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Writer's picturejustinepeacock8
Sep 236 min read

Tired of the Grind? Finding Purpose in the Midst of Chaos



Studies heave shown only 10% of people consider they know their life purpose and only 5% feel they are actively working on their purpose. Knowing/having a sense of purpose helps guide your life, reduce stress and encourages you to channel life's experiences into learning and growth. Without a sense of purpose we can feel like we are lost and looking for something more.


How do you find a purpose when you feel like you're constantly juggling 100 things with the grace of a drunk octopus? Overwhelmed from balancing responsibilities, to-do lists as long as our arm, with barely enough time breathe, let alone reflect. Deep down - or not so deep down - we know that we’re exhausted and running on empty and that this is not sustainable, but something else lies beneath and nags at us: a sense of disconnection.

 

Disconnection from the deeper ‘why’ of it all. That little inner voice, the one we’ve hushed for far too long, whispers, “Is this it? Is this what you’re here for?”

 

It’s that quiet nudge that tells us we’ve lost touch with our purpose. And without purpose, life becomes a series of tasks rather than a meaningful journey. But here’s the beautiful part: it doesn’t have to be that way. Purpose is not something grandiose that only a few lucky souls get to uncover—it’s accessible to everyone, even if you feel burnt out, overwhelmed, or unsure of what direction to take.

 

Burnout: The Alarm Clock for the Soul

Burnout is often a signal that we’re not living in alignment with our purpose. Gabor Maté, in his work around trauma and stress, emphasises that chronic stress isn’t just a product of overwork; it’s deeply connected to a lack of meaning.

 

When our actions don’t resonate with our inner values, the body keeps score. You may feel lethargic, cynical, or anxious, and no amount of rest seems to replenish your energy. That’s because true rest can’t come from just time off; it comes from aligning your energy with your soul’s calling.

 

If you’ve been over-giving and overworking, it’s worth exploring where these patterns come from. Many women—particularly those with sensitive natures or people-pleasing tendencies—develop this survival strategy in childhood.

 

Perhaps you were praised for being ‘the good girl,’ taking care of others’ needs before your own, or maybe you learned early on that love and acceptance were conditional. As Anodea Judith’s work on the intersection of energy and psychology shows us, energy blocks form when we repress our true selves to conform to expectations. Living out of alignment with your purpose is one of the greatest energy blocks of all.

 

Recognising When You’re Not Aligned

So how do you know when you’ve lost touch with your purpose? It might look something like this:

  • Chronic busyness: If you’re constantly moving but feel like you’re going nowhere.

  • Dissatisfaction despite success: You’re ticking off life’s milestones—career, home, relationships—but still feel as though something’s missing.

  • Numbness: You feel indifferent, disconnected from joy, or like life is on autopilot.

  • A craving for something ‘more’: Not more things, but more meaning, more connection to yourself, and a deeper sense of fulfilment.


These are your body’s signals that you’re out of sync with your purpose. Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry process reveals that when we tune into these sensations and listen with curiosity rather than judgment, we can uncover the childhood patterns that shaped our disconnection. The beauty of this work lies in its simplicity—by asking, "What part of me is feeling this way?" you’re already opening a dialogue with your inner world.

 

Finding Your Purpose: It’s Simpler Than You Think

Now, let’s dispel one big myth: finding your purpose isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing less. It’s about slowing down and allowing yourself the space to remember what lights you up and what matters most to you.

 

If you’re feeling lost, consider this: purpose doesn’t have to be grand or revolutionary. Your purpose is what makes you feel alive, what fills you with a sense of meaning, what you do effortlessly and joyfully. It could be nurturing your family, creating art, volunteering, or simply cultivating kindness in the world. Purpose can be found in small, everyday moments that align with your values.

 

Here are some simple ways to reconnect:

  1. Create Space to Listen: If you’re constantly rushing from one task to the next, there’s no room for your purpose to reveal itself. Create sacred time for stillness, whether through meditation, journaling, or even a slow walk in nature. Your purpose will speak, but only when you quiet the noise.

  2. Ask Your Inner Child: What did you love as a child? What activities made you feel most alive before the world told you who you should be? Often, our purpose is something we naturally gravitated toward when we were younger, before conditioning led us astray.

  3. Tune Into Your Body: Purpose isn’t just a mental concept; it’s felt in the body. Energy psychotherapy, like the work of Anodea Judith, helps you recognise where in your body you may be holding tension or emotional blocks. Releasing this tension can help you reconnect with what feels right and true for you.

  4. Follow What Feels Good: Purpose isn’t always about what you’re good at. It’s about what brings you joy. Notice when you feel a sense of flow or ease. That’s a signal you’re on the right path.

  5. Embrace Uncertainty: Purpose is not static; it evolves. Sometimes, we hold on too tightly to the idea of what our life should look like, which blocks us from seeing new opportunities. Let go of the need for certainty and allow your purpose to unfold, moment by moment.


My Own Journey Back to Purpose

I remember a time in my own life when I was ticking all the boxes, doing everything ‘right’ on paper, but feeling completely out of alignment. I was a junior lawyer holding a coveted position at a top law firm. I had spent six years at university and had worked hard to achieve “the dream”. I was well paid, well respected and I was miserable!

 

It took getting quiet, listening to my body, and reconnecting with the deeper why behind what I do for me to realise that law school and being a lawyer was not my dream but a decision I made because I felt I “ought to”. I left my legal career shortly after that - a risky move but I never looked back!

 

Now, a major part of my passion for helping women reconnect with their own inner wisdom is because I have been in a job that didn’t align with my purpose and I know how draining that is. Finding my purpose has been a journey. It was not a lightning bolt moment; but rather about following bread crumbs - a gradual remembering, a peeling away of the layers of conditioning that had me believing I needed to do more, give more, be more AND that I somehow should accept a job that didn’t fulfil me because it was (in some circles) prestigious.

 

Tools to Keep You on Track

Once you’ve decided you are ready to realign with your purpose, here are a few practices to keep you grounded in it:

 

  • Daily Check-In: Each morning, ask yourself, “How can I live a more meaningful life today?” Purpose is found in the small choices that reflect your values.

  • Boundaries: Start saying no to things that drain your energy and yes to what nourishes you. Over-giving blocks purpose and drains you, while healthy boundaries create the space for purpose to flourish.

  • Embodied Practices: Yoga, breathwork, or somatic therapy can help you stay connected to your body and its wisdom. Your body will tell you when you’re out of alignment, but you must be attuned to its signals.

 

Final Thoughts: You Already Have What You Need

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to go on a massive quest to find your purpose. It’s already within you, waiting for you to slow down and listen. By shedding the patterns of over-giving and disconnection, you can reclaim a life that feels meaningful and aligned with who you truly are.

 

If you’re feeling lost or burned out, I invite you to take that first step. Reconnect with your inner world and trust that purpose will reveal itself in its own time. And if you’re looking for deeper support, I’m here to help guide you through this journey. Book a session with me today, and let’s uncover the path back to your sense of self and purpose together.



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