Discovering My Purpose with AI: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Clarity and Direction
Finding your purpose in life can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. For years, I struggled with questions like, Who am I? What should I do with my life? and What truly matters to me? But this year, I discovered a simple yet powerful trick that brought me closer to the answers—and it involved an unexpected tool: artificial intelligence.
In this post, I’ll share how I used AI to uncover my values, passions, and purpose, and how you can do the same. Whether you’re feeling lost or just curious about how technology can aid self-discovery, this step-by-step guide will help you gain clarity and take actionable steps toward a more fulfilling life.
Step 1: Start with a Blank Slate (or a Few Ideas)
When I began this journey, my mind was completely blank. I had no idea where to start, so I turned to AI for help. If you’re in a similar place, don’t worry—AI can guide you. But if you already have some ideas, start by jotting down everything that comes to mind: your hobbies, values, career aspirations, and even the things you avoid. Don’t overthink it; just let your thoughts flow.
For example, my initial list looked like this:
- Likes: Writing, helping others, learning new things
- Dislikes: Routine office jobs, conflict, feeling stagnant
- Neutral: Public speaking, fitness trends
If you’re starting from scratch like I was, you can use this prompt to get AI involved:
“I am discovering myself more this year and want to know what to do in life, who I am, and my purpose. I had an idea to make a list of the things I like or value and the things I don't, and for each, ask myself ‘5 whys’ to understand if I truly like them or if they’re influenced by family, society, or other external factors. What do you think? And what do you suggest?”
Step 2: Why the 5 Whys Technique?
I recently discovered the 5 Whys technique through Mel Robbins’ podcast. It’s an iterative interrogative method used to explore the root cause of a problem or belief. By asking “why” five times, you can uncover the deeper motivations behind your preferences and values. Here’s how it works:
Let’s say you like freelancing. You’d ask:
- Why do I like freelancing? → Because I enjoy having control over my work.
- Why do I enjoy control? → Because I don’t like being told what to do.
- Why don’t I like being told what to do? → Because I feel restricted.
- Why does restriction bother me? → Because I value freedom.
- Why do I value freedom? → Because I grew up feeling pressured to follow a specific path.
The final answer often reveals a deeper, sometimes emotional, core belief that you may not have consciously acknowledged before.
Step 3: Break It Down with AI
With the 5 Whys in mind, I asked AI to help me structure my thoughts. I prompted it to break down my likes and dislikes into categories, starting with Career & Work. Here’s how the conversation went:
AI:
Let’s start by breaking things down into categories so your list is structured. Here are a few broad ones you can modify:
1. Career & Work
2. Hobbies & Interests
3. Lifestyle & Routine
4. Relationships & Social Life
5. Personal Growth & Values
Me:
Since I’m the most lost in the career and purpose aspect, let’s start with that category. Can you generate a list of things related to that so I can sort them into likes/dislikes and explore why?
AI:
Sure! Here’s a list of career-related elements to consider:
A. Work Environment & Structure:
- Working for yourself
- Working for a company
- Remote work vs. in-office work
- Flexible schedule vs. structured schedule
- Team-based work vs. solo work
- Managing people vs. being an independent contributor
B. Types of Work:
- Creative work
- Strategic work
- Writing-based work
- Analytical work
- Problem-solving
- Physical work
- Teaching/guiding others
After reviewing the list, I marked each item as a like, dislike, or neutral. Then, AI helped me dig deeper by asking 5 Whys for one of the items. For example, when I said I liked writing-based work, we explored why that resonated with me.
Step 4: Reflect and Take Action
By the end of this exercise, I had a clearer picture of my values—connection, growth, and empowerment—and how I could align my life with them. One of the decisions I made was to start this blog (hello, reader!) and explore opportunities to create products that resonate with people like me.
Step 5: Embrace the Journey
Remember, finding your purpose isn’t about reaching a final destination—it’s about taking small, meaningful steps toward a life that feels authentic to you.
Using AI to uncover my purpose was a game-changer. It made the process of self-discovery more structured, insightful, and even fun. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure about your path, I encourage you to try this exercise. It might not give you all the answers right away, but it will definitely set you on the right path. And who knows? You might just discover something amazing about yourself.
Have you tried using AI or other tools for self-discovery? Share your experiences in the comments below—I’d love to hear your story! 🤍
