How to Find Your Purpose Without Overthinking It
Why Purpose Feels So Complicated
For years, I thought purpose was this big, mysterious thing I had to “figure out” before I could show up fully.
I kept telling myself:
“I need a clear calling before I can take the next step.”
“Once I know my purpose, then I’ll do something else.”
“Until then, I should wait.”
Maybe you’ve felt it too.
The problem is that when we overthink purpose, we get stuck. We attach our worth to titles, achievements, and grand plans instead of focusing on what truly matters: impact.
And while we’re waiting for some big revelation, we miss the chance to add value right where we are.
Here are three leadership shifts I coach high-performers through when they feel stuck or burned out.
The Truth About Purpose
Here’s what I’ve learned through my own journey — and through coaching and speaking to leaders and organizations across industries:
We all share one common purpose — to make humanity better and add value.
That’s it.
Purpose isn’t a destination.
It isn’t a job title.
It isn’t something you “find.”
Purpose is something you live out — in the conversations you have, the knowledge you share, and the experiences you use to help others.
When you sit in that truth, purpose feels lighter. It stops being this overwhelming concept you need to “figure out” and becomes something you can fulfill today.
3 Simple Steps to Start Living Your Purpose Today
If you’ve been spinning in the question of “What’s my purpose?”, here’s a simple framework to bring clarity and action:
1. Reflect on Your Experience
Everything you’ve walked through — the wins, the setbacks, the challenges, the lessons — has shaped you.
Inside your story lies your deepest value.
Ask yourself:
What have I overcome?
What have I learned that someone else needs right now?
2. Look for Who Needs It
Purpose is relational. It lives in the way we serve others.
Ask yourself:
Who can benefit from my story, my skills, or my insights?
Where can I add value — right where I am?
3. Take One Small Action
You don’t need a master plan. You just need a first step.
That could look like:
Sharing your knowledge in a post or conversation
Reaching out to someone you can help
Creating an offer, training, or resource from what you already know
Purpose grows with action. Each small step reveals the next.
The Bottom Line
Purpose isn’t something you wait for — it’s something you walk out.
Purpose is using what you know to add value and make humanity better — one decision, one conversation, one step at a time.
When you embrace that, purpose stops feeling heavy or out of reach. You start seeing opportunities to live it every single day.