Haley Hoffman Smith
Photo credit: Julia Nahr
when Haley Hoffman Smith When she started making motivational TikTok content, she didn’t expect what the question she was asked most often would be: “How do I find my purpose?” Questions flooded her comments and DMs. She created a popular trending TikTok video that reflected her growth trajectory from an aimless 15-year-old to now a 24-year-old six-figure entrepreneur signed to her dream talent agency in New York City. The video has garnered over 1 million views and generated hundreds of requests for advice on how to find purpose in life.
Finding your purpose is a big deal. It’s probably the biggest question most people ask themselves. But according to a survey of 2,000 Americans: 10% of people have their dream job There are many reasons why people walk away from their dream job, including financial constraints, lack of skills, and family commitments.
Just thinking about the “purpose of life” spreads existential dread, obscures clarity, and stirs anxiety. Some argue that we all have a single purpose, while others say that we all have a single purpose. Dr. Letha Kylemany would argue that we serve multiple purposes throughout our lives, but one thing is certain: feeling connected to your purpose is one of the most important considerations in any work, passion or business.
It also helps us live longer. Clearvue Health Survey A cohort study of 8,419 adults reported a significant correlation between purpose in life and mortality. “Essentially, if you feel like you have a purpose in life, you may live longer as a result,” the article states. I interviewed Hoffman-Smith to learn more about how she helps hundreds of people answer the million-dollar question: “How do I find my purpose?”
1. Looking back on the excitement
It’s no secret that the answer to this question comes from a certain amount of self-reflection. “When I designed my five-day course, The Purpose Pilot, I knew I needed to lead my students through a good set of reflective questions to help them truly understand themselves,” says Hoffman Smith. “A big part of this was figuring out where their interests and passions converge.”
Many of us dismiss our real life dreams as merely “interesting.”
“We’ve been encouraged to think of our passions as something we can trust and that will lead to a career we feel comfortable pursuing,” she adds, “but when we look at our interests, we can see our true dreams that might be in our blind spots.”
As you evaluate these interests, pay close attention to the ones that truly excite you. “In this course, I teach what I call the ‘Energy Test,’ which involves closing your eyes, thinking about each of your passions and interests, and feeling the energetic response in your body,” she said. “I’ve found that thinking about your true dreams and sense of purpose can feel similar to having a few shots of espresso. If lit in the right way, it has the ability to generate new energy within you.”
2. Understand and overcome limiting beliefs
Identify a sense of purpose It would be a lot easier to pursue your dreams if you didn’t have limitations. In fact, that’s probably why you haven’t identified one yet. “What I’ve discovered is that, deep down, we all truly know what we were put on this earth to do, but it’s obscured by years of denial. Your dreams can be denied by the perception that they’re not ‘realistic,’ that you’re not cut out for them (like wanting to be an actress but not getting the lead role in the school play), or that you simply haven’t seen anyone in your immediate environment chasing your dreams,” Hoffman Smith explained.
“You have to recognize that voice in your head that says, ‘I can’t,’ and figure out where it’s coming from,” she says. To practice this in your life, ponder the question: “What did you want to be before the world told you you couldn’t?”
3. Take action
Because confidence is built through action, Hoffman Smith’s course culminates with what she calls a “Do It Day.” “The concept is that you pick a day to really ramp up your efforts on your first business plan, book, or passion, and then you plan for that day,” she explains. “When you plan ahead, it feels more like a vacation, and you’re more likely to take bold action.”
When it comes to what you’re going to do that day, she recommends thinking from a third-person perspective. “If you have a friend who has a big dream, what advice would you give them to make it happen?” she says. “Sometimes putting some distance between yourself and your work can help bring clarity.”
Ultimately, Hoffman Smith’s goal is to help people who feel the calling to follow through on their biggest dreams in life. “Here’s a secret: Your biggest dream is to Purpose of Life It’s the same thing. Don’t ever doubt what you know in your heart is your calling.”
