Six Super-Duper Resources for Discovering Your Purpose for Living

The coffee table I built in wood-shop in the 11th grade has never wanted to be a ladder, dining room table or a boat. It has had one purpose in life, and has been quite content to be a coffee table.

OK, I used it once or twice to stand on to change a light bulb, however that did not make it a ladder.

But we humans are not inanimate objects like coffee tables or couches or clocks. Our individual purpose for living is more complex and many need help discerning it.

Here are six super-duper resources (books) I recommend you read if you need help discovering your purpose for living:

Resource #1: The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. This timeless book will guide you on a personal spiritual journey of discovery in search of what Warren calls life’s most important question: What on earth am I here for? He then provides five biblical answers that could transform your life. Over 32 million copies have been sold worldwide and the book has been translated into 50 languages. Warren recently re-tooled and republished a new version titled, The Purpose Driven life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

Resource #2: The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey. His subtitle really grabs me, From Effectiveness to Greatness. The cover flap says, “The crucial challenge of our world today is this: to find our voice and inspire others to find theirs. It is what Covey calls the 8th Habit.” If you want to find your voice and inspire others to find theirs, buy and read this book. I’ve read the book several times.

Resource #3: The Good Life by Charles Colson. Once again subtitles are helpful: Seeking purpose, meaning and truth in your life. Colson uses his own story and the story of others to examine the beliefs and assumptions that form the fabric of our lives. His message is that the worldview you live by has everything to do with who you are and what you will become.

Resource #4: StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. This little book will help you uncover your hidden strengths and then provide you with strategies for applying them to your daily life.

Resource #5: The Call by Os Guinness. This book’s subtitle sounds familiar, (Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life), but Guiness’ style is more spiritual in nature. He deals effectively with many questions including, is calling only a spiritual idea or does it cover secular life too? You will like his answer.

Resource #6: The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. This little book jumped out at me while browsing at the library. I grabbed it off the shelf, took it home and consumed it in a few hours then purchased my own copy. You should too, especially if you find yourself overwhelmed by the variety of tasks you face each day. Keller will help you be more productive in your daily life and thus fulfill your purpose for living.