discover one grand answer before moving forward. 

Become an archaeologist of your own life. 

Look for recurring themes. Pay attention to what energizes you. Revisit dreams you’ve dismissed as unrealistic. Notice what other people consistently recognize in you. Think about the experiences that have shaped you and the lessons you feel compelled to share. 

Then begin experimenting. 

Take a class. Volunteer. Have a conversation with someone doing work that interests you. Try a small project. Follow an idea far enough to discover whether there’s something there. 

Purpose often becomes clearer through movement. 

Your purpose may not be somewhere out there waiting to be found. 

It may have been inside your story all along, waiting to be excavated. 

Download my free workbook “Discover Your Life Purpose” to help guide you at https://firedtoinspired.com/workbooks/