“What am I doing with my life?” That’s a question that comes to mind when your life feels meaningless.
You start to wonder if your actions are really making a difference. You may even start to feel sad and depressed because you’re not sure if what you do really matters.
I know how that feels and that’s why I want to share with you some tips to help you get out of that state of despair. Here are 5 tips to help you start REJOICING in the Lord and live WITH PURPOSE.
1) Turn to God
If your life feels meaningless, the first thing you need to do is turn to God. I know this may not be the answer that you were expecting but you will NEVER feel satisfied in this world until you have a relationship with Him.
He is the very source of your life and you were made to be connected to Him. It will always feel like something is missing until you come into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
If you stop to think about it, you will realize that your Creator is the only one that can reveal your purpose because only He knows why He made you.
So the first step is to have a relationship with God by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Then spend time with God by reading the Bible and praying and letting Him reveal your worth, identity and purpose to you.
You can use Biblical affirmations to help you renew your mind as you start this journey. Click here to read some affirmations that will get you started.
Suggested Article: 15 Powerful Biblical Affirmations for Christian Women
2) Ask yourself why your life feels meaningless
The next step is to take a few minutes to ask yourself “why does your life feel meaningless?”.
It’s difficult to address an issue if you don’t know the reason. Asking yourself “why?” will help you to identify the core beliefs that are making you feel that way.
Here are some reasons you may feel dissatisfied with your life
- You don’t think you’re making a difference or impact.
- Your life feels empty and it feels as if something is missing.
- You’re not doing what you know you’re meant to do (fulfilling your calling).
- You don’t feel fulfilled.
- You feel like you’re not making any progress.
3) Get clear on what a meaningful life looks like for you
Now it’s time to decide what would make your life more meaningful. Take some time to think about the following question and be very specific. You can write your answer in a journal or notebook. If you prefer to talk, you can use your phone to record your answer. Here’s the question:
What would make your life meaningful right now?
Make sure your answer is specific. Typically, people will give responses such as:
- “My life would be meaningful if I was making a difference”
- “My life would be meaningful if I was helping to improve the lives of others”
These are great answers but they are not specific enough so you may still feel stuck because you don’t know what to do.
So dig a bit deeper and ask yourself how you want to improve people’s lives and how you want to make a difference in this world.
Typically, a meaningful life is one that makes a difference or an impact. It tends to be a life of purpose. But this will look different for each person.
What I consider to be purposeful may seem like a waste of time to you. That’s why it’s important for you to decide how you want to make a difference or an impact.
Ways you can make a difference in the lives of others
- Share the gospel with someone
- Share the lessons you have learned with others
- Help students understand concepts in various subject areas
- Take care of the environment
- Contribute financially to someone in need
- Help someone to complete their chores
- Use your artistic and creative skills to complete an art form (painting, music, book, video)
I hope you realise that you can have a purposeful life and make a difference outside of your career or job. You don’t need to go back to school or get a certificate to have a meaningful life.
If you want a Biblical perspective on finding your purpose, make sure to check out my ebook, The Purpose Roadmap. It’s a Biblical Guide and Workbook To Find Purpose and Direction For Your Life. Click here to learn more.
Recommended Ebook: The Purpose Roadmap: A Biblical Guide and Workbook To Find Purpose & Direction For Your Life
4) Take action
Now that you know what would make your life more meaningful, it’s time to take action.
Start doing the things that you really want to do and stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start right where you are with what you have. Don’t overthink it.
If your life feels meaningless because you feel like you’re not doing what you’re meant to do, then taking action is essential for you.
It’s highly likely that you will continue to feel like your life is meaningless until you start taking action towards fulfilling that calling.
Using your talents, abilities, skills and knowledge to make a difference will help you to realize that you play a role in society. You may not be able to help everyone but you can impact your family, friends and community.
5) Practice gratitude
The final step is to practise gratitude regularly. Gratitude will help you to be aware of all that you have. It will also help you to be aware of the opportunities that you already have to make a difference.
It’s really hard to see your blessings and opportunities when you’re complaining and comparing your life.
So start giving thanks for what you have and you will start to realize that you have enough to help others and make a difference in their lives.
You may even realize that you’re already making a difference but you overlooked it because it seemed insignificant because you were comparing your life.
Suggested Article: 21-Day Gratitude Challenge and Prompts for Positive Thinking
Takeaway
Remember a meaningful life starts with a relationship with God. Helping others and making a difference in this world are great but they will never truly fulfil you until you are connected to your Creator.
If you have been feeling sad or depressed because your life feels meaningless, then it’s time to:
- Turn to God
- Ask yourself why your life feels meaningless
- Get clear on what a meaningful life looks like for you
- Take action
- Practice gratitude