How to Live a Life on Purpose - Insights From a Motivational Speaker
An Introduction to Life on Purpose
In 2016, I was drowning in purpose. Or at least, in the search for it. Every morning, I’d wake up, scroll through emails and social media, desperate for direction. I craved meaning, but instead of clarity, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of conflicting ideas—blown from one potential path to another, much like debris tossed around in a windy city alleyway.
Then, something shifted. Listening to the Life On Purpose podcast with Greg Berg, I had an epiphany: I couldn’t live a life on purpose until I learned to live with purpose.
This distinction changed everything. Living on purpose is often about over-engineering life—designing rigid rules and structures, thinking we can map out a perfect path. But living with purpose is different. It’s about having a strong foundation while allowing for adaptability. It’s about being mindful, disciplined, and intentional.
The Struggle of Self-Direction
When you leave the structured world of a 9-to-5 job, you quickly realize something: total freedom is exhausting. It requires constant decision-making and immense discipline. Without walls to guide you, you can become a floodplain—scattered, stagnant, and lacking direction.
Structure is essential. But instead of rigid rules, it’s about creating personal guidelines that act like the walls of a canyon—channeling your energy into something powerful and meaningful.
The Three Building Blocks of Purpose
As I worked through my own journey, I realized that living with purpose requires three fundamental building blocks:
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Mindfulness – Awareness comes first. Before you can live with purpose, you need to assess where you are. What thoughts, beliefs, and habits are shaping your life? What needs to be uprooted? Listening to inspiring podcasts, reading books, and reflecting on your experiences is like preparing the soil for new growth.
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Discipline – Purpose isn’t just about good intentions; it’s about follow-through. Getting up early, making your bed, committing to small daily actions—these are the habits that build momentum. The military has long understood this. Small wins at the start of the day set the tone for greater accomplishments. (If you doubt this, watch Admiral William McRaven’s famous speech on YouTube about the power of making your bed.)
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Intentionality – Once you’ve cultivated mindfulness and discipline, you can direct your efforts toward meaningful goals. This is where real purpose begins to take shape—not as a theoretical concept, but as a lived experience.
The Key to Sustainable Growth
Living with purpose doesn’t mean rigidly clinging to a predefined plan. It means being like a young tree—flexible enough to bend with the wind, but rooted deeply enough to weather life’s storms.
If you’re feeling lost in the search for purpose, take a step back. Focus on building mindfulness, discipline, and intentionality. The path forward will emerge naturally—not through force, but through clarity.
And remember, don’t chase inspiration too hard. Let it come.
