5 Guiding Principles for Living a Life of True Purpose

Simple, everyday ways to create a meaningful life that lights you up.

When I was a hospice volunteer, I met many remarkable people, but one patient’s story has stayed with me for years. Her name was Anna.

Anna had spent much of her adult life caring for her husband through a long, difficult battle with prostate cancer. After his death, she left her position as a university English professor and decided to return to something that had always brought her joy: writing poetry.

Her days took on a quiet rhythm in her modest Chicago condo, stories and stanzas flowing above the hum of the city below. She wrote every single day—sometimes for hours—submitting her work to journals and magazines. Her favorite ritual came each afternoon, when she’d check the mail or her email to see if one of her poems had been accepted for publication.

When I met Anna, she had already been diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. Over the months, I watched her health slowly decline—first physically, then mentally. Yet during my last visit with her, she had a rare moment of clarity. She turned to me and asked if I’d been writing any poetry of my own. When I said yes, her eyes lit up.

She insisted I print my poem on her computer right then and there.

Anna died only a few days later. While sorting through her belongings with her family, we found my printed poem sitting on her desk, covered in red notes she had written in the margins—thoughtful edits and encouragements, given just days before her passing.

Even in her final moments, Anna was doing something deeply meaningful to her: helping others write better poetry.

Her story taught me something profound: Purpose isn’t always about grand achievements or lifelong missions—it’s often woven into the simple, everyday things that light us up.

Through years of hospice work, I’ve seen that people who live with purpose share certain common threads. I call them “rules,” but really, they’re more like guiding principles—gentle suggestions to help you find and live your own purpose.

Rule 1: Love the Process

Anna’s story reveals an important truth: there are two kinds of purpose.

1. Big P Purpose – The kind we usually hear about. Grand, ambitious goals like writing a bestselling novel, building a successful business, or climbing the tallest mountain. These can be rewarding, but they often come with pressure, expectation, and anxiety.

2. Little p purpose – The purpose you can live every day. It’s found in the joy of the process, not just the end result.

Anna didn’t write poetry solely to get published—publication was a bonus. She wrote because the act of writing itself fed her soul. That’s the heart of Little p purpose.

When you love the process, success is no longer defined only by recognition, money, or achievements—it’s measured by how alive the act makes you feel.

Rule 2: Make It Impossible to Fail

We often think purpose “counts” only if it leads to measurable success. That belief can trap us.

True purpose isn’t about trophies, promotions, or public praise. It’s about the state of flow—the moments when you’re so absorbed in something you love that you lose track of time.

If your sense of purpose depends solely on winning or achieving, failure is inevitable. But if your purpose is rooted in the process, you can’t lose. You might adjust your approach, change your methods, or explore new directions—but the act itself still nourishes you.

When the joy fades, that’s not a sign to quit altogether—it’s an invitation to shift toward something that re-energizes you.

Rule 3: Purpose Doesn’t Have to Be Forever

Many people assume their purpose must be lifelong or world-changing. That belief can make finding it feel overwhelming.

The truth? Purpose can evolve.

For Anna, teaching English was once her purpose. Later, poetry took center stage. In different seasons of your life, your purpose may shift—sometimes subtly, sometimes dramatically. That doesn’t make earlier purposes less meaningful; it simply means you’ve grown and your focus has changed.

Purpose can also be deeply personal. It doesn’t have to be public or visible. It might be raising your children, tending a garden, painting landscapes in your spare time, or cooking meals for friends.

What matters most is that it feels alive to you right now.

Rule 4: Be “Purpose-Promiscuous”

We often hear that each of us has one “true” purpose, as if life is a treasure hunt with a single prize. But most people are not one-dimensional.

You can have multiple purposes—different passions that fulfill you in unique ways. Anna loved poetry, but she also loved playing board games with friends in her building. Laughter around the game table was just as nourishing to her spirit as writing.

Your purposes can be serious or playful, solitary or social, short-term or lifelong. They don’t have to compete with each other; they can co-exist and complement each other.

Let your sense of purpose be expansive.

Rule 5: Let Purpose Connect You

Some people think of purpose as a solitary journey, but the most fulfilling purposes often involve others.

Anna’s home wasn’t filled with expensive things—her walls were bare, her furniture worn. But her apartment was often full of life. Artists, writers, and creatives visited regularly, even in her final months.

Her purpose—writing and helping others write—became a bridge to deep connections.

When you share something you love, you naturally attract others who share that passion. This creates a network of support, encouragement, and belonging.

Purpose isn’t just about what you do—it’s also about who you do it with.

The Heart of the Matter

Anna didn’t chase a “perfect” life or try to make her purpose look impressive to others. She simply followed what made her happy, and in doing so, she left a lasting impact.

Purpose isn’t only for the young, the ambitious, or the accomplished—it’s for everyone. Whether you’re in your twenties and searching for direction, in midlife craving change, or in your final years reflecting on your legacy, you can live with purpose.

These “rules” aren’t strict instructions. They’re invitations. Experiment with them. Keep the ones that resonate. Let go of the ones that don’t.

We can’t control everything life throws at us, but we can choose how we spend our days. Like Anna, we can let the things that light us up guide us, connect us, and leave ripples of meaning long after we’re gone.

Your Turn

Ask yourself:

l What activities make me lose track of time?

l Which moments in my day leave me feeling energized?

l Who do I feel most connected to when I’m doing something I love?

The answers might point you toward your next purpose—or confirm the one you’re already living.

Purpose isn’t a single, fixed destination. It’s a journey you create, moment by moment, choice by choice.

We offer virtual therapy sessions across Illinois, so you can get support no matter where you are—whether in the heart of Chicago or a small town across the state.

Your mental well-being should be your top priority, especially when outside pressures threaten to overwhelm you. Don’t let stress, self-doubt, or life transitions pull you away from what truly matters.

Complete our Intake Form today and take the first step toward living with intention, meaning, and joy. Whether you’re redefining your purpose, rebuilding after loss, or simply seeking clarity, we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.