critical thinking and finding your purpose

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Seven ways to find your purpose in life, having a meaningful, long-term goal is good for your well-being. here’s how to find one..

Many of the people I know seem to have a deep sense of purpose. Whether working for racial justice, teaching children to read, making inspiring art, or collecting donations of masks and face shields for hospitals during the pandemic, they’ve found ways to blend their passion, talents, and care for the world in a way that infuses their lives with meaning.

Luckily for them, having a purpose in life is associated with all kinds of benefits. Research suggests that purpose is tied to having better health , longevity , and even economic success . It feels good to have a sense of purpose, knowing that you are using your skills to help others in a way that matters to you.

But how do you go about finding your purpose if it’s not obvious to you? Is it something you develop naturally over the course of a lifetime ? Or are there steps you can take to encourage more purpose in your life?


Likely both, says Kendall Bronk , a researcher who directs the Adolescent Moral Development Lab at Claremont Graduate University. People can find a sense of purpose organically—or through deliberate exercises and self-reflection. Sometimes, just having someone talk to you about what matters to you makes you think more intentionally about your life and your purpose, says Bronk.

In her work with adolescents, she’s found that some teens find purpose after experiencing hardship. Maybe a kid who has experienced racism decides to become a civil rights advocate. Or one who’s suffered severe illness decides to study medicine. Of course, experiences like poverty and illness are extremely hard to overcome without help from others. But Bronk’s research suggests that having a supportive social network—caring family members, like-minded friends, or mentors, for example—helps youth to reframe hardship as a challenge they can play a role in changing for the better. That might be true of adults, too.

While hardship can lead to purpose, most people probably find purpose in a more meandering way, says Bronk—through a combination of education, experience, and self-reflection, often helped along by encouragement from others . But finding your purpose can be jump-started, too, given the right tools. She and her colleagues have found that exercises aimed at uncovering your values, interests, and skills, as well as practicing positive emotions like gratitude, can help point you toward your purpose in life.

Here are some of her recommendations based on her research on purpose.

1. Identify the things you care about


Purpose is all about applying your skills toward contributing to the greater good in a way that matters to you. So, identifying what you care about is an important first step.

In Greater Good’s Purpose Challenge , designed by Bronk and her team, high school seniors were asked to think about the world around them—their homes, communities, the world at large—and visualize what they would do if they had a magic wand and could change anything they wanted to change (and why). Afterward, they could use that reflection to consider more concrete steps they might take to contribute toward moving the world a little closer to that ideal.

A similar process is recommended for older adults by Jim Emerman of Encore.org, an organization that helps seniors find new purpose in life. Instead of envisioning an ideal future world, though, he suggests posing three questions to yourself:

• What are you good at?
• What have you done that gave you a skill that can be used for a cause?
• What do you care about in your community?

By reflecting on these questions, he says, older adults can brainstorm ideas for repurposing skills and pursuing interests developed over a lifetime toward helping the world.

2. Reflect on what matters most

Sometimes it can be hard to single out one or two things that matter most to you because your circle of care and concern is far-ranging. Understanding what you value most may help you narrow down your purpose in life to something manageable that also truly resonates with you.

There are several good values surveys to choose from, including these three recommended by PositivePsychology.com: the Valued Living Questionnaire , the Portrait Values Questionnaire , and the Personal Values Questionnaire . All have been used in research studies and may be helpful to those who feel overwhelmed by all they want to change.

Bronk found that helping people prioritize their values is useful for finding purpose. The survey used in Greater Good’s purpose challenge—where students were asked to look at common values and rank which were most important, least important, and in between—has been shown to be effective in helping people clarify their purpose.

Once you’re clearer on your deepest values, Bronk recommends asking yourself: What do these values say about you as a person? How do these values influence your daily life? How might they relate to what you want to do with the rest of your life? Doing this exercise can help you discover how you can put your values to use.

3. Recognize your strengths and talents

We all have strengths and skills that we’ve developed over our lifetimes, which help make up our unique personalities. Yet some of us may be unsure of what we have to offer.

If we need help, a survey like the VIA Character Strengths Survey can be useful in identifying our personal strengths and embracing them more fully. Then, you can take the results and think about how you can apply them toward something you really care about.

But it can also be helpful to ask others—teachers, friends, family, colleagues, mentors—for input. In the Purpose Challenge, students were asked to send emails to five people who knew them well and to pose questions like:

• What do you think I’m particularly good at?
• What do you think I really enjoy?
• How do you think I’ll leave my mark on the world?

Adults can do this if they need feedback, too—either formally or informally in conversation with trusted others. People who know you well may be able to see things in you that you don’t recognize in yourself, which can point you in unexpected directions. On the other hand, there is no need to overly rely on that feedback if it doesn’t resonate. Getting input is useful if it clarifies your strengths—not if it’s way off base.

4. Try volunteering

Finding purpose involves more than just self-reflection. According to Bronk, it’s also about trying out new things and seeing how those activities enable you to use your skills to make a meaningful difference in the world. Volunteering in a community organization focused on something of interest to you could provide you with some experience and do good at the same time.

Working with an organization serving others can put you in touch with people who share your passions and inspire you. In fact, it’s easier to find and sustain purpose with others’ support —and a do-gooder network can introduce you to opportunities and a community that shares your concern. Volunteering has the added benefit of improving our health and longevity, at least for some people.

However, not all volunteer activities will lead to a sense of purpose. “Sometimes volunteering can be deadening,” warns Stanford University researcher Anne Colby. “It needs to be engaging. You have to feel you’re accomplishing something.” When you find a good match for you, volunteering will likely “feel right” in some way—not draining, but invigorating.

5. Imagine your best possible self

This exercise if particularly useful in conjunction with the magic-wand exercise described above. In Greater Good’s Purpose Challenge, high school students were asked to imagine themselves at 40 years of age if everything had gone as well as it could have in their lives. Then, they answered questions, like:

• What are you doing?
• What is important to you?
• What do you really care about, and why?

The why part is particularly important, because purposes usually emerges from our reasons for caring, says Bronk.

Of course, those of us who are a bit older can still find these questions valuable. However, says Bronk, older folks may want to reflect back rather than look ahead. She suggests we think about what we’ve always wanted to do but maybe couldn’t because of other obligations (like raising kids or pursuing a career). There seems to be something about seeing what you truly want for yourself and the world that can help bring you closer to achieving it, perhaps by focusing your attention on the people and experiences you encounter that may help you get there.

6. Cultivate positive emotions like gratitude and awe

To find purpose, it helps to foster positive emotions , like awe and gratitude. That’s because each of these emotions is tied to well-being, caring about others, and finding meaning in life, which all help us focus on how we can contribute to the world.

More on Purpose

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In her study with young adults, Bronk found that practicing gratitude was particularly helpful in pointing students toward purpose. Reflecting on the blessings of their lives often leads young people to “ pay it forward ” in some way, which is how gratitude can lead to purpose.

There are many ways to cultivate awe and gratitude. Awe can be inspired by seeing the beauty in nature or recalling an inspirational moment . Gratitude can be practiced by keeping a gratitude journal or writing a gratitude letter to someone who helped you in life. Whatever tools you use, developing gratitude and awe has the added benefit of being good for your emotional well-being, which can give you the energy and motivation you need to carry out your purposeful goals.

7. Look to the people you admire

Sometimes the people we admire most in life give us a clue to how we might want to contribute to a better world ourselves. Reading about the work of civil rights leaders or climate activists can give us a moral uplift that can serve as motivation for working toward the greater good.

However, sometimes looking at these larger-than-life examples can be too intimidating , says Bronk. If so, you can look for everyday people who are doing good in smaller ways. Maybe you have a friend who volunteers to collect food for the homeless or a colleague whose work in promoting social justice inspires you.

You don’t need fame to fulfill your purpose in life. You just need to look to your inner compass—and start taking small steps in the direction that means the most to you.

This article is part of a GGSC initiative on “ Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan ,” supported by the John Templeton Foundation. In a series of articles, podcast episodes, and other resources, we’ll be exploring why and how to deepen your sense of purpose at different stages of life.

About the Author

Jill Suttie

Jill Suttie, Psy.D. , is Greater Good ’s former book review editor and now serves as a staff writer and contributing editor for the magazine. She received her doctorate of psychology from the University of San Francisco in 1998 and was a psychologist in private practice before coming to Greater Good .

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Why ‘finding your purpose’ matters – and four ways to find yours

Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences, CPsychol, FHEA, University of Bristol

Disclosure statement

Nilufar Ahmed does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Bristol provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK.

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Often presented as the solution for people lacking direction, the notion of “finding your purpose” might sound like a cliche. But having a sense of purpose has been linked with a range of physical and mental health benefits . So what actually is purpose, why does it matter, and how can you find yours?

Purpose is interrelated with “goals” and “meaning”, but not the same as either. Goals are specific actionable aims we have – for example graduating, getting a job, or losing weight. While goals can be accomplished, meaning is a broader, subjective response. We might find meaning in listening to certain music, or watching the sunset, or volunteering for a good cause. Meaning occurs when we ascribe personal significance to things.

Purpose, however, is less tangible. It can be described as a guiding principle that frames our sense of meaning and our goals. It has been defined as :

A stable and generalised intention to accomplish something that is at once personally meaningful and at the same time leads to productive engagement with some aspect of the world beyond the self.

The latter part of this definition in particular – those wider connections beyond the self – are linked to positive mental health and wellbeing.

Individual versus collective

In modern society, there tends to be a greater focus on setting and achieving individual goals and less on creating meaningful connections with others , which are important for finding meaning and purpose in our lives.

With people working longer hours , goals are often work-driven, leaving little time to pursue personal goals outside work. So, if our work isn’t aligned with our purpose, even when meeting goals we can feel a reduced sense of purpose .

This article is part of Quarter Life , a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.

You may be interested in:

Positive affirmations: how talking to yourself can let the light in

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Owning houseplants can boost your mental health – here’s how to pick the right one

Young people in particular face constant messages about how they should achieve more, including pressure to start a side hustle and to aspire to the lives of social media stars, many of which are unattainable .

While today’s “ hustle culture ” (which emphasises relentless work as necessary for success) might present a barrier to finding purpose in life, a new interest, hobby or even second job that is driven by purpose can also mitigate against the pressures and burnout commonly associated with modern life.

How does purpose help?

Over the life course, roles change. For example, we’ll change friendship groups. We might get married and become a parent. Expectations at work will change, and one day we’ll probably retire. When our identities are too strongly linked to any of these roles, it can leave us feeling lost or uneasy when things change.

But research suggests that having a sense of purpose can help us rebalance, avoiding reactive ups and downs . Purpose makes us better able to tolerate stress , and bounce back when we face difficulties.

Research among nurses , for example, found a sense of purpose helped them navigate the intense emotions of their work, and allowed them to be empathic without draining their emotional resources.

People who report having a sense of purpose have greater satisfaction at work , financial success , and overall life satisfaction . Purpose is linked with a stronger sense of identity and improved mental health .

Having a sense of purpose is also associated with better physical health – for example, a lower risk of stroke , heart disease , and Alzheimer’s disease . Health benefits like these probably explain why people with purpose tend to age well and live longer .

These associations are thought to occur partly because having a sense of purpose increases healthy practices such as physical activity and social connections. This buffers against loneliness , which is known to affect physical health .

As a psychologist and psychotherapist, I’ve noticed that the question of purpose and seeking meaning frequently brings people to therapy – even if they don’t know it when they arrive. People who are outwardly very successful in work and relationships can report feeling unsettled without knowing the reason. Often, the sessions uncover feelings of being disconnected from, or lacking, a sense of purpose.

Tips to find your purpose

Find some time to write. Journalling allows you to organise your thoughts and can increase wellbeing . Writing down things that make you feel happiness, anger or sadness can reveal topics that matter to you. For example, have you experienced something that felt unjust? Often, purposes are aligned with social justice: tackling poverty, increasing access to education, reducing obesity, challenging racism.

List your values. Identifying our values can help focus thinking about our purpose and the actions we can take to support this. For example, if you’ve identified the climate crisis as something you feel strongly about, but your values tend towards avoiding social disruption, you will be unlikely to get involved in a protest regardless of how much you support the issue. You may instead focus on a different way of connecting with your purpose, such as recycling more or driving less.

Find your passion. What do you love to do ? If you love dancing and you want to tackle poverty, maybe there will be ways of getting involved in teaching dance to disadvantaged children. If you love reading, you may want to explore finding ways of applying this, such as reading to patients in hospital or supporting children with their reading in schools.

Get involved. Purpose is about something bigger and beyond the self. Is there a way of bringing together the things that matter to you with some way of giving back? Volunteering helps to create a sense of wellbeing and purpose , and can connect you with others.

Remember, purpose is not something we achieve at a certain point in time. It’s a journey across the life course rather than a destination. So, to find your purpose, first take your time reconnecting with yourself.

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Search catalog, critical thinking and academic research: purpose.

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Think about Purpose

Research always involves thinking, but that thinking is put to use for different purposes. Your goal might be to understand a social problem and propose a solution to it. Or your goal might be to learn about a historical event and make an argument about why it happened. Or your goal might be to advocate a particular marketing strategy for a struggling company, based on an analysis of current economic conditions.

A critical researcher regularly considers the purpose of the research: what is supposed to be achieved and why. Without a sense of what you plan to accomplish, you're unlikely to have much success with your research.

It's also important to think about purpose when determining which sources to use for a research project. To figure out whether a potential source is appropriate, consider why it was written and for what audience. Is the source sophisticated enough for your purpose? Does it include relevant arguments or information? Was it written primarily for experts or a wider audience?

Critical Questions

Critical Questions for Purpose:

• What is the purpose of my research?
• What am I trying to achieve or accomplish through research?
• What am I hoping to learn or understand?
• What is the purpose of this research assignment? Do I understand it?
• Am I supposed to solve a problem? Test a hypothesis? Develop a new idea?
• What might the end product of my research look like?

Critical Questions for a Source's Purpose:

• What is the purpose of this source?
• What is its argument or main idea?
• Why was it written or created?
• Who was it written or created for?
• What purpose might the source serve in my research project?
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Critical Thinking and Decision-Making  - What is Critical Thinking?

Critical thinking and decision-making  -, what is critical thinking, critical thinking and decision-making what is critical thinking.

Critical Thinking and Decision-Making: What is Critical Thinking?

Lesson 1: what is critical thinking, what is critical thinking.

Critical thinking is a term that gets thrown around a lot. You've probably heard it used often throughout the years whether it was in school, at work, or in everyday conversation. But when you stop to think about it, what exactly is critical thinking and how do you do it ?

Watch the video below to learn more about critical thinking.

Simply put, critical thinking is the act of deliberately analyzing information so that you can make better judgements and decisions . It involves using things like logic, reasoning, and creativity, to draw conclusions and generally understand things better.

This may sound like a pretty broad definition, and that's because critical thinking is a broad skill that can be applied to so many different situations. You can use it to prepare for a job interview, manage your time better, make decisions about purchasing things, and so much more.

The process

As humans, we are constantly thinking . It's something we can't turn off. But not all of it is critical thinking. No one thinks critically 100% of the time... that would be pretty exhausting! Instead, it's an intentional process , something that we consciously use when we're presented with difficult problems or important decisions.

Improving your critical thinking

In order to become a better critical thinker, it's important to ask questions when you're presented with a problem or decision, before jumping to any conclusions. You can start with simple ones like What do I currently know? and How do I know this? These can help to give you a better idea of what you're working with and, in some cases, simplify more complex issues.  

Real-world applications

Let's take a look at how we can use critical thinking to evaluate online information . Say a friend of yours posts a news article on social media and you're drawn to its headline. If you were to use your everyday automatic thinking, you might accept it as fact and move on. But if you were thinking critically, you would first analyze the available information and ask some questions :

• What's the source of this article?
• Is the headline potentially misleading?
• What are my friend's general beliefs?
• Do their beliefs inform why they might have shared this?

After analyzing all of this information, you can draw a conclusion about whether or not you think the article is trustworthy.

Critical thinking has a wide range of real-world applications . It can help you to make better decisions, become more hireable, and generally better understand the world around you.

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Critical Thinking Is About Asking Better Questions

• John Coleman

Six practices to sharpen your inquiry.

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and effectively break down an issue in order to make a decision or find a solution. At the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions. For effective questioning, start by holding your hypotheses loosely. Be willing to fundamentally reconsider your initial conclusions — and do so without defensiveness. Second, listen more than you talk through active listening. Third, leave your queries open-ended, and avoid yes-or-no questions. Fourth, consider the counterintuitive to avoid falling into groupthink. Fifth, take the time to stew in a problem, rather than making decisions unnecessarily quickly. Last, ask thoughtful, even difficult, follow-ups.

Are you tackling a new and difficult problem at work? Recently promoted and trying to both understand your new role and bring a fresh perspective? Or are you new to the workforce and seeking ways to meaningfully contribute alongside your more experienced colleagues? If so, critical thinking — the ability to analyze and effectively break down an issue in order to make a decision or find a solution — will be core to your success. And at the heart of critical thinking is the ability to formulate deep, different, and effective questions.

• JC John Coleman is the author of the HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose . Subscribe to his free newsletter, On Purpose , follow him on Twitter @johnwcoleman, or contact him at johnwilliamcoleman.com.

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Finding Your Purpose: A Guide to Discovering Your Life’s Meaning

Finding your purpose can give you a sense of direction and fulfillment that can improve your overall well-being. Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions of life without any real purpose? It’s a familiar feeling but doesn’t have to be permanent.  In this article, we’ll explore some practical steps you can take to discover your purpose and live a more meaningful life.

The first step to finding your purpose is to identify what drives you. What are the things that make you feel alive and energized? Is it helping others, creating art, solving complex problems, or something else entirely? By understanding your passions and interests, you can see patterns and themes that can guide you towards your purpose. In the following sections, we’ll explore some exercises you can do to help uncover your passions and interests.

Once you understand what drives you, the next step is to apply your skills toward contributing to the greater good in a way that matters to you. This is where you can explore different career paths or volunteer opportunities that align with your purpose. It’s important to note that purpose doesn’t have to be tied to a specific job or career. You can also find purpose in your personal life, such as through hobbies or relationships. Throughout this article, we’ll provide some tips on how to integrate your purpose into different areas of your life.

Understanding the Concept of Purpose

Defining purpose.

When we talk about purpose, we refer to the reason why we exist and why we wake up every day and do what we do. The driving force behind our actions is the motivation that propels us forward. The purpose is not a fixed destination but rather a journey that evolves. It is a personal and subjective concept that is unique to each individual.

Our purpose can manifest in different forms, such as career goals, personal relationships, or community involvement. It can also be a combination of various aspects of our lives. The important thing is that it gives us a sense of meaning and fulfillment.

Importance of Purpose in Life

Having a sense of purpose is crucial for our overall well-being. It gives us direction and focus and helps us make sense of our experiences. Without purpose, we may feel lost or disconnected and struggle to find meaning.

Research has shown that a strong sense of purpose is associated with many positive outcomes, including better physical and mental health, increased resilience, and greater happiness and fulfillment. It can also help us navigate challenging times and overcome obstacles.

In short, purpose is a fundamental aspect of our lives that significantly impacts our overall well-being. We should strive to cultivate and nurture it throughout our lives.

Finding Your Purpose: Self-Reflection

When finding our purpose, self-reflection is an important first step. Examining our thoughts, feelings, actions, and motivations can help us gain clarity about what truly matters to us. Here are some sub-sections that can guide us in our self-reflection journey:

Identifying Your Values

Our values are the things that are most important to us. They are the guiding principles that shape our decisions and actions. Identifying our values can help us understand what we stand for and want to achieve. To identify our values, we can ask ourselves questions like:

• What makes me feel fulfilled?
• What do I care about most?
• What kind of person do I want to be?
• What kind of impact do I want to have on the world?

Once we have identified our values, we can use them to guide our decisions and actions and ensure that we align with what truly matters to us.

Recognizing Your Passions

Our passions are the things that bring us joy and fulfillment. They are the activities we love to do and make us feel alive. Recognizing our passions can help us identify the areas where we can make the most significant impact and find the most fulfillment. To acknowledge our passions, we can ask ourselves questions like:

• What activities make me lose track of time?
• What hobbies do I enjoy the most?
• What topics do I love to learn about?
• What kind of work would I do even if I didn’t get paid for it?

Once we have recognized our passions, we can look for ways to incorporate them into our daily lives and pursue them more intentionally.

Acknowledging Your Strengths

Our strengths are the things that we are naturally good at. They are the skills and abilities that come quickly to us and that we enjoy using. Acknowledging our strengths can help us identify the areas where we can make the most significant impact and find the most fulfillment. To recognize our strengths, we can ask ourselves questions like:

• What tasks do I excel at?
• What skills do I enjoy using?
• What do others compliment me on?
• What accomplishments am I most proud of?

Once we have acknowledged our strengths, we can look for ways to use them more intentionally and develop them further. By leveraging our strengths, we can significantly impact and find more fulfillment in our work and lives.

Self-reflection is an ongoing process that can help us discover our purpose and live a more fulfilling life. By identifying our values, recognizing our passions, and acknowledging our strengths, we can gain clarity about what truly matters to us and find the right path.

Finding Your Purpose: Setting Goals

Setting goals is an essential step in finding purpose. It helps us identify what we want to achieve and directs us to move forward. In this section, we will discuss short-term and long-term goals.

Short-Term Goals

We want to achieve short-term goals in the near future, usually within a few months to a year. They are stepping stones towards achieving our long-term goals. Here are some tips for setting short-term goals:

• Be specific: Define your goals clearly and make them measurable. For example, instead of saying, “I want to exercise more,” say, “I want to exercise for 30 minutes three times a week.”
• Be realistic: Set goals that are achievable within your current situation. Don’t set yourself up for failure by aiming too high.
• Write them down: Putting your goals in writing makes them more accurate and helps you to stay accountable.
• Break them down: If your long-term goal seems overwhelming, break it down into smaller, more manageable short-term goals.

Long-Term Goals

We want to achieve long-term goals over a more extended period, usually several years. They are the big-picture goals that give us direction and purpose. Here are some tips for setting long-term goals:

• Be specific: Just like with short-term goals, define your long-term goals clearly and make them measurable. For example, instead of saying, “I want to be successful,” say, “I want to start my own business and make a profit of $100,000 within five years.”
• Be realistic: Set achievable goals within your current situation but also challenging enough to push you out of your comfort zone.
• Visualize: Picture yourself achieving your long-term goals and what it will look like. This will help motivate you to keep working towards them.
• Write them down: Putting your goals in writing makes them more real and helps you to stay accountable.
• Break them down: Break your long-term goals into smaller, more manageable short-term ones. This will help you to stay on track and measure your progress.

Setting goals is an essential step in finding purpose. Short-term goals are stepping stones toward achieving long-term goals. When setting goals, be specific realistic, and write them down. Break down your long-term goals into smaller, more manageable short-term goals.

Finding Your Purpose: Taking Action

When it comes to finding our life purpose, taking action is crucial. Without action, our dreams and aspirations will remain just that – dreams and aspirations. In this section, we will discuss two essential sub-sections to help us take steps toward finding our life purpose.

Creating a Plan

Creating a plan is the first step toward taking action. With a plan, we may feel safe and confident about what to do next. To create a plan, we need to identify and break our goals into smaller, manageable steps. We can use a table or a bullet point list to organize our plan and make it easier to follow.

Breaking down our goals into smaller steps makes them more manageable and helps us stay motivated as we can see our progress along the way.

Staying Motivated

Staying motivated is the second crucial step towards taking action. It can be easy to lose motivation when we encounter obstacles or setbacks. To stay motivated, we need to remind ourselves of our why – why we started on this journey in the first place.

One way to stay motivated is to create a vision board. A vision board is a visual representation of our goals and aspirations. We can create a board using images, quotes, and affirmations that inspire and motivate us. We can place the board somewhere we will see it every day, such as our bedroom or office.

Another way to stay motivated is to find an accountability partner. An accountability partner will hold us accountable for our actions and provide support and encouragement. We can share our goals and progress with our partners and vice versa.

Finding Your Purpose: Overcoming Obstacles

When trying to find our purpose, we will inevitably encounter obstacles. However, it’s important not to let these obstacles hold us back and prevent us from achieving our goals. This section will discuss two important sub-sections to help us overcome obstacles: Handling Failure and Maintaining Resilience.

Handling Failure

Failure is a natural part of the journey towards finding our purpose. It’s important to reframe our thinking about failure and view it as an opportunity for growth rather than a setback. When we fail, we can learn from our mistakes and use that knowledge to make better decisions in the future.

One way to handle failure is to practice self-compassion. We must be kind to ourselves and recognize that failure does not reflect our worth as individuals. We can also seek support from others, whether it be through talking to friends or family or seeking guidance from a mentor.

Maintaining Resilience

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. It’s an important trait to develop when overcoming obstacles and finding our purpose. To maintain resilience, we must care for ourselves physically and mentally.

One way to maintain resilience is to prioritize self-care. This can include getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet. We can also practice mindfulness and meditation to help us stay present and focused.

Another way to maintain resilience is to cultivate a growth mindset. We must believe that we can learn and grow, even in the face of challenges. This can help us stay motivated and focused on our goals, even when things get tough.

In conclusion, overcoming obstacles is an integral part of finding our purpose. By handling failure with compassion and maintaining resilience through self-care and a growth mindset, we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

Finding Your Purpose: Continuous Learning

Continuous learning is an essential part of finding purpose in our lives. It is the process of acquiring new skills and knowledge continually over time. By constantly learning and upskilling, we can develop personally and professionally, open doors to new opportunities, and achieve our full potential. This section will discuss two sub-sections that can help us in continuous learning.

Seeking New Experiences

One of the best ways to learn is by seeking new experiences. Trying new things can help us gain new perspectives, learn new skills, and develop new interests. For example, we can take up a new hobby, travel to a new place, or attend a workshop or conference related to our field of interest. By stepping out of our comfort zone and experiencing new things, we can broaden our horizons and learn more about ourselves and the world around us.

Constant Self-Evaluation

Another important aspect of continuous learning is constant self-evaluation. We must reflect on our experiences, successes, and failures. We can identify areas where we need to improve and set goals. We can also seek feedback from others, such as mentors or peers, to gain new insights and perspectives.

To help us with self-evaluation, we can create a personal development plan. This plan can include our goals, strategies for achieving them, and timelines for completion. We can also track our progress and make adjustments as necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some practical steps to finding your life’s purpose.

Finding your life’s purpose can seem like a daunting task, but there are practical steps you can take to help you along the way. First, take some time to reflect on your values, interests, and passions. Consider what activities bring you joy and fulfillment. Next, set some goals and take action towards them. Don’t be afraid to try new things and explore different paths. Finally, seek out support from friends, family, or a mentor who can provide guidance and encouragement.

How can taking a purpose quiz help you discover your passions?

Taking a purpose quiz can be a helpful tool in discovering your passions and interests. These quizzes are designed to help you identify your strengths, values, and goals. They can provide insight into what motivates you and what you find fulfilling. However, it’s important to remember that these quizzes are not a definitive answer to finding your life’s purpose. They are simply a starting point for self-reflection and exploration.

What are some common misconceptions about finding your purpose?

One common misconception about finding your purpose is that it is a one-time event or that it can be found through external validation or success. In reality, finding your purpose is an ongoing process that requires self-reflection, exploration, and growth. Another misconception is that your purpose is a specific job or career. While your career can certainly be aligned with your purpose, it is not the only way to fulfill it.

How can faith or spirituality play a role in finding your purpose?

Faith or spirituality can provide a sense of meaning and purpose for many people. It can help you connect with something greater than yourself and provide a framework for making decisions and living a fulfilling life. If you are exploring your purpose and feel drawn to a particular spiritual tradition or practice, consider exploring it further and seeking guidance from a trusted spiritual leader or community.

What are some ways to overcome obstacles in finding your purpose?

Obstacles are a natural part of the journey towards finding your purpose. Some common obstacles include fear, self-doubt, and external pressures. To overcome these obstacles, it can be helpful to practice self-compassion and self-care. Take time to reflect on your values and goals, and remember that setbacks and failures are a natural part of the process. Seek out support from friends, family, or a therapist if needed.

How can identifying your values and strengths lead to finding your purpose?

Identifying your values and strengths can be a helpful starting point in discovering your purpose. Your values represent what is important to you, while your strengths represent what you are good at. By aligning your values and strengths with your goals and actions, you can create a sense of purpose and fulfillment in your life. Take time to reflect on what matters most to you and what you excel at, and consider how you can use these to make a positive impact in the world.

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E valuating resources often means piecing together clues

This section teaches you how to identify relevant and credible sources that have most likely turned up when searching the Web and on your results pages of the library catalog and specialized databases. Remember you always want to look for relevant, credible sources that will meet the information needs of your research project.

In order to evaluate a source, you have to read and review the information keeping in mind two very important questions:

• Is this source relevant to my research question?
• Is this a credible source– a source my audience and I should be able to believe

Note: As you read an academic paper you will need to determine relevance before credibility because no matter how credible a source is if it’s not relevant to your research question it’s useless to you for this project. Reading research-centric papers can be challenging. Check out the tips in the video below.

UBC iSchool. (2013). How to read an academic paper . https://youtu.be/SKxm2HF_-k0

Happily, you’ll also get faster the more you do it.

Making Inferences: Good Enough for Your Purpose?

Sources should always be evaluated relative to your purpose-why you’re looking for information. But because there often aren’t clear-cut answers when you evaluate sources, most of the time it is inferences, educated guesses from available clues, that you have to make about whether to use information from particular sources.

Your information needs will dictate:

• What kind of information will help?
• How serious you consider the consequences of making a mistake by using information that turns out to be inaccurate. When the consequences aren’t very serious, it’s easier to decide if a source and its information are good enough for your purpose. Of course, there’s a lot to be said for always having accurate information, regardless.
• How hard you’re willing to work to get the credible, timely information that suits your purpose. (What you’re learning here will make it easier.)

Thus, your standards for relevance and credibility may vary, depending on whether you need, say:

• Information about a personal health problem.
• An image you can use on a poster.
• Evidence to win a bet with a rival in the dorm.
• Dates and times a movie is showing locally.
• A game to have fun with.
• Evidence for your argument in a term paper.

For your research assignments or a health problem, the consequences may be great if you use information that is not relevant or not credible.

Evaluating Sources

There are many approaches to evaluating your web and library resources. One that is quite useful is the SIFT process. 

Critical Thinking in Academic Research Copyright © 2022 by Cindy Gruwell and Robin Ewing is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to build critical thinking skills for better decision-making

It’s simple in theory, but tougher in practice – here are five tips to get you started.

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Have you heard the riddle about two coins that equal thirty cents, but one of them is not a nickel? What about the one where a surgeon says they can’t operate on their own son?

Those brain teasers tap into your critical thinking skills. But your ability to think critically isn’t just helpful for solving those random puzzles – it plays a big role in your career. 

An impressive 81% of employers say critical thinking carries a lot of weight when they’re evaluating job candidates. It ranks as the top competency companies consider when hiring recent graduates (even ahead of communication ). Plus, once you’re hired, several studies show that critical thinking skills are highly correlated with better job performance.

So what exactly are critical thinking skills? And even more importantly, how do you build and improve them? 

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate facts and information, remain objective, and make a sound decision about how to move forward.

Does that sound like how you approach every decision or problem? Not so fast. Critical thinking seems simple in theory but is much tougher in practice, which helps explain why 65% of employers say their organization has a need for more critical thinking. 

In reality, critical thinking doesn’t come naturally to a lot of us. In order to do it well, you need to:

• Remain open-minded and inquisitive, rather than relying on assumptions or jumping to conclusions
• Ask questions and dig deep, rather than accepting information at face value
• Keep your own biases and perceptions in check to stay as objective as possible
• Rely on your emotional intelligence to fill in the blanks and gain a more well-rounded understanding of a situation

So, critical thinking isn’t just being intelligent or analytical. In many ways, it requires you to step outside of yourself, let go of your own preconceived notions, and approach a problem or situation with curiosity and fairness.

It’s a challenge, but it’s well worth it. Critical thinking skills will help you connect ideas, make reasonable decisions, and solve complex problems.

7 critical thinking skills to help you dig deeper

Critical thinking is often labeled as a skill itself (you’ll see it bulleted as a desired trait in a variety of job descriptions). But it’s better to think of critical thinking less as a distinct skill and more as a collection or category of skills. 

To think critically, you’ll need to tap into a bunch of your other soft skills. Here are seven of the most important. 

Open-mindedness

It’s important to kick off the critical thinking process with the idea that anything is possible. The more you’re able to set aside your own suspicions, beliefs, and agenda, the better prepared you are to approach the situation with the level of inquisitiveness you need. 

That means not closing yourself off to any possibilities and allowing yourself the space to pull on every thread – yes, even the ones that seem totally implausible.

As Christopher Dwyer, Ph.D. writes in a piece for Psychology Today , “Even if an idea appears foolish, sometimes its consideration can lead to an intelligent, critically considered conclusion.” He goes on to compare the critical thinking process to brainstorming . Sometimes the “bad” ideas are what lay the foundation for the good ones. 

Open-mindedness is challenging because it requires more effort and mental bandwidth than sticking with your own perceptions. Approaching problems or situations with true impartiality often means:

• Practicing self-regulation : Giving yourself a pause between when you feel something and when you actually react or take action.
• Challenging your own biases: Acknowledging your biases and seeking feedback are two powerful ways to get a broader understanding. 

Critical thinking example

In a team meeting, your boss mentioned that your company newsletter signups have been decreasing and she wants to figure out why.

At first, you feel offended and defensive – it feels like she’s blaming you for the dip in subscribers. You recognize and rationalize that emotion before thinking about potential causes. You have a hunch about what’s happening, but you will explore all possibilities and contributions from your team members.

Observation

Observation is, of course, your ability to notice and process the details all around you (even the subtle or seemingly inconsequential ones). Critical thinking demands that you’re flexible and willing to go beyond surface-level information, and solid observation skills help you do that.

Your observations help you pick up on clues from a variety of sources and experiences, all of which help you draw a final conclusion. After all, sometimes it’s the most minuscule realization that leads you to the strongest conclusion.

Over the next week or so, you keep a close eye on your company’s website and newsletter analytics to see if numbers are in fact declining or if your boss’s concerns were just a fluke. 

Critical thinking hinges on objectivity. And, to be objective, you need to base your judgments on the facts – which you collect through research. You’ll lean on your research skills to gather as much information as possible that’s relevant to your problem or situation. 

Keep in mind that this isn’t just about the quantity of information – quality matters too. You want to find data and details from a variety of trusted sources to drill past the surface and build a deeper understanding of what’s happening. 

You dig into your email and website analytics to identify trends in bounce rates, time on page, conversions, and more. You also review recent newsletters and email promotions to understand what customers have received, look through current customer feedback, and connect with your customer support team to learn what they’re hearing in their conversations with customers.

The critical thinking process is sort of like a treasure hunt – you’ll find some nuggets that are fundamental for your final conclusion and some that might be interesting but aren’t pertinent to the problem at hand.

That’s why you need analytical skills. They’re what help you separate the wheat from the chaff, prioritize information, identify trends or themes, and draw conclusions based on the most relevant and influential facts. 

It’s easy to confuse analytical thinking with critical thinking itself, and it’s true there is a lot of overlap between the two. But analytical thinking is just a piece of critical thinking. It focuses strictly on the facts and data, while critical thinking incorporates other factors like emotions, opinions, and experiences. 

As you analyze your research, you notice that one specific webpage has contributed to a significant decline in newsletter signups. While all of the other sources have stayed fairly steady with regard to conversions, that one has sharply decreased.

You decide to move on from your other hypotheses about newsletter quality and dig deeper into the analytics. 

One of the traps of critical thinking is that it’s easy to feel like you’re never done. There’s always more information you could collect and more rabbit holes you could fall down.

But at some point, you need to accept that you’ve done your due diligence and make a decision about how to move forward. That’s where inference comes in. It’s your ability to look at the evidence and facts available to you and draw an informed conclusion based on those. 

When you’re so focused on staying objective and pursuing all possibilities, inference can feel like the antithesis of critical thinking. But ultimately, it’s your inference skills that allow you to move out of the thinking process and onto the action steps. 

You dig deeper into the analytics for the page that hasn’t been converting and notice that the sharp drop-off happened around the same time you switched email providers.

After looking more into the backend, you realize that the signup form on that page isn’t correctly connected to your newsletter platform. It seems like anybody who has signed up on that page hasn’t been fed to your email list. 

Communication

3 ways to improve your communication skills at work

If and when you identify a solution or answer, you can’t keep it close to the vest. You’ll need to use your communication skills to share your findings with the relevant stakeholders – like your boss, team members, or anybody who needs to be involved in the next steps.

Your analysis skills will come in handy here too, as they’ll help you determine what information other people need to know so you can avoid bogging them down with unnecessary details. 

In your next team meeting, you pull up the analytics and show your team the sharp drop-off as well as the missing connection between that page and your email platform. You ask the web team to reinstall and double-check that connection and you also ask a member of the marketing team to draft an apology email to the subscribers who were missed. 

Problem-solving

Critical thinking and problem-solving are two more terms that are frequently confused. After all, when you think critically, you’re often doing so with the objective of solving a problem.

The best way to understand how problem-solving and critical thinking differ is to think of problem-solving as much more narrow. You’re focused on finding a solution.

In contrast, you can use critical thinking for a variety of use cases beyond solving a problem – like answering questions or identifying opportunities for improvement. Even so, within the critical thinking process, you’ll flex your problem-solving skills when it comes time to take action. 

Once the fix is implemented, you monitor the analytics to see if subscribers continue to increase. If not (or if they increase at a slower rate than you anticipated), you’ll roll out some other tests like changing the CTA language or the placement of the subscribe form on the page.

5 ways to improve your critical thinking skills

Beyond the buzzwords: Why interpersonal skills matter at work

Think critically about critical thinking and you’ll quickly realize that it’s not as instinctive as you’d like it to be. Fortunately, your critical thinking skills are learned competencies and not inherent gifts – and that means you can improve them. Here’s how:

• Practice active listening: Active listening helps you process and understand what other people share. That’s crucial as you aim to be open-minded and inquisitive.
• Ask open-ended questions: If your critical thinking process involves collecting feedback and opinions from others, ask open-ended questions (meaning, questions that can’t be answered with “yes” or “no”). Doing so will give you more valuable information and also prevent your own biases from influencing people’s input.
• Scrutinize your sources: Figuring out what to trust and prioritize is crucial for critical thinking. Boosting your media literacy and asking more questions will help you be more discerning about what to factor in. It’s hard to strike a balance between skepticism and open-mindedness, but approaching information with questions (rather than unquestioning trust) will help you draw better conclusions. 
• Play a game: Remember those riddles we mentioned at the beginning? As trivial as they might seem, games and exercises like those can help you boost your critical thinking skills. There are plenty of critical thinking exercises you can do individually or as a team . 
• Give yourself time: Research shows that rushed decisions are often regrettable ones. That’s likely because critical thinking takes time – you can’t do it under the wire. So, for big decisions or hairy problems, give yourself enough time and breathing room to work through the process. It’s hard enough to think critically without a countdown ticking in your brain. 

Critical thinking really is critical

The ability to think critically is important, but it doesn’t come naturally to most of us. It’s just easier to stick with biases, assumptions, and surface-level information. 

But that route often leads you to rash judgments, shaky conclusions, and disappointing decisions. So here’s a conclusion we can draw without any more noodling: Even if it is more demanding on your mental resources, critical thinking is well worth the effort.

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5 Steps to Finding Purpose and Meaning in Your Life

Identifying our purpose takes work and dedication..

Posted February 12, 2021 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

In an ideal world, we’d receive a blueprint for finding our purpose when we’re born. In reality, some people spend their entire life looking for purpose and meaning, with little success, while other people have managed to uncover the secret to finding purpose in their lives. Today we’ll explore five steps to finding purpose and meaning so you can live a more fulfilled life.

Finding our purpose takes work and dedication. Some of us are born into families where we are given all of the resources and opportunities possible. Our parents push us to try new things and when we find something we’re good at, they find the best teachers, coaches, or classes to help us become better. For many of us, though, those opportunities weren’t available. Childhood was a time of survival, not exploring our passions.

Another challenge of finding our purpose is that it’s different for everyone. One person might find joy from painting, while someone else might find joy from taking care of the poor. So, how can people with different backgrounds and interests find satisfaction and purpose in their lives?

There are three essential factors to consider when finding your purpose:

1. It must be fun. Our purpose must be something that makes us happy. Have you ever had a friend who loved to sing, but wasn’t very good at it? We may think, why do they continue to sing when they aren’t very good? A common myth about finding our purpose is that it must be something that we’re good at. This should be reframed to: Does this bring me joy? Our friend may not be the best singer, but it makes her happy, which is far more important.

Our society idolizes people who are good at things, but not the people who do things that bring them joy. It’s common for someone who is excellent at something, let’s say the violin, for example, to do it for 20 years, and then decide to quit one day. The thing that used to bring them joy stopped being fun, and once the joy left, the feeling of purpose left.

Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, began to paint at the age of 78. When you begin a hobby at that age, it’s because it brings joy, and you can feel the joy in her work when you look at it. The key to finding your purpose, whether you’re 13 or 78, is to find something that is fun and makes you feel happy. And again, we don’t have to be the next Picasso or Yo-Yo Ma, but we do need to find something that sparks internal joy and does not need external validation. Your purpose should bring you joy, whether or not you’re the best at it, or whether or not anyone thinks you’re good at it.

2. You don’t care about the outcome. Even the most independent people still desire validation from others—it’s human nature. But it’s important that we hold our own self-validation in higher regard. When seeking our purpose in life, the key is to not find something that others think is impactful but to find something that you enjoy doing.

For example, one of my dear friends works in hospice, meaning that she helps people die gracefully. She bathes them, cleans up after them, and changes their diapers. Some may say that the work she does is thankless, but she chooses to do this work because she finds a deep purpose and satisfaction in it, even though she doesn’t get a lot of attention for it.

Instead of thinking, "I must do something that will have a great outcome," reframe it to, "I must do something that brings me great joy, and no matter who knows about this thing I do, it still brings me deep purpose and satisfaction." What matters is not what the world thinks, but what your heart is calling you towards.

3. You lived well. We want to find something that causes us to look back on our lives when we're taking our last breath and think "I lived well." In addition to finding joy in our purpose and not caring about the outcome, it’s important to find something that we’ll look back at and say, “I did things that I feel are good,” or “I made the world a better place.”

So how do we decide what that purpose is? There are two main parts of answering this question:

4. Research your options. Some kids are given the opportunity to try new things growing up, while other children are not. This type of exploration can be done at any age. You can travel, experiment with new hobbies, or talk to people about their interests at any point in your life. It’s important to gather as much information as possible about the things that are out there to see what piques your interest.

You may decide to paint, volunteer at a hospital, interview an educator, take a creative writing course or work at a museum. You’re essentially giving yourself the opportunity to explore everything that’s out there, and becoming a good parent to yourself. As you try these new things, you should see if there is enjoyment or curiosity. This may signal to you that this is something you’d like to explore further. But this exploratory phase does take time and commitment. In order to find our purpose, we must do the research. And during this research phase, it’s important to be open to the possibilities out there. You might enjoy something you’d never thought about before!

5. Go on retreat. A lot of people miss out on their purpose in life because they miss out on the opportunity to be still and listen to their hearts. It’s important that we carve out time to look inwards and answer the question "what would work for me?" If you really want to know a person, you must spend time with that person. The same goes for us.

This sounds simple but is probably the hardest part of finding our purpose. I recommend finding a day where you can isolate yourself away from other people and your phone, somewhere in nature. Spend this time of solitude just sitting and listening. You can also practice this exercise for a weekend. Rent an Airbnb in nature, bring a journal, and leave the electronics at home. What you’ll find during these getaways is that the purpose will come forward and present itself. This silence presents an opportunity for your purpose to come forward, and for you to really listen to it.

Finding our purpose seems like a lifelong journey, but it doesn’t have to be. At the heart of all these steps is taking the time to listen to ourselves. We must listen when we ask ourselves, “Does this bring me joy?” or “Do I still enjoy doing this, no matter the outcome?” And as we begin to research, we can listen to our gut when something piques our interest. Last, we must listen to what comes forward when we spend time alone. This stillness and silence will lead us in the direction we need to go so that when we look back on our lives we can think “I lived well.”

Robert Puff, Ph.D. , is host and producer of the Happiness Podcast, with over 16 million downloads.

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How to Find Your Purpose and Overcome Obstacles

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We live under pressure from an early age. As a child, you were probably asked what you wanted to become as an adult while your parents looked for signs of talent in sports, music, or math.

If you’re like most people, painfully little room was left for reflecting on finding your purpose .

Paraphrasing the words of American psychologist James Hillman, a purpose or “calling” is an intuition that there’s meaning in our lives, and that each of us has something to pursue and accomplish. According to a recent McKinsey study , most people feel they have a purpose, but only about 65% of them can actually articulate what it is.

For most of us, true purpose doesn’t just arrive—we must go searching for it.

So how do you recognize your purpose , and most importantly act on it?

First, you’ll need to overcome a common misconception: Purpose is often confused with talent, but talent is actually a tool .

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Talent as a Tool for Finding Your Purpose

We’ve all heard about gifted kids–chess masters or piano prodigies. Often, they’re pushed towards careers defined by that enormous talent.

But should you pursue something just because you’re good at it?

Regardless of whether you have many talents or just one, it’s worth noting that talent alone doesn’t lead to a fulfilling life. Talents are certainly useful, but they do not necessarily bring more meaning to our lives. Talents and skills should align with our purpose, not the other way around.

The best course is to design your own path to purpose , then address any gaps with new and existing skills and talents.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding your purpose, but developing an inquisitive mind and inner dialogue is a good start. Here are a few steps to set you on that journey.

Set aside some thinking time.

In her book Pressed for Time , Judy Wajcman, professor of sociology at the London School of Economics, says that modern society is dominated by productivity and busyness as a status symbol. That means time is in short supply, and idle time has a perceived negative value.

However, idle time is when we develop imagination, find inspiration, and nurture creativity. These are all important—they help us read the world. Some days are so busy that we barely have time to sleep. But to find your purpose, you’ll need to set aside a few minutes to recollect, listen, and reflect on your life direction.

Exercise your mind.

There are many ways to clarify your direction, from meditation to exploring new interests and getting in contact with new people. Personally, I find imagination exercises useful to start defining what type of lifestyle, working environment, and daily routines spark my sense of fulfillment and joy.

Here’s a simple exercise to get you started.

Think about what makes you feel like “a fish in water.” It doesn’t necessarily have to be a specific action. It could be a situation or a particular environment that makes you feel like you’re in your element.

Write down as many actions or scenarios as you want—you can always go back and add more or remove ones that your feelings have changed about. The important thing is not to define this exercise by your current life and its rules and limitations.

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Find the intersection of talent and peace of mind.

Next to your list of positive actions and scenarios, write down your talents and skills. Then compare the two lists.

Are there any gaps? What talents and skills might you need to turn your positive list into an actionable life project?

There you have it: the very first step in how to find your purpose.

Keep reiterating this or similar exercises to uncover your true needs and what brings you a sense of fulfillment. It should be a regular effort to schedule some reflection time and reduce the noise and demands of the outside world.

Unblocking Your Purpose

Translating your purpose into action might sound like the easy part, but a lot of us show a remarkable capacity for stalling. Why is that?

The twentieth-century existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre startlingly claimed that we’re all fundamentally free. However, many of us make constant excuses not to take advantage of our freedom: “I can’t leave this marriage,” “I am not sure I’ll find a better job than this,” and so on.

These limiting beliefs, which masquerade as absolute truths, can easily hold you back from pursuing your goals and finding your purpose. Here are just a few powerful dynamics that might be sticking you to the status quo.

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The Pressure of Family Scripts

“Family scripts,” a phrase coined by psychiatrist John Byng-Hall, are “expectations of how family roles are to be performed within various contexts.” In other words, what is considered appropriate in your family, what kind of work ethic is instilled in you, what is considered a “desirable career” by your parents, etc.

Even as an adult, it can be unclear how much of you –your desires, ambitions, and inhibitions–really belong to you and how much you’ve absorbed from your parents.

Unsurprisingly, the pressure to conform to family scripts can be a big drag on your purpose. If you’re feeling lost, it can help to break down your thoughts with these questions:

• What do I want to do or be?
• What are my biggest fears about doing or becoming that?
• In my family, what types of jobs are well received, and which aren’t?

Maybe you were raised in a house where both parents were freelancers or self-employed. As much as they liked their jobs, financial stability was an issue at home. How did your family’s “money story” affect your life choices growing up?

Or maybe you were a kid who enjoyed drawing, but your dad didn’t let you go to art school because “art is a hobby, not a real job.” How has that stance influenced your career choices?

This kind of reflection can determine the burden of expectation and help you decide what elements are not serving your purpose.

Evolution, Not Revolution

A second big inhibitor to finding your purpose is the thought of change as a revolution . It doesn’t have to be.

When you feel stuck or unfulfilled, you might start to believe that you have to radically modify your behavior and routine, quit your job, or even move to see tangible results.

The myth of what it takes to become “a success” doesn’t help. The media loves flashy stories of entrepreneurs who dropped everything to change their lives 180 degrees.

But that’s not the only way to realize your purpose. Your personal journey of discovery can be a day-to-day evolutionary change. You don’t need to quit your job , leave your partner, or really make any life-altering choice. In the beginning, nobody even needs to know.

It’s OK to start small. Try out different low-risk endeavors, like taking a course to learn a new discipline or skill. Reach out to people working in the field of your purpose, or volunteer for first-hand insights into that world.

Experimenting allows you to try out many roles or possible future professions while not fully committing to any path just yet. And along the way, you’ll gain new talents as tools to move you forward. Don’t forget, too, that you can adjust your purpose to focus more energy on areas that you find most fulfilling.

Purpose-Driven Reflection for Living a Meaningful Life

Finding a more authentic way to live and work is possible, and it can be done at your own pace. But to get results, you will need to set aside some time to reflect and practice. Remember to revisit these questions regularly:

• What do I care about?
• What tools do I need to get to where I want to be?
• What current skills and talents do I have that will help me reach my goal?
• What’s holding me back?

Awareness is power. Once you get a better understanding of where you are and where you want to be, you’ll see logical next steps laid out before you.

Finally, don’t set the bar unrealistically high. You don’t need to revolutionize your life overnight. Your self-actualization journey can be an evolutionary process of self-care and non-judgmental exploration of who you are, what made you this way, and how you can align yourself with your purpose.

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Why is critical thinking important?

What do lawyers, accountants, teachers, and doctors all have in common?

What is critical thinking?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines critical thinking as “The objective, systematic, and rational analysis and evaluation of factual evidence in order to form a judgment on a subject, issue, etc.” Critical thinking involves the use of logic and reasoning to evaluate available facts and/or evidence to come to a conclusion about a certain subject or topic. We use critical thinking every day, from decision-making to problem-solving, in addition to thinking critically in an academic context!

Why is critical thinking important for academic success?

You may be asking “why is critical thinking important for students?” Critical thinking appears in a diverse set of disciplines and impacts students’ learning every day, regardless of major.

Critical thinking skills are often associated with the value of studying the humanities. In majors such as English, students will be presented with a certain text—whether it’s a novel, short story, essay, or even film—and will have to use textual evidence to make an argument and then defend their argument about what they’ve read. However, the importance of critical thinking does not only apply to the humanities. In the social sciences, an economics major , for example, will use what they’ve learned to figure out solutions to issues as varied as land and other natural resource use, to how much people should work, to how to develop human capital through education. Problem-solving and critical thinking go hand in hand. Biology is a popular major within LAS, and graduates of the biology program often pursue careers in the medical sciences. Doctors use critical thinking every day, tapping into the knowledge they acquired from studying the biological sciences to diagnose and treat different diseases and ailments.

Students in the College of LAS take many courses that require critical thinking before they graduate. You may be asked in an Economics class to use statistical data analysis to evaluate the impact on home improvement spending when the Fed increases interest rates (read more about real-world experience with Datathon ). If you’ve ever been asked “How often do you think about the Roman Empire?”, you may find yourself thinking about the Roman Empire more than you thought—maybe in an English course, where you’ll use text from Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra to make an argument about Roman imperial desire.  No matter what the context is, critical thinking will be involved in your academic life and can take form in many different ways.

The benefits of critical thinking in everyday life

Building better communication.

One of the most important life skills that students learn as early as elementary school is how to give a presentation. Many classes require students to give presentations, because being well-spoken is a key skill in effective communication. This is where critical thinking benefits come into play: using the skills you’ve learned, you’ll be able to gather the information needed for your presentation, narrow down what information is most relevant, and communicate it in an engaging way. 

Typically, the first step in creating a presentation is choosing a topic. For example, your professor might assign a presentation on the Gilded Age and provide a list of figures from the 1870s—1890s to choose from. You’ll use your critical thinking skills to narrow down your choices. You may ask yourself:

• What figure am I most familiar with?
• Who am I most interested in? 
• Will I have to do additional research? 

After choosing your topic, your professor will usually ask a guiding question to help you form a thesis: an argument that is backed up with evidence. Critical thinking benefits this process by allowing you to focus on the information that is most relevant in support of your argument. By focusing on the strongest evidence, you will communicate your thesis clearly.

Finally, once you’ve finished gathering information, you will begin putting your presentation together. Creating a presentation requires a balance of text and visuals. Graphs and tables are popular visuals in STEM-based projects, but digital images and graphics are effective as well. Critical thinking benefits this process because the right images and visuals create a more dynamic experience for the audience, giving them the opportunity to engage with the material.

Presentation skills go beyond the classroom. Students at the University of Illinois will often participate in summer internships to get professional experience before graduation. Many summer interns are required to present about their experience and what they learned at the end of the internship. Jobs frequently also require employees to create presentations of some kind—whether it’s an advertising pitch to win an account from a potential client, or quarterly reporting, giving a presentation is a life skill that directly relates to critical thinking. 

Fostering independence and confidence

An important life skill many people start learning as college students and then finessing once they enter the “adult world” is how to budget. There will be many different expenses to keep track of, including rent, bills, car payments, and groceries, just to name a few! After developing your critical thinking skills, you’ll put them to use to consider your salary and budget your expenses accordingly. Here’s an example:

• You earn a salary of $75,000 a year. Assume all amounts are before taxes.
• 1,800 x 12 = 21,600
• 75,000 – 21,600 = 53,400
• This leaves you with $53,400
• 320 x 12 = 3,840 a year
• 53,400-3,840= 49,560
• 726 x 12 = 8,712
• 49,560 – 8,712= 40,848
• You’re left with $40,848 for miscellaneous expenses. You use your critical thinking skills to decide what to do with your $40,848. You think ahead towards your retirement and decide to put $500 a month into a Roth IRA, leaving $34,848. Since you love coffee, you try to figure out if you can afford a daily coffee run. On average, a cup of coffee will cost you $7. 7 x 365 = $2,555 a year for coffee. 34,848 – 2,555 = 32,293
• You have $32,293 left. You will use your critical thinking skills to figure out how much you would want to put into savings, how much you want to save to treat yourself from time to time, and how much you want to put aside for emergency funds. With the benefits of critical thinking, you will be well-equipped to budget your lifestyle once you enter the working world.

Enhancing decision-making skills

Choosing the right university for you.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life is what college or university to go to. There are many factors to consider when making this decision, and critical thinking importance will come into play when determining these factors.

Many high school seniors apply to colleges with the hope of being accepted into a certain program, whether it’s biology, psychology, political science, English, or something else entirely. Some students apply with certain schools in mind due to overall rankings. Students also consider the campus a school is set in. While some universities such as the University of Illinois are nestled within college towns, New York University is right in Manhattan, in a big city setting. Some students dream of going to large universities, and other students prefer smaller schools. The diversity of a university’s student body is also a key consideration. For many 17- and 18-year-olds, college is a time to meet peers from diverse racial and socio-economic backgrounds and learn about life experiences different than one’s own.

With all these factors in mind, you’ll use critical thinking to decide which are most important to you—and which school is the right fit for you.

Develop your critical thinking skills at the University of Illinois

At the University of Illinois, not only will you learn how to think critically, but you will put critical thinking into practice. In the College of LAS, you can choose from 70+ majors where you will learn the importance and benefits of critical thinking skills. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at U of I offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in life, physical, and mathematical sciences; humanities; and social and behavioral sciences. No matter which program you choose, you will develop critical thinking skills as you go through your courses in the major of your choice. And in those courses, the first question your professors may ask you is, “What is the goal of critical thinking?” You will be able to respond with confidence that the goal of critical thinking is to help shape people into more informed, more thoughtful members of society.

With such a vast representation of disciplines, an education in the College of LAS will prepare you for a career where you will apply critical thinking skills to real life, both in and outside of the classroom, from your undergraduate experience to your professional career. If you’re interested in becoming a part of a diverse set of students and developing skills for lifelong success, apply to LAS today!

Read more first-hand stories from our amazing students at the LAS Insider blog .

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Introduction

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CO300 as a University Core Course

Short Description of the Course

Course Objectives

General Overview

Alternative Approaches and Assignments

(Possible) Differences between COCC150 and CO300

What CO300 Students Are Like

And You Thought...

Beginning with Critical Reading

Opportunities for Innovation

Portfolio Grading as an Option

Teaching in the computer classroom

Finally. . .

Classroom materials

Audience awareness and rhetorical contexts

Critical thinking and reading

Focusing and narrowing topics

Mid-course, group, and supplemental evaluations

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Presenting evidence and organizing arguments/counter-arguments

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Assignments for portfolio 2

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Workshopping and workshop sheets

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Definitions and Purposes for Critical Thinking (Harper)

Tips for Online Students , Tips for Students

Why Is Critical Thinking Important? A Survival Guide

Updated: December 7, 2023

Published: April 2, 2020

Why is critical thinking important? The decisions that you make affect your quality of life. And if you want to ensure that you live your best, most successful and happy life, you’re going to want to make conscious choices. That can be done with a simple thing known as critical thinking. Here’s how to improve your critical thinking skills and make decisions that you won’t regret.

What Is Critical Thinking?

You’ve surely heard of critical thinking, but you might not be entirely sure what it really means, and that’s because there are many definitions. For the most part, however, we think of critical thinking as the process of analyzing facts in order to form a judgment. Basically, it’s thinking about thinking.

How Has The Definition Evolved Over Time?

The first time critical thinking was documented is believed to be in the teachings of Socrates , recorded by Plato. But throughout history, the definition has changed.

Today it is best understood by philosophers and psychologists and it’s believed to be a highly complex concept. Some insightful modern-day critical thinking definitions include :

• “Reasonable, reflective thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do.”
• “Deciding what’s true and what you should do.”

The Importance Of Critical Thinking

Why is critical thinking important? Good question! Here are a few undeniable reasons why it’s crucial to have these skills.

1. Critical Thinking Is Universal

Critical thinking is a domain-general thinking skill. What does this mean? It means that no matter what path or profession you pursue, these skills will always be relevant and will always be beneficial to your success. They are not specific to any field.

2. Crucial For The Economy

Our future depends on technology, information, and innovation. Critical thinking is needed for our fast-growing economies, to solve problems as quickly and as effectively as possible.

3. Improves Language & Presentation Skills

In order to best express ourselves, we need to know how to think clearly and systematically — meaning practice critical thinking! Critical thinking also means knowing how to break down texts, and in turn, improve our ability to comprehend.

4. Promotes Creativity

By practicing critical thinking, we are allowing ourselves not only to solve problems but also to come up with new and creative ideas to do so. Critical thinking allows us to analyze these ideas and adjust them accordingly.

5. Important For Self-Reflection

Without critical thinking, how can we really live a meaningful life? We need this skill to self-reflect and justify our ways of life and opinions. Critical thinking provides us with the tools to evaluate ourselves in the way that we need to.

6. The Basis Of Science & Democracy

In order to have a democracy and to prove scientific facts, we need critical thinking in the world. Theories must be backed up with knowledge. In order for a society to effectively function, its citizens need to establish opinions about what’s right and wrong (by using critical thinking!).

Benefits Of Critical Thinking

We know that critical thinking is good for society as a whole, but what are some benefits of critical thinking on an individual level? Why is critical thinking important for us?

1. Key For Career Success

Critical thinking is crucial for many career paths. Not just for scientists, but lawyers , doctors, reporters, engineers , accountants, and analysts (among many others) all have to use critical thinking in their positions. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, critical thinking is one of the most desirable skills to have in the workforce, as it helps analyze information, think outside the box, solve problems with innovative solutions, and plan systematically.

2. Better Decision Making

There’s no doubt about it — critical thinkers make the best choices. Critical thinking helps us deal with everyday problems as they come our way, and very often this thought process is even done subconsciously. It helps us think independently and trust our gut feeling.

3. Can Make You Happier!

While this often goes unnoticed, being in touch with yourself and having a deep understanding of why you think the way you think can really make you happier. Critical thinking can help you better understand yourself, and in turn, help you avoid any kind of negative or limiting beliefs, and focus more on your strengths. Being able to share your thoughts can increase your quality of life.

4. Form Well-Informed Opinions

There is no shortage of information coming at us from all angles. And that’s exactly why we need to use our critical thinking skills and decide for ourselves what to believe. Critical thinking allows us to ensure that our opinions are based on the facts, and help us sort through all that extra noise.

5. Better Citizens

One of the most inspiring critical thinking quotes is by former US president Thomas Jefferson: “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” What Jefferson is stressing to us here is that critical thinkers make better citizens, as they are able to see the entire picture without getting sucked into biases and propaganda.

6. Improves Relationships

While you may be convinced that being a critical thinker is bound to cause you problems in relationships, this really couldn’t be less true! Being a critical thinker can allow you to better understand the perspective of others, and can help you become more open-minded towards different views.

7. Promotes Curiosity

Critical thinkers are constantly curious about all kinds of things in life, and tend to have a wide range of interests. Critical thinking means constantly asking questions and wanting to know more, about why, what, who, where, when, and everything else that can help them make sense of a situation or concept, never taking anything at face value.

8. Allows For Creativity

Critical thinkers are also highly creative thinkers, and see themselves as limitless when it comes to possibilities. They are constantly looking to take things further, which is crucial in the workforce.

9. Enhances Problem Solving Skills

Those with critical thinking skills tend to solve problems as part of their natural instinct. Critical thinkers are patient and committed to solving the problem, similar to Albert Einstein, one of the best critical thinking examples, who said “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Critical thinkers’ enhanced problem-solving skills makes them better at their jobs and better at solving the world’s biggest problems. Like Einstein, they have the potential to literally change the world.

10. An Activity For The Mind

Just like our muscles, in order for them to be strong, our mind also needs to be exercised and challenged. It’s safe to say that critical thinking is almost like an activity for the mind — and it needs to be practiced. Critical thinking encourages the development of many crucial skills such as logical thinking, decision making, and open-mindness.

11. Creates Independence

When we think critically, we think on our own as we trust ourselves more. Critical thinking is key to creating independence, and encouraging students to make their own decisions and form their own opinions.

12. Crucial Life Skill

Critical thinking is crucial not just for learning, but for life overall! Education isn’t just a way to prepare ourselves for life, but it’s pretty much life itself. Learning is a lifelong process that we go through each and every day.

How to Think Critically

Now that you know the benefits of thinking critically, how do you actually do it?

How To Improve Your Critical Thinking

• Define Your Question: When it comes to critical thinking, it’s important to always keep your goal in mind. Know what you’re trying to achieve, and then figure out how to best get there.
• Gather Reliable Information: Make sure that you’re using sources you can trust — biases aside. That’s how a real critical thinker operates!
• Ask The Right Questions: We all know the importance of questions, but be sure that you’re asking the right questions that are going to get you to your answer.
• Look Short & Long Term: When coming up with solutions, think about both the short- and long-term consequences. Both of them are significant in the equation.
• Explore All Sides: There is never just one simple answer, and nothing is black or white. Explore all options and think outside of the box before you come to any conclusions.

How Is Critical Thinking Developed At School?

Critical thinking is developed in nearly everything we do. However, much of this important skill is encouraged to be practiced at school, and rightfully so! Critical thinking goes beyond just thinking clearly — it’s also about thinking for yourself.

When a teacher asks a question in class, students are given the chance to answer for themselves and think critically about what they learned and what they believe to be accurate. When students work in groups and are forced to engage in discussion, this is also a great chance to expand their thinking and use their critical thinking skills.

How Does Critical Thinking Apply To Your Career?

Once you’ve finished school and entered the workforce, your critical thinking journey only expands and grows from here!

Impress Your Employer

Employers value employees who are critical thinkers, ask questions, offer creative ideas, and are always ready to offer innovation against the competition. No matter what your position or role in a company may be, critical thinking will always give you the power to stand out and make a difference.

Careers That Require Critical Thinking

Some of many examples of careers that require critical thinking include:

• Human resources specialist
• Marketing associate
• Business analyst

Truth be told however, it’s probably harder to come up with a professional field that doesn’t require any critical thinking!

Photo by  Oladimeji Ajegbile  from  Pexels

What is someone with critical thinking skills capable of doing.

Someone with critical thinking skills is able to think rationally and clearly about what they should or not believe. They are capable of engaging in their own thoughts, and doing some reflection in order to come to a well-informed conclusion.

A critical thinker understands the connections between ideas, and is able to construct arguments based on facts, as well as find mistakes in reasoning.

The Process Of Critical Thinking

The process of critical thinking is highly systematic.

What Are Your Goals?

Critical thinking starts by defining your goals, and knowing what you are ultimately trying to achieve.

Once you know what you are trying to conclude, you can foresee your solution to the problem and play it out in your head from all perspectives.

What Does The Future Of Critical Thinking Hold?

The future of critical thinking is the equivalent of the future of jobs. In 2020, critical thinking was ranked as the 2nd top skill (following complex problem solving) by the World Economic Forum .

We are dealing with constant unprecedented changes, and what success is today, might not be considered success tomorrow — making critical thinking a key skill for the future workforce.

Why Is Critical Thinking So Important?

Why is critical thinking important? Critical thinking is more than just important! It’s one of the most crucial cognitive skills one can develop.

By practicing well-thought-out thinking, both your thoughts and decisions can make a positive change in your life, on both a professional and personal level. You can hugely improve your life by working on your critical thinking skills as often as you can.

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Critical Thinking and Self-Awareness: How to Use Critical Thinking Skills to Find Your Passion: Plus 20 Questions You Must Ask Yourself

How to Use Critical Thinking Skills to Find Your Passion: Plus 20 Questions You Must Ask Yourself

Are you ready to get clarity and finally find your Passion?

Have you ever wondered what your place in this world is? What your passion in life is? Maybe you’ve wondered what your good at or how to get a better career? A career you care about if you don’t already. Many people ask themselves these questions on a daily basis and have no answer. This book will help you answer those questions by showing you how critical thinking can help you learn about what your passions in life are. It will help you realize the strengths you have, and how they can lead to your passions as well as explaining how critical thinking can accomplish this. We have a step by step explanation about what critical thinking is and how best to use it in your daily life to help you feel happier and more fulfilled. We also have a set of twenty bonus questions with explanations and tips that will help you clarify your passion and purpose in life.

When You Download This Book Today You’ll Also Learn…

• Why Critital Thinking is a BIG Deal
• How to Use Critical Thinking
• How to Find Your Passion
• How to overcome doubt with simple techniques
• How to be happy everyday
• Discover your strength and talents
• 20 Questions that you must ask yourself
• Much, much more!

Download your copy today!

Take action today and discover your true Passion and Purpose in life

Click Add To Cart

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