How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes | Adam Leipzig | TEDxMalibu 

OK let me begin by saying this video has a purpose and I'm going to explain it to you, but first I need to clarify some things. A few years ago I was a lazy teenager who spent his time; lying on the lounge, playing video games, either eating junk or not eating at all, I had a number of extremely embarrassing medical conditions and no social life outside the few friends I occasionally talked to in real life. If any of this sounds familiar then let me start of by telling you that there are thousands, even millions of people who are in the same situation, however not all of them are in the same mindset as you. Many people continue their lives sitting on their ass, doing nothing, not enjoying life and are using video games, movies books etc to either hide their insecurities or just escape from reality. Now don't get me wrong, you are clearly an intelligent person if you are looking at videos like this, there is clearly something inside you that wants to succeed or "Break free". Now for all of you who are complaining about the videos impact on you, your social anxiety or the lack of purpose isn't the reason it didn't work. The real reason is fear. Now this could mean you are afraid of a few things: Failure, People not liking you, Dying alone, Being unhappy, Not earning enough money and many others. However the thing is all these fears have been brought on by one person in the past (No not the same person for all of them), these thoughts all began as one person saying them as a fact and everyone else believing him (or her). They are all universal fears promoted by society and social media and are forced upon us at a young age, we are practically conditioned to fail. Some people like you and me however have the ability to break free of this conditioning, you are probably wondering how I know this and I'll quickly explain how: By forcing yourself through this paragraph it shows you are determined to find a way out of your current life and find your purpose, something that most people don't have the mental strength to do. Anyway back to the wall of text. Let me tell you a story about my good friend, for confidentiality sake he will be referred to as L. Now L was in a similar state to me, no confidence, little to no friends, unhappy with his appearance, thought no one will ever date him, heck he only had his first kiss this year. Now his biggest issue was he wasn't confident in himself, he was afraid to show what he was passionate about because he didn't want people judging him for it. One day I was at his house when he asked me "Hey J, how do you talk to people you've never met before like that, how are you so confident?" and that's when it clicked in him, that's when he began asking questions, he wanted to find happiness, so I helped him find it, some peoples passion is music or art, his was helping others, so I asked him. "What makes you happy?" As I expected he replied with helping others, I then asked him: "Where do you feel in control the most?" He replied with the same answer. I proceeded to ask him a line of questions such as: "Where are you most comfortable?" and "What is success to you?" he replied with a similar answer each time. I told him to picture himself helping someone each time he approaches them he said it sounded hard and that he was afraid something bad might happen, I then told him to tell me his life purpose, he immediately was confused as you probably are after watching this video, I repeated the question once again, He responded with "I don't know, to be successful I guess?" I said so whats your life goal? He told me to be rich, i asked him why, he said because its what makes you happy. He didn't realize that he knew his purpose due to the fact that he was conditioned to be successful by everyone else standard, anyway he now has a beautiful girlfriend and is living in a small home living with his cat, to most this doesn't sound like much but to him, life is perfect, he is happy and free he was able to break free of this ,conditioning, Now, YOU need to be able to find what is holding you back, find the thing that is stopping you from finding happiness NOONE ELSE CAN DO THIS FOR YOU. Usually its the fear of being judged, The thing we fear being judged about the most is the thing that will make us the happiest. However to defeat this fear we must first find the thing we are most afraid of, being judged about the thing that will make us happy. And that is the purpose of this video: To find that thing. The thing that you are best at, the thing that will truly make you happy is the thing you are most afraid of publicly talking about, that one thing that you know you are great at deep down but are too afraid to follow it. The reason this video didn't work is because you already know your purpose, you know how to make yourself happy, you know your purpose, you just need to get out there and chase it and don't quit until you've caught it. If you made it this far you should pat yourself on the back, you persevered when most people wouldn't have even clicked "read more". You are one of the very few who are willing to do what it takes to be happy, to succeed. I wan't you to do a small task, it will take less time than it does to finish a standard netflix episode: Once every day I want you to either write down, or speak out loud the sentence: My name is _______ and my purpose is _________. After that if you wan't you can practice the skills required to achieve this purpose. Thank you for reading, good luck in all your future endeavors, I personally believe in you and you should too. TLDR: If you skipped to the bottom for an easy way out, then you should either A. Read this paragraph or B. Miss out on information less than 2% of the population are willing to understand.

As someone who has spent countless hours, days, weeks, months, years obsessing over this topic I can tell you all that our purpose in life is to live it to the fullest. Don't spend so much time looking for a purpose, just enjoy the small things. Follow what you enjoy and what is meaningful to you but you don't need to think so deeply about it, if you don't overthink things you'll naturally be led to things that make you happy. Don't put your life on hold while searching. I also think many people who are very successful in life are unhappy because their lives lack balance. Balance is extremely important in life.

I think so many struggle with "finding their purpose" because they are under pressure to be financially successful in this pursuit. So often the things we enjoy and value immensely are not necessarily going to make us hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

For a long time, my purpose was to make my parents proud, find a good job, be independent, have a house and my own family. But this was always another one's dream. My mom's dream. Now I have learned that I have to find my own purpose and I feel like even after watching this, I am still lost. I have to live my life for me and not for someone else, but I don't even know why I even live it

I'm mad jealous of people who know what they want to do.

My lifes purpose is to watch youtube videos all day right now I'm killing it

I always felt when I worked as a nanny, I made those kids feel secure and wanted and valued in ways I never felt growing up. I always feel if I never achieved anything else in my life, I know I achieved this.

After reading almost half of the comments and finish watching this video I've come up with this fact that life is the way you pursue your enjoyable activities it's the pathway of doing what makes you invigorated and what grows such a huge entertainment inside you , just forget about this purpose thing and follow what you're passionate about what you feel flat out energetic and ready to do for no price whatsoever this thing will usher you automatically to your genuine passion .

My life’s purpose is to search for “My Life’s Purpose” 😭

In short, your life purpose is the contribution you give to other people, from your strenghts and from what you´re passionate about.

So glad I watched this video because if I hadn't, I might have been lost for a long long time. Something just clicked for me when he mentioned it's more about other people and not yourself. For the first time in a long time, I have this calming feeling inside of me instead of constantly being anxious about why I'm in this world. Such a life changing TED talk, thank you very much Adam!

I was not confused about my life purpose. But what I discovered by defining every day what made me happy that day and what gave me joy that day without costing ANY money, I discovered the kinds of activities and experiences I needed to increase in my life. Increasing those kinds of activities and experiences has made a big difference.

I ran this guy's presentation at double speed and it took only 4 minutes and 47 seconds. Now I'm gonna watch all of RU-vid at double speed and emerge in about two years with a brain that works at double speed so normal life seems like a piece of cake.

'How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes' Video's length is 10 minutes *Mission failed successfully*

My life long purpose is to provide for my family. For a lot of us it really is that simple. If you can get food on the table and a warm home you have made it.

I just loved this simple yet powerful talk ❤️ and loved him for smiling and clapping at the end for others too... 🥰👏

its sad how fast i clicked on this even more sad how the only answer i have is my name

I am Maddie, I am a bartender, I make drinks for customers, they want to be inebriated and they change into aggressive, disorientated, assholes. Thanks for clarifying my life purpose. I feel just great.

I answered these questions and ended up in tears because it was so true, and because I am happy with what I've done with my life. I make other people happier through helping them heal through Taoist medicine and helping them become happier by explaining the Taoist philosophy of our relationship to the universe we live in. Tears of happiness! What an unexpected start to my day from listening to this great short video. BRILLIANT, Adam Leipzig. Thank you, TEDx Malibu!!

This is inspirational. I have been struggling looking for my purpose in life and is still a big question for me. I know i wanted to do lots of thing and this is a great guide to really find what i wanted to do. Hopefully I could find mine.

When I started watching this video I knew nothing about my life purpose, when I was done watching the whole video I still knew nothing about my life purpose. Update: 1 year later and I've decided there really is no purpose to life. It's incredibly interesting to speculate on how humans came to be as I feel knowing the answer to that question would also explain our purpose (or lack thereof) but until I find the answer to that question I will hold onto my opinion about life having no purpose. I've also realized not having a purpose is not inherently depressing. In the same situation some people can be happy and some extremely sad. Which makes depression extremely scary because it shows that you do not need a tangible reason to be depressed and if something has no cause it has no clear solution either. I have found a good way to move on with life in the meantime. Have a fun activity that you can do daily, for example playing csgo or whatever you genuinely enjoy doing (with friends if possible). On top of that have one super fun and hard to achieve goal for example starting a tech company. This will keep you occupied from the everlasting string of questions and you will probably lead an interesting life, the scale of which depends entirely on you. Also stop caring about what anyone thinks of you, it will give your life a huge happiness boost instantaneously.

I like how finding your purpose is about serving others using what you enjoy. I believe this is true.

Thank you lord! For this video and everyone here; I’ve been struggling lately and I believe I’ve found it. I know for sure what I can do and give to people.

A life purpose can be being a better person, kinder, more giving, to be stronger,to travel, to help people, to foster kids, to help animals, to grow, to be more spiritual, to be closer to your God, to learn to let go, to just live your best life!!!!!!!!

In my humble opinion, the answer to "who do you do it for?" should be yourself. You do it because it makes you feel good about yourself and because it makes you vibrate. All the rest are positive side effects of you being true to yourself.

Name: Charles What could I teach? Film making For Who - People wanting an escape What do they want -- Good Stories/ Human Connection/ How do they transform - Open Mindedness/ New Perspective I want to make movies that give people new perspective Hmm... maybe

Summarizing our intended impact is such a great way to answer the question of what it is we do. This was great!

A great model. A pattern I'm noticing in pursuit of wisdom is that true happiness and peace comes from helping others progress in their own journeys.

Note: You don't have to spend the rest of your life doing the one thing that you have knowledge in at this moment in time, you can explore other things and discover other future talents, the more you educate yourself the more opportunities you will want to take. Bathe yourself in information and don't stick with just one thing because someone told you that it's all you'll ever be good at and has to be your life purpose. Sure that one thing can lead to growth and talent, but do it because you actually want to do it. You only get one life my friends, try a bit of everything, knock on many doors until you find something you love and find fascinating or worth pushing yourself for, working hard for and reap the benefits.

I'm so glad this only takes five minutes. I heard another guy promising I could achieve Zen in six minutes. That's a one minute savings right there. Keep winning, TEDx.

I said "For myself" and that is super important for me and makes me happy. Because I need to be loved, and so I'm gifting it to myself.

11 years since and still I gravitate to this video. Thank you for the clarity Adam!

What a superb talk. I’ve learned there in 10 minutes that has taken me 47 years to do, I know my purpose now. Before I was playing the piano for recognition, for more likes and comments. After watching this talk, I now know my purpose is to help people to relax and sooth their minds through music.

This comment is for ALL people. The purpose of life is to be happy. We aren't supposed to be told what to do, who decided what is beauty and what is not beauty, who decided that this is fashionable and this is out of fashion. Who decided that what you are doing right now is wrong or right? Who decided what religion is better than the other? You are NOT a sheep!! You are a human being with a right to happiness, you are an amazing individual who can give the world what it needs. Doing what you love doing is something that many people take for granted, we always follow rules and we always do what our parents wants us to do, because money is more important than your happiness. I am going to start doing what I love and I am going to change my life and help people as much as I can, and when the day comes when I die, people will remember me not for my riches, but how I enriched people's lives. Find out who you are guys, find out what makes you happy, because people just are so much better when they are happy. Do research on what makes people happy and you will be shocked to see that it is actually not about you, but it involves other people rather than yourself. Be who you are, as long as it makes you happy and it makes people happy. Have an awesome week guys

Inspiring words,"How does what you do change the people you do it for"........... WOW!!! With this outlook ANY work can be made divine. Thank you for enabling me to tailor my thoughts in this manner🙏

Thank you 🙏🏻. It's what's I have been searching for that is summed up in 5 mins.

Watch every lecture at 1.5x play speed. Best RU-vid advice EVER.

Life comes down to two things: 1. Find your purpose and take action on it. 2. Find someone who actually cares that you found your purpose and never let them go. If you do those two things, you win at the game of Life.

My 2 cents worth-1) Do what’s right. You know right from wrong. 2) This is important: _Give yourself permission_ …to do what you would like to do and what helps other people (directly or indirectly), and that will become your purpose. You will be happy doing it and your happiness will affect all the people around you. No one ever had a purpose who hated what they were doing.

Wow, #5 just gets to the heart of it! And how he broke it all down is really helpful. My arts (ie, what I do) are pretty varied and sometimes changing (singer, writer, naturalist, even graphic designer…), but working with the 5 question process brought me to a place where my ultimate answer to number 5 traces back to all of them: I help people feel a sense of wonder and belonging here on this planet. I only chose one of my arts (naturalist writer/guide) for number 2, but after I arrived at answers for numbers 3, 4, and 5, I realized that ANYTHING I do for number 2 can lead to the results I hope for. That feels incredibly liberating, as those of us who juggle a lot of arts or jobs can still have a sense of fulfilling our life purpose.

This made me more depressed than 5 minutes ago

Yep, I'm still depressed

OMG he's making a point, when people look outwards there are happier, and I always look inwards.

The one thing I have always wanted in life is a good life. "Good' is not measured by job and money but all the things that make me happy - other people. A jood job, house, money, car - all of that can help. But without happiness, those things are useless.

I clicked on this video thinking, "I'm not going to learn a damn thing." And I was right.

"How to know your life purpose, by already knowing your life purpose."

At 78, and a lifetime of rediscovering "purpose," meaning, I'll add that whatever you are loving being and doing, most wonderfully as conscious Practice, IS your Gift to the world, your "purpose," and there's a flow between 'you' and 'other', whether it's serving another human, a plant, a four legged. And your presence, for small or large moments of your life, is all you can offer, and enough.

Man, this was one of the best ted talks I have ever watched. Well done sir.

Even if this talk didn't help me learn my lifes purpose, at least I feel less alone (based on the comments here lol)

If I could answer question two I wouldn't need to listen to this lecture in the first place

The only thing I’ve ever been clear on is that I wanted to be a mom. So glad I’ve had that opportunity. ❤

what i liked about his solution is that he didn't tell you to change your life, but rather to look at it with those five simple questions. It's up to you how they are answered and if that results in a change.

1. Lucie 2. Bake 3. Teenagers/people who like cake 4. delicious food at home 5. Diabetes I probably shouldn't do that

Video title: How to know your life’s purpose Video content: How to explain what you already do in a profound way.

Thank you Adam! Great talk! We so often miss out to voice our purpose, the WHY in our lives, even to ourselves. Yes it is so easy done.

Our passion. Our gift. Many of us feel lost. Many of us just drift on, waiting for the chance to feel whole. The thing that we live for. The things that we WANT to live for. What we don’t realize isn’t that we don’t have a gift. Its that there is a gift in everything. All you need to do is listen. Stop searching for it and listen.

It’s really important to know that you don’t have to ‘become’ anything. This obsession with purpose is silly. Just being here is enough. Being a good person is enough. You are enough. Billions of people can’t read of write and they are here for a reason. Being is enough.

I think we are so lucky to of been born and experience this world, there is no "purpose" to "search" for. Live your life, spread positivity and just focus on making yourself and others happy. knowing you have come into the world and made someone's life better, or you made a animal's life better by just a tiny bit means your life was purposeful. i'm a loner, introvert, don't have any friends , most would think im a waste of space but i make my dog's life great and thats how i know im not useless or pointless because i have made someone's life so much better than if i wasnt born.

I like how he brings up the most complex and intriguing question anyone can ask themselves right off the bat, and then disregards it as quickly. I still can't fully answer that

This dude deserves a virtual standing ovation and A LOT of money.

This vide makes a lot of assumptions. This is for people that already have a purpose.

Question 1: Got it, easy. Question 2: Uh... um... wait I need more time -- Question 3: Wait hang on -- Question 4: I SAID HANG ON! Question 5: Ask me in 10 years when I figure out question 2...

The key to big returns is not big moving stocks. It's managing risk in relationship to reward. Having the correct size on and turning your edge as many times as necessary to reach your goal. That holds true from long term investing to day trading

You can be the people who inspire you, imagine they are with you today helping you face whatever comes your way

You can only really answer these questions if you already know what you want to do. I couldn't answer past question number 1 because I don't know what I want to do. Kind of why I wanted to watch this video.

1. Who are you? I am a Humanoid Organism. 2. What do I do? What do you LOVE to do? (Two totally different questions). I go to work. I LOVE to wander around stoned taking pictures. Narrowing that down to what I feel supremely qualified to teach other people? I am not supremely qualified to teach other people anything. 3. Who do I do it for? It depends on which of the above questions I am answering. Anyway, the audience just mumbled. People don't necessarily do what they do for anyone in particular. Often they do what they do just to survive. 4. What do they want or need? Who? 5. How do they change or transform as a result? Who? If I work in a crematorium incinerating animals they turn into ashes. Why was that formulation so powerful? It wasn't. It was meaningless psychobabble. I looked this guy up. Reading between the lines I think he was in the right place at the right time, knew the right people, had good social skills and got lucky. I don't think he lives in the real world and I think this vid was a waste of time.

Indeed, this has opened my eyes. ❤ I wrote half a page in my diary explaining the answer to the second question only and I can't believe how true. Its like I just discovered myself right now. Thank you so much.❤🎉

Life Purpose : 1. Who you are? = I am trying to figure out 2. What you do? and What do you love to do? = I am a student and love to be at home and read 3. Who you do it for? Picture them in your mind = I Do it to myself 4. What those people want and need? = Who ? Me? I need to know what is my life purpose 5. How do they change or transform as a result of what I give them? Who? Me? Nothings has change : (

You get a job so you can afford to have a life. But then, you spend all your time at work and end up with no time to live the life you are working for. sounds familiar ?

1. Matt 2. Plant seeds 3. Everyone 4. Sustainable Food 5. Health

I am Silvie, a dedicated biochemistry student with a deep focus on health and nutrition. My purpose is centered on acquiring and applying knowledge in these areas primarily for the well-being of my ASD child, and other children facing similar challenges. These children need optimal nutrition and support for their health and development. By addressing these needs, I contribute to significant improvements in their lives. As a result of my efforts, they achieve better health and development outcomes, including improved sleep, eating habits, communication skills, and behavior. This transformation not only enhances their quality of life but also provides a beacon of hope and a pathway for others in similar situations.

I have spent 15 minute trying to express how much your talk meant to me.... How much I needed it... I just erased the whole mess. Let me simply say Thank you So Very Much!

I feel like he completely ignored the fact that half the audience didn't have an answer to question 2. Instead of taking the time to help them find it, he barrelled on with his script and lost every one.

Why do they need a 10 minute video to tell us how to find our life purpose in 5 minutes?

Very simple, yet effective formula, I rarely take notes watching these but today I absolutely did and I hope the audience they did as well. There was a noticable decrease in response volume when it came to the last 3 questions. Hopefully your talk encouraged self evaluation.

Wonderful,i almost cried when i did that because i realised again that i love what i do and make people happy.Thank you!

I once read a book that helped me with this question. It stated, the first half of your life you make money from what you educate yourself in, invest, and save your earnings. The second half of your life you follow the passion you have inside to help others with the skills that come easy to you. It may strictly be charity work or making far less than what you once were use to earning. Because it's no longer about you, if you have successfully secured your future, but the joy found in helping others. It helped to know what you start out doing does not have to be forever. Life's experiences changes us and we can do something totally different.

It's disheartening to read the comment section of this video, I was expecting positive feedback, but all I read was stories of depression and negativity. My name is Martin, I help people get through depression, I do it for my friends and family, because they need hope and help, and then they become less depressed, and more happy. My life purpose is to spread positivity and joy towards people and friends. If you're still struggling to find your passion, work hard to find it. You don't get what you wish for, you get what you work for! Work hard at find it!

Purpose is found in service and generosity, not self-centeredness. Thank you.

Your purpose is to help others. Your passion is how you put it into motion.

1. Random person on internet, 2. Watch RU-vid, 3. I do it for RU-vidrs and RU-vid, 4. They want to get rich/popular, 5. They become happy. My life purpose is watching RU-vid to make RU-vidrs happy!

Me: Plays the video at 2x the speed so it is actually 5 minutes... you're welcome...

I think my purpose will be making people around me more conscious, to lead everyone towards some kind of spirituality. See, over the last year I discovered soooooo much knowledge… and not only that: I’ve experienced strange things too! I’ve read books with such a precious wisdom, discovered great great RU-vid channels… When you enter this realm, new possibilities just explode. Ofc, some people will tell you spirituality is some woo woo bullsh*t, but I can tell you from my experience that it’s not

I think they meant "How to know your life purpose in 5 *Questions*: 1) Who you are? 2) What you do? 3) Who you do it for? 4) What those people want and need? 5) How those people change as a result?

Didn't you just hate those kids at school when you were 12 years old & they just knew exactly what they wanted to do with their lives, & they did just that when they left! I'm 50 this year & I still haven't managed to understand & realize what it is I really want to do! Must be great working & being paid good money doing what you love!

Your purpose is to love each other and love yourself. There is only 1 you experiencing this very moment. You can choose the experiences you want to have in this second, in this day and slowly your life will change to an intentional direction of things you wish to experience instead of things you endure. You are enough ❤

Wow I’m sat in the bath right now trying to decipher my purpose, and this talk has just shown me the way. It just gave me clarity and now I’m going to seize my purpose and focus my drive and discipline and passion and turn it into my obsession, world get ready for my arrival. 😊

Life doesn't have a purpose. It's a journey to explore

The reason why most people are still lost is because you are not trying. You are looking for someone else like this guy to give you the answer to your life. You need to find your own answers. Try things, figure out what you like doing and if it's not something that fits into any "career path" Make your own career out of it. You will never find the purpose for your life by sitting on the couch and eating Cheetos.

Thank you forhelping me to make my vision more clear. My life purpose is to help people how to become more powerful, stronger and independent while being open and loveable.

This man changed my view of things, which happens rarely. Thank you.

A 10 minute video on how to find your purpose in 5 minutes....seems shady.

Honestly, this is kind of subjective. I know I'm not supposed to say this, but not everyone feels happy helping other people. Maybe it's against the norm, but some people get happy by making themselves happy.

Great talk....and it fit well for me as an active working professional but after early retirement and an accident that left me in a wheelchair it is a struggle to adapt this model for my use. But I'll keep working on it.

Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant! What a masterclass by Adam. Thanks TEDx

I am 19 and in my second year of college and I am stuck on trying to figure out what I want to study. I just need a direction to go towards, a purpose. Even though I technically do not do anything yet, this video opened my mind in realizing that I have to find something I love to do but also benefits and helps others. Simple and inspiring -loved it!

Speaker: What are you supremely qualified to do??? Audience: ....mfffbeellahfjskhhh

Thank you very much Adam. I love this simple way of establishing my life purpose. I have just realized that what I am paid to do (my current job) has, unfortunately nothing to do with my life purpose; it does not define me at all.

Are you your name? A rose by any other name smells as sweet. Knowing the fragrance of that rose , is the magic!

1. Ana 2. Nothing 3... 4... 5...