Here Are 3 Simple Steps to Regain Purpose In Your Life

Quarantine, quarantine, quarantine…

While a lot of people are focused on staying physically healthy and getting away from the pandemic as much as possible, they fail to identify how their mental energy is crippling away bit by bit.

Sticking with the “sleep-early, wake-early” mentality? Fail. Working on your goals instead of binging on your next Netflix show? Fail. Trying to expand your connections online with other like-minded people? Fail.

You’d probably be thinking, why am I dying the more I am trying? It’s like rowing against a downstream river. You keep going back no matter how hard you try! Your previous plans and dreams seemed like purposeless fantasies now. The efforts made in the past are no longer a thing any more.

That certainly happened to me. I was joyous, energetic and ready for the summer before the pandemic. The calendar is full, activities are arranged, and every part of me is ready for the fun. Then, COVID strikes again. What a piece of disastrous and heartbreaking news it was. Before I knew, everything came tumbling down again.

This period has shaken the usual drive and ambition of even the best people like you. Therefore, trust me, it’s not your problem that you feel like a useless corpse to be tossed. Everyone has been through that.

I’m sure you have tried to pull yourself together. Yet, there is like a force of nature keeping you pinned down. You’ve tried and tried, and it just gets worse. You even thought of all the possible ways you can “save yourself from this pandemic”. These methods didn’t seem to work after all did they? Why? The issue here is this…

You know all about HOW to do it. You do. However, you don’t know WHY you have to.

In other words, instead of focusing on putting yourself back on track in things, try focusing more on the REASONS you should do that.

Hereby, I am going to show you three key steps to regain your purpose and motivation in life. Until then, not only will you feel motivated to do whatever you’re again, but you will not lose this motivation any time sooner. You can use these steps whenever you feel down and lazy, just like a strong dosage of adrenaline.

1. Look back at what you’ve planned for yourself and your goals

Occasionally, when you’re trapped in your house for weeks and months, you lose track of what your life normally has been like. That includes what you have planned on doing back in the days. Since you have adequate time now, instead of wasting it or whatsoever, start small by simply reviewing what you have done in the past.

This can be your yearly to-dos, your “forgotten” gym plan, your simple monthly schedule… Heck, if you don’t even have the motivation to do that, just look into your photo album. There, you may find the better life that you had back in the days.

When you look back (in detail) at what you have for yourself, you will meet your old self. That hopeful individual you once were. It’s like that special someone who has been laying out breadcrumbs for you, guiding you along the way. You don’t need to hesitate because it’s not anyone who you are trying to listen to, it’s just you.

From there, you can try to re-connect with your past thoughts. Why did I want to achieve that? What was in my mind back then? Why did it matter to the old me? Think, and try to understand once again… and redeem yourself.

Remark: See, the point here is that you’re NOT trying to copy what you have planned for yourself. You are doing this because it rejoices you with the level of enthusiasm and faith you have had. It is the motivation you get, not the method.

2. Envision and write down what your goals can bring you

Once that nostalgia hits you, it’s important to make use of it. Now, you are going to envision your future in the most detailed way possible. Think about a scene that you will be very proud of. Is that a dream car that you will be driving? Or that perfect body that everyone admires? Close your eyes, breath deeply, and dig deep into the environment. Feel the level of energy, feel the relief you get for finally achieving what you’ve always wanted. Don’t rush it, slowly savour the process…

Now, you should have all the motives needed to start. Quickly, write these positive outcomes out. For example, the dream car → makes me look super cool in front of my friends; the success of starting a small business → seeing the sudden increase in figures in my bank account… Whatever queer or ridiculous stuff that hypes you up. Write them out literally. And read them out. What you’ll notice is that you have the direct outcomes of your goals on paper. Put them somewhere convenient, so that every day you can see these “results”.

Effect: Habitualise your envisioning. Remind yourself constantly of what great things you can have if you just do a little more every day.

3. Make the pandemic your friend

A lot of people fail to thrive in the pandemic because they only see the bad in it. Similar to the “half-full-half-empty” theory, we have to shift our focus on the benefits of the pandemic.

Being in lockdown may mean that you spend less time with friends, yet it can also mean you have more time to know more about yourself when you’re alone. Having less time for outdoor fun implies that you have more time to work on your passive goals.

As the wise saying goes, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” There are always two sides to a coin. Just sceptically admit… the pandemic is HELPFUL to me. Admit it first. Then, find some ways to prove yourself right. What you’ll notice is, there come to you new insights that you never have had before. This is because you’ve changed your perspective towards this situation. Most of the times, it’s the confirmation bias that puts a person into a secluded mind with limited ideas. If you can break through that, you will see endless opportunities.

Look at all that you’re doing (or not doing) once again, but this time, with the new mindset, you’re gonna do better.

If you start seeing different, you will start feeling different.

In fact, COVID-19 may just be the tip of the iceberg when we’re talking about the obstacles in your life. Even if you can hide away this time, you have no choice but to face the difficulties eventually.

Nothing fuels a person more than his mission in life. Once you find yours, don't let it go. Remind yourself every day when you wake up, or when you go to bed. Only then will your purpose be ingrained in you for life.

As the saying goes…

“It takes the same energy to worry as it does to believe.” — Joel Osteen