Finding our purpose does not mean discovering “the big mission of our life” or having all the answers today. It is more about understanding what motivates us, what matters to us, and where we want to go. Being clear about this can help us make more conscious decisions: which courses to choose, how to organize our time, which activities to join, and how to build a life that feels coherent.

When I went through a very important family loss, I felt a bit lost. With time, this experience made me ask myself where I wanted to direct my life: which decisions to make, what to study, and in what environment I wanted to grow and become my best self.

As I reflected, I discovered that my main values are acceptance, freedom, calm, stability, and enjoyment. Recognizing these values, together with my strengths, such as empathy and listening, gave me clarity to make important decisions, like moving abroad and studying this master’s program in Switzerland. All of this was part of my intention to build a coherent and meaningful life.This is why I share this small “purpose map” today, because maybe these reflections can also help you find more clarity in your own path.

Start with your values

Values are the principles that guide our decisions and represent what we appreciate the most. They show what is meaningful and essential in our lives, what truly matters to us. When we identify our values, it becomes easier to understand what kind of life we want to build, and which decisions feel right.

Some values can be learning, freedom, stability, calm, acceptance, growth, creativity.
You can think of values like the coordinates of a compass: maybe we never reach them perfectly, but they guide us in the right direction.

Recognize your strengths

Strengths are natural qualities or abilities that flow easily for us. They do not need to be extraordinary. They can be things like analysis, curiosity, listening, empathy, or understanding others.
When our values meet our strengths, we can see what we can offer the world in an authentic way.

Learn from past experiences

In life we have happy moments and difficult moments, but all of them bring learning. Moments of growth, challenges we overcame, or decisions that shaped us show what we truly value.
Looking at our personal history gives us signals and direction.

A purpose that touches all areas of life

Purpose is not limited to our future career. It touches everything we do: how we study, how we relate to others, how we take care of our well-being, how we enjoy our free time, and how we evolve.
Thinking about purpose in a holistic way helps us create coherence in different areas of our life.

Build your purpose map

After reflecting on your values, recognizing your strengths, and understanding your experiences, you can start connecting the pieces and building your purpose.

Here are the steps :
1. Write about your 3 main values.
2. Write your 3 most natural strengths.
3. Identify 2 or 3 important moments in your life.
4. Look for patterns: What repeats? What themes appear? What needs or motivations are behind them?
5. Write your first version of your purpose. These sample phrases can inspire you: “My purpose is to live with integrity and creativity while helping others and growing personally.” “My purpose is to take care of my well-being, explore the world, and contribute to projects that reflect my values.”
6. Ask yourself: “How can I live my purpose in each area of my life?” For each area, write one or two reflective goals, ways your purpose can guide that part of your life: Professional & Academic Life, Personal Life & Relationships, Hobbies & Creativity, and Health & Well-being.
A purpose map is not a strict plan. It is a compass that helps you keep moving forward.

Let it evolve

Our purpose is not a fixed destination. It changes as we change.
We do not need certainty, only honesty, curiosity, and the courage to listen to ourselves.
Every conscious step, even a small one, keeps us on the path toward a meaningful life.