A Bizarre Life Purpose Quiz That Will Actually Help You Find Answers

life purpose quiz: what is my life purpose

The Bizarre Life Purpose Quiz You’ve Been Waiting For

This post will give you a bizarre life purpose quiz and ideas to think about when you ask the question, What is my life purpose? 

If none of the other life purpose quizzes worked for you, you’ve come to the right place. This life purpose quiz is literally the opposite of what you expect – which is precisely why it might be what you need.

If you want to skip down to the free life purpose quiz, you can dive right in. Not only will it help with discovering meaning, but it’s entirely free and doesn’t require anything for you to get your results.

However, to fully benefit from this life purpose quiz, make sure you understand the truths and myths about life purpose that may be holding you back.

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How do I know my purpose in life?

The book The Giver starts off with a boy named Jonas about to receive his role for adulthood. He lives in a fictional society where, at age twelve, every person is assigned a job based on their strengths and interests. Then, they fulfill that job until they grow old. 

This role assignment helps alleviate choice, and therefore suffering, from the society members. After all, there is no fear, struggle, uncertainty, or competition.

how do i find purpose in life

Ever since I read the book as a kid, this idea that other people – wiser people – could decide and bestow roles always stuck with me. As an indecisive, anxiety-ridden teenager and young adult, I sure could’ve used a couple of elders to give me a clear-cut answer. Twelve years old and already aware of your life purpose? Sounds swell to me!

I’m sure it’s no surprise that everything in the book isn’t as perfect as it seems. However, I think many people would agree that this “job assignment,” aka “life purpose directive,” still sounds appealing. (I mean, isn’t that kinda what you’re looking for in a life purpose quiz?)

I’m not knocking you, nor am I telling you that you won’t find answers in this life purpose quiz. But I will debunk a couple key myths around our life purpose that might be keeping you stuck.

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Asking: What is my life purpose?

The number of times I’ve asked, “What is my life purpose?” may be up there with the question, “What’s for dinner?” We’re obsessed with finding our life purpose – and this obsession is not unwarranted. Living with purpose is connected to happier moods, longer lives, and overall better well-being.

On top of that, our society pumps us with false cultural messages about finding our life purpose. Maybe nobody directly asks, “What’s your life purpose?” in small talk, but the idea permeates our media and conversations. Rhetoric around happiness, meaning, and success swirl around us like smog in a 1940’s factory town. (Sidenote: I tried to fact check this date by Googling when were factories at their peak smogginess? Here’s hoping research isn’t my life purpose.)

This smog creates our mindset on life purpose, but often this mindset is wrong. Not entirely – but enough to steer us off-course and off-process.

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How do I know my purpose in life: Why your process is wrong

I loved both my math and English classes in high school. Yes, you may call me a nerd (and some people did), but both subjects offered vastly different elements and goals.

In math, I enjoyed the problem-solving process that took place. You followed steps to work toward one correct answer, and when you found your way to it, you could celebrate. 

As a result, math frustrated me when I couldn’t solve the question. I knew an answer existed, and I simply couldn’t get to it.

Meanwhile, in English, I relished the openness of the answers. What did this detail mean? What can we learn from the characters? The challenge came in the sifting of information, ideas, and questions; the joy came in the possibility. You could argue different answers, change your stance, and “try on” new possibilities at any time.

That’s why I hated when my teachers cut off this process by telling me the answer to a question. Answers like, “The author used the house to symbolize the theme of oppression during the Civil War era.” Every time, I wanted to ask, “Did you personally ask the author? Because maybe that’s not what he meant.” (Don’t worry, goody-two-shoes Kara never spoke back to teachers.)

By telling me one decisive answer, my English teacher eliminated exploration to a very open question. Therefore, English frustrated me when I couldn’t explore the question because my freedom was taken away.

how do i find purpose in life

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Math versus English: Finding Your Life Purpose Quiz

This distinction between math and English can help us distinguish between the myths and truths of finding our life purpose.

We treat finding our life purpose like a math question. We think, once we learn the steps and the “how-to,” we can problem-solve our way to the correct answer. It becomes easy to fall into steps that society lays out for us, too, such as going to college, choosing a major, and getting a job.

Consequently, when we can’t find the correct answer (a.k.a. our life purpose), we fall into bouts of frustration, anxiety, and depression. (If you’ve ever been stumped on how to do something in math, you know the feeling well.)

Finding our life purpose, however, is more like an English question. There’s not one answer, but instead, an ever-changing field of possibilities. Sure, sometimes it feels good for someone to tell us what they think the answer is. Holding onto an answer gives us a feeling of safety and certainty. But this safety is hollow; it’s their answer, not ours. 

If you’re working through the openness of an English problem expecting a math result, you’ll end up nowhere. You’ll also come up short if you solely conduct a step-by-step math process to sift through endless possibilities.

Finding your life purpose is English, my friends, and it’s about time we start thinking this way. 

life purpose quiz: what is my life purpose

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Why Self-Awareness is So Important for Finding Your Life Purpose

If you’re not looking for one life purpose, then what are you looking for? 

A purpose-driven life isn’t pointed toward one purpose. Instead, it’s filled with pockets of purpose in its day-to-day life. You’ve got to learn what gives you purpose. Then, rather than chasing it, you’ve got to find ways to invite it more into your life. 

Let’s say being creative gives me purpose. If I find ways to be creative in my day and work, I’ll bring more meaning into my life. The more my life is designed around creativity, the more fulfilled I will feel.

Finding this balance isn’t always easy nor obvious. A primary obstacle is our lack of self-awareness

When we’re self-aware, we can identify and recognize our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. We can also recognize what elements in life give us meaning. Eventually, we can design our lives around these meaningful moments.

self-awareness is important

Unfortunately, humans are incredibly complicated beasts. We’ve got outdated brain wirings, overbearing survival instincts, and a whole caboose full of biases to keep us unaware. In a nutshell, it’s really difficult to be self-aware.

Following a step-by-step process toward one correct answer doesn’t need much self-awareness. Tackling an infinite realm of possibilities, on the other hand, requires quite a bit.

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The Complications of Choice When Finding Your Life Purpose (and taking a Life Purpose Quiz)

Self-awareness isn’t the only obstacle on your way to finding your life purpose. Decision-making also presents its own challenges.

Last week, I shopped on Amazon for a rug for my newly designed office space. I didn’t want anything extravagant; a simple, grey rug would do. Yet, I spent over an hour looking at different rugs and comparing reviews. After a while, my browser had more Amazon tabs open than cafes in a vacation town.

I struggled to make a choice because I wanted the rug to be perfect. It mattered to me. And when things matter, the uncertainty fills our head with anxiety and what-ifs. What if we choose wrong and don’t like it? What if we’re missing something better out there?

If the mere purchase of a rug inspired these questions, imagine what life purpose choices can do.

Even if we accept the truth that we don’t have one single life purpose, we still feel the pressure of choosing correctly amongst the options. An infinite realm of possibilities sounds great… until it’s not. In fact, research has shown that our brains begin to short-circuit (emotionally speaking) if there are too many choices.

Choice comes with uncertainty, and uncertainty inspires anxiety and fears. Thinking about what gives us purpose requires us to lean into a bit of uncertainty, even if it doesn’t always feel comfortable.

how to find my life purpose

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How do I find my life purpose? Revision and reflection 

Hang tight for one last school metaphor, because I think it might be the most important one.

Finding your life purpose is like, English, right? As an English teacher, I assign a lot of essays. When a student gets stuck on a prompt, I often hear, “Is this a good thing to write about?”

I always reply, “You can write about a million different things, so long as you write it well.”

The students come up with an outline for what they want to write. I give them feedback, and we work together on making it stronger. Then, they have to turn that outline into a first draft. Again, they receive feedback, followed by more revisions.

The process is filled with risks, revisions, and rewriters. And it always ends with reflection in which they learn more about themselves.

We’ve established that there’s not one correct life purpose waiting for you. We’ve also covered how we get weighed down if we think we’re making a choice. 

The next truth is this: Finding your life purpose requires risks and revisions, rewrites, and reflections. It’s in this process that you learn more about yourself.

life purpose quiz

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A Bizarre Life Purpose Quiz: Opposite Questions

Perhaps you stumbled upon this quiz on your first click. Maybe you found it after several other failed life purpose quiz attempts. I claim it to be the most bizarre, and I stand by that declaration. 

What makes this life purpose quiz so bizarre?

The questions in this quiz will be entirely opposite of what you expect. In fact, they force you to think about the opposite of your life purpose.

Remember how there’s no correct answer? No matter how many times you tell yourself this truth, you’ve still got years of mental biases convincing you otherwise. (Not to mention the ever-present, ever-fun confirmation bias!) If you sit down to take a quiz, your mind will still be seeking one single answer. (And feeling the pressure to make the right choices.)

That’s why this quiz doesn’t give you potential answers. Instead, it gives you the opposite. This life purpose quiz will help you learn about your life purpose because it will eliminate wrong answers.

There’s no committee of elders or teachers that can give you your life purpose. Instead, all you can do is improve your self-awareness, sift through the possibilities, and find which ones speak to you.

life purpose quiz

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Questions: Bizarre Life Purpose Quiz

For each question, I encourage you to spend some time thinking about your answer. Read the brief explanation and consider the possible answers. Journaling or talking through your thoughts with a trusted confidant can be helpful as you tackle this inner work.

  1. Who don’t you enjoy being around? 

  • I don’t enjoy being around a few select individuals named:
  • I don’t enjoy being around the specific type of personality:
  • I don’t enjoy being around a specific role or category of people in my life:
  • I don’t enjoy being around people when they act like: 

Our lives are filled with interactions with others. (At least, they were before COVID.) Generally, we try to spend more time with the people we actually like. While these prioritized people certainly show a lot about us, much can be learned from the people we avoid. Who don’t you enjoy being around? What type of person don’t you like interacting with? Look at your lists. Do you notice any trends or patterns? What does this insight say about you? Your personality? Your values? You might be surprised to learn what you admire in a person, as well as what type of people best suit you.

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  1. What keeps you in bed in the morning?

  • I struggle to get out of bed if I have to do:
  • I struggle to get out of bed when I’m avoiding:
  • I struggle to get out of bed during the days when:
  • I struggle to get out of bed at these times in my life:

I’m sure you’ve heard some variation of the motivational quote, “Do what makes you jump out of bed in the morning!” While some of us can jump up in excitement, not everyone can. And even for those that can, they certainly can’t do it every day. Instead of lamenting over the fact that you don’t know your jumping-out-of-bed motivator, consider the opposite. What keeps you in bed in the morning? What do you dread getting up for? These answers will help you take stock of the elements in your life that detract from purpose. Then, you can take steps to reduce or eliminate them from your life.

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  1. What values in life aren’t worth standing for?

  • Some values that don’t excite me are:
  • I don’t really care about:
  • I would never want to stand for:
  • I would never want my life guided by the principles:

Many people associate core values with purpose – and with good reason. Living life intentionally with our values is kind of what it’s all about. The challenging thing, however, is that many of us aren’t aware of our values. Furthermore, when we see long lists of values, we have trouble picking a select few to represent our lives. (Remember how choice is hard for us.) You can make it easier for yourself by eliminating some options. What values would you never consider? You may begin to notice trends in your answers that will lead you closer to self-awareness.

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  1. What could you care less about?

  • I couldn’t care less about:
  • The things that don’t bring me any joy are:
  • I wouldn’t care if I never did this again:
  • I don’t understand why other people care about this, because I don’t:

Our society loves to tell us to chase what makes us happy. But what if we’re not sure? Or if what gives us life purpose changes? Eventually, you want to develop self-awareness to identify what brings you joy and inspiration. Until then, you can work to eliminate what doesn’t fill your life with purpose. 

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  1. What type of environment don’t you enjoy or thrive in?

  • I don’t enjoy being in environments that force me to:
  • I don’t enjoy being in environments that make me feel like:
  • I don’t thrive in environments when I’m expected to:
  • I don’t thrive in environments where the pace is:

Another notion we have about finding our life purpose is that it’s all about us. We fail to acknowledge the significant influence our environment has on us. It’s tricky to define your ideal environment, especially if you’ve only been in so many. That’s why thinking about what environments don’t serve you can help. Also, don’t solely equate “environment” with “workplace.” While your workplace is one environment, every place you live, act, and interact with others in an environment.

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  1. What part of your day is your least favorite?

  • My least favorite part of the day is when I:
  • My least favorite part of the day is at this time:
  • In general, I don’t enjoy when I have to do this thing:
  • In general, I don’t enjoy when I have to be in this place:

Not all of us can cite the favorite part of our day. And if we can, we can’t always see how to turn that time into a life purpose. (Sure, I love my morning coffee. Can I sit around drinking coffee ten hours a day?) Start thinking about what is your least favorite. Often, your negative emotions can teach you quite a bit – about yourself and your interests. While you shouldn’t discredit everything negative as meaningless (sometimes discomfort is good), it can help point you in the right direction.

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  1. What doesn’t excite you to follow through with?

  • I’m not excited when I have to follow through with:
  • It always feels like a force when I have to:
  • I never feel any motivation to:
  • The last thing I would choose to follow through with is:

Ah, motivation – the elixir to success! A lot of factors get in the way of our motivation that isn’t our fault. (Remember our pesky lack of self-awareness.) However, a pivotal element in our follow-through is our ability to want something and see how we can get there. Rather than trying to find inspirational pulls, consider where your excitement wanes. What emotions might be behind these negative feelings? When do you feel forced to do something rather than excited by it? 

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  1. What don’t you want to be known for?

  • I don’t want to be known for:
  • I don’t want my life to be defined by:
  • I would hate it if people described me as:
  • The last thing I want people to say about me is:

Some self-awareness activities prompt you to think about what you would want people to say at your funeral. While morbid, it’s actually a really insightful thought experiment. However, it has the same pitfalls when it comes to finding your life purpose. How do you know? How can you choose? Take some of the pressure off yourself; eliminate what you don’t want to be known for instead. Work away from those characteristics, and you might find yourself closer to where you want to be.

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  1. What don’t you want to spend your free time doing?

  • I don’t want to spend my free time doing:
  • I don’t consider doing this thing a purposeful use of time:
  • If I spent more than a couple of hours a week doing this, I wouldn’t feel good:
  • It wouldn’t feel meaningful for me to spend a lot of time with:

Our lives are busy. But let’s face it… they’re not that busy. We all have pockets of free time – we usually just fill it. Getting intentional with your time and what you do is critical in learning how to live a purposeful life. Inventing a new “to-do” for an open hour will be challenging, but identifying what you don’t want to be doing is accessible. You might be surprised by how often you spend your free time doing these unwanted activities.

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  1. What in your life doesn’t fill you with purpose?

Not everything we do can fill us with overwhelming purpose and joy. However, the majority of it should. At the very least, we should connect what we do with something that gives us purpose. (For example, I might not love every aspect of my job, but it allows me the flexibility to spend time with my family). If you’ve gone through all the questions, you’ve considered many things that you don’t like or enjoy. Now, the culminating question: What doesn’t give your purpose? 

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Finding Your Life Purpose Quiz: Letting Go of Judgment

One last note. When we think about ourselves, we tend to judge our answers. This judgment comes from the assumptions and mindsets our culture has ingrained in us. We feel waves of shame and fear of not being good enough.

self-doubt and shame

If you’re genuinely finding your life purpose, you must let go of others’ opinions and standards. This requires a great deal of courage and vulnerability. 

In the end, however, people who live purposeful lives are self-aware enough to identify what they want and courageous enough to live that truth. 

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Conclusion: What Is My Life Purpose Quiz

Asking, “How do I find my life purpose?” and “What is my life purpose?” are important questions – but incredibly difficult to answer. 

The challenges in finding our life purpose:

  • We wrongly believe there’s only one single “life purpose” for us
  • We try to find our life purpose through a step-by-step process when we should be more open to exploration
  • We struggle to make choices because we’re afraid to be wrong
  • We focus on finding the right answers instead of eliminating the wrong ones
  • We’re afraid to accept the truth about ourselves for fear of not being good enough

To combat these challenges, this bizarre “What is My Life Purpose Quiz” forces you to shift your thinking. Its questions ask you to think of the opposite of what you expect. In doing so, you can narrow your view on what you do find purposeful.

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How to find your life purpose

If you’re looking for your life purpose, read more on…

What self-awareness is and if you’re lacking it

How to be vulnerable and embrace your inner truth

Questions to help you on your self-discovery journey

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LIFE PURPOSE QUIZ