Daily writing prompt

What gives you direction in life?

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There are days when life feels scattered—when everything seems to be happening all at once, and none of it aligns with how we imagined things would go. On those days, I pause. I breathe. And I ask myself a simple but grounding question: What’s my purpose?

Purpose is what guides me when I feel confused or lost. When problems arise, I no longer just react—I question the reason behind them. Not out of frustration or defeat, but out of a desire to understand what I might not be seeing yet. It’s easy to move forward when everything is falling into place. But when it isn’t, that’s when I dig deeper and reflect.

When something doesn’t go the way I envisioned, I no longer dwell too long in disappointment. Instead, I turn to the idea of purpose. I ask: What might be the reason behind this? What is this trying to teach me? Because the truth is, when we are doing something intentional—something that clearly aligns with our goals or desires—we don’t question it. We just know. There’s a sense of clarity that keeps us going.

But when life throws us into situations we didn’t choose, we start to question. And in those questions lies a hidden gift: the opportunity to realign with our deeper purpose, or perhaps to discover a new one.

So, I choose not to see setbacks as failures. I see them as invitations to grow, to look at life through a different lens, and to trust that even when things feel off track, they are still part of a bigger picture I may not fully understand yet.

Because when you live with purpose, even the uncertain moments serve you. They become stepping stones, not stumbling blocks.

So what gives me direction in life? It’s purpose. Knowing my purpose on a day-to-day basis grounds me. Being open and optimistic about the purpose behind things that don’t go my way helps me stay centered. I continue to seek my deeper purpose—one that will reveal itself in due time. Having a purpose, being open to it, and actively seeking it is what guides me toward the direction or path I’m meant to take.