1500 - 2000 / Henry David Thoreau / Mission Statement

7 Tips on How to Find Purpose in Life [Thoreau]

By Effluo | Published March 3, 2023 | 1 Comment

Have you ever wondered about how to find purpose in life?

Do you desire a deeper meaning to your daily routines but just haven’t seemed to find it?

If you’re feeling like life just isn’t quite giving you the purposeful narrative that you had hoped for, it may be time to look at how some legendary individuals found their own direction.

At Effluo, we study the teachings of great historical figures to get inspired by the lives of history’s greatest minds.  To dive into the question of how to find purpose in life, we turned to the life and works of Henry David Thoreau.

Who Is Henry David Thoreau?

  Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. – Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau is an American writer and philosopher.  He lived during the 1800s and extensively studied the concept of finding purpose in life – an art that he called “living deliberately.”

He left his life and business behind him and went to live in the woods for two years, documenting his experiences.  This was published under the name of Walden, or Life in the Woods. 

The well-known coined phrases such as ‘go confidently in the direction of your dreams” is taken from this work.

We’ll be exploring his thoughtful insights into how to best cultivate our individual path of living with intention.

Find The Path of Your Heart

But man’s capacities have never been measured, nor are we to judge of what he can do by any precedents, so little has been tried.  Whatever have been thy failures hitherto, “be not afflicted, my child, for who shall assign to thee what thou hast left undone?” – Henry David Thoreau

In this statement, Thoreau starts out by saying that your failure in life will come from not pursuing the path of your heart.   Take time for yourself and determine what brings you joy.  That is, in essence, the path of your heart.  Use that as your guiding light.  

You may say, but I don’t know if I can pursue my dreams?  Thoreau throws a question in your direction, stating that your strength has not been measured.  You should not judge what you are capable of or not capable of based on your past experiences because so little has been tried.  You are capable of incredible accomplishments, even in the face of adversity.

Thoreau suggests that no one can assign us a task greater than what we have left undone, rather telling us to look within ourselves, take stock, and move forward with confident determination.

Seize any opportunity that may come your way, find the paths that are meant for you, and create success out of it all; never underestimate your own power and potential.

Your Mission Is Yours to Find

I have lived some thirty years on this planet, and I have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest advice from my seniors.  They have told me nothing and probably cannot tell me anything to the purpose. – Henry David Thoreau

The words of Thoreau stand out as a humble reminder that your mission, your truth in life, is ultimately yours to find.  Although we can gain insight from those that have gone before us, our mission in life is ultimately binding to no one else but ourselves.

It’s our job to find out the path life will take us on.  As Thoreau said, he had yet to hear a syllable of advice from his elders that was valuable or earnest.  Hear others out but remember that only you hold the key to living a purposeful and fulfilling life.  It is important to remember that the journey of others and our journey do not have to be the same.

Your mission is yours to find, and it’s up to you to decide the course it takes.  Use your experience as a guide instead of expecting direction from others.  Your future may not be clear right now but embrace the uncertainty.  Life brings new opportunities around every corner, ready for you to discover them.

Your journey will not be created for you by others, so go out and make it for yourself.

How To Find Purpose in Life Overview

In a review of Walden, we extracted the following seven themes of how to find purpose in life according to Thoreau’s experience and learnings.

1.   Question Society’s Truisms
2.   Question Your Prejudices
3.   Connect to Nature
4.   Expand Your Intellect
5.   Go Beyond Your Career
6.   Redefine Your Necessities
7.   Seek Out Wisdom

Question Society’s Truisms

One farmer says to me, “You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make bones with,”; and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying his system with the raw material of bones, walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle. – Henry David Thoreau

Every country’s life wisdom is offered up as an unquestionable truth, aka truism.  Yet Thoreau’s words prove that sometimes such truisms should be taken with a grain of salt. 

For example, Thoreau questioned the prevailing thought that one couldn’t survive without animal bones for strength.  Believing firmly that such was possible, he observed how a farmer plowed his land behind his oxen.  His ox had vibrant energy and eats only vegetables.  This was not a study into vegetarianism, but an example of questioning truisms.

His story is a reminder for us to look beyond what society has taught us as truth.  Question society’s truisms and defy the limits placed upon us by others.

To question society’s truisms, Thoreau left society and lived in the woods for two years.  You do not need to go to such extremes.  Sometimes, it is enough to visit a different country and learn their customs and cultures that conflict with yours.  Talk to people from different cultures.  Spend more time in nature.

Question Your Prejudices

It is never too late to give up our prejudices.  No way of thinking or doing, however ancient, can be trusted without proof.  What everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true today may turn out to be falsehood to-morrow. – Henry David Thoreau

In addition to questioning society’s truisms, it is important to identify your own prejudices.   Questioning our prejudices can sometimes be uncomfortable, yet it is a necessary process for personal growth.

Yes, we all possess prejudices, but the important question is if we are willing to challenge them.  If so, it is never too late to make a conscious effort to assess our beliefs and not blindly accept that which “everybody echoes or in silence passes by as true.”

Thoreau recognized this timeless truth and wrote that what we regard as truth can easily dissolve into falsehood tomorrow.  So, make a concerted effort to question your prejudices and opinions.  Create an ever-evolving way of thinking rooted in assessing evidence rather than blindly accepting ideas promoted by the majority.

Connect to Nature

Nature and human life are as various as our several constitutions.  Who shall say what prospect life offers to another?  Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant? – Henry David Thoreau

Connecting to nature can help us to see the world through each other’s eyes.  It opens our minds, relieves stress, and boosts our creativity – something that Thoreau certainly embraced himself. 

Connecting with nature can provide you with a new perspective on life that may or may not have been experienced before.  Nature is unparalleled in its beauty and offers wide-ranging rewards to those who cherish it.

It shakes us from our everyday lives and facilitates broadening our minds as well as growth outside of our comfort zone.  Thoreau’s quote poignantly captures this reality; it would be extraordinary if we could peek into the mind’s eye of another, for instance, to appreciate what life looks like from their unique point of view.  Despite our different constitutions, we are all part of the same greater whole.

Nature Is Adapted To You

  Nature is as well adapted to our weakness as to our strengths. – Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau’s words remind us of the incredible harmony we can achieve when we understand how nature is well-suited to enrich our lives. 

As we take time to appreciate its beauty, openness, truth, and invincible will, it teaches us lessons in unexpected ways that enable us to also be strong yet gentle individuals.

Nature has the power to guide us toward a better understanding of when to embrace our strengths and when to recognize and accept our weaknesses.  It deepens the practice of self-reflection and self-acceptance.

Embrace its beauty, its sheer power, and the way it can fill you with moments of awe and wonder.  Find liberation in the ability of nature to bring you closer to an understanding of your true self.  Use it as inspiration to practice gratitude and focus on what you have.  Nature does not suffer from lack; it works in perfect harmony and balance.

Expand Your Intellect

History, Poetry, Mythology!—I know of no reading of another’s experience so startling and informing as this would be. – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau’s words inspire us to be continual learners and to explore the world through reading experiences.  When we cast our minds back on history, poetry, and mythology, these areas of study give us insight into cultures and conversations that span centuries and continents.  

No matter what our interest is, history, poetry, and mythology offer us endless possibilities to open up our perceptions and grow as individuals by seeing beyond ourselves. 

As Thoreau suggests, we should be continual learners and seek out the wisdom of those who have traveled the roads before us.  Along the same lines, do not limit yourself to just books.  Talk to and listen to people.

Action steps for finding your purpose through expanding your intellect:

•   Read
•   Be a part of a community
•   Listen to what others appreciate about you
•   Surround yourself with the right people
•   Start conversations with new people

Through acquiring knowledge of another’s experience, we can open doors to new possibilities of understanding and ideas.  Knowledge is an ever-growing thing – let’s use it as an opportunity to expand our horizons and attain greater potential!

Know What You Don’t Know

Confucius said, “To know that we know what we know and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.” – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau quoted Confucius’ stating that true knowledge is achieved when we understand both what we know and what we don’t know.  Recognizing what we know and don’t know helps give us the motivation to continue striving and expanding upon our existing knowledge.  It also serves as a reminder to remain humble while continuously learning more during our journey of discovery.

The idea of true knowledge is the knowledge of both what we do understand and, more importantly, what we don’t understand goes to the heart of our life’s true purpose.

To be comfortable living without all the answers, especially in trying times, leads us closer to true knowledge, which will prove invaluable in building a meaningful life.

Go Beyond Your Career

We are made to exaggerate the importance of what work we do; and yet how much is not done by us!  Or, what if we had been taken sick?  How vigilant we are!  Determined not to live by faith if we can avoid it, all the day long on the alert, at night we unwillingly say our prayers and commit ourselves to uncertainties. – Henry David Thoreau

It can be hard to find true balance in life when we over-emphasize the importance of our jobs and focus too much on performance.

How often do we let our true selves and true purpose suffer in pursuit of career success?

Thoreau challenges us to consider what would happen if we get sick or fall into difficult circumstances—how quickly our determination to succeed can come crumbling down around us.  Thoreau reminds us that although work is important, it should not be our only source of true identity.

Take time to pause and reflect, time to find true meaning beyond material work, and commit to a deeper path, one of faith, tenderness, and acceptance.

Redefine Your Necessities

By the words, necessary of life, I mean whatever, of all that man obtains by his own exertions, has been from the first, or from long use has become, so important to human life that few, if any, whether from savageness, or poverty, or philosophy, ever attempt to do without it. – Henry David Thoreau

Whatever we use for sustenance, shelter, and protection can generally be considered the necessary components of life.  Identifying what we truly need is something that takes the initiative and drives.

From Thoreau’s words, we see that no matter where one comes from – whether savage, poor, or philosophical – there’s an appreciation for recognizing the vital essentials for our journey in life.

Knowing what can improve your quality of life is a process made easier when taking into account previous experiences and finding solid footing on which to build.  Identifying your necessities is the key to survival and success.

Henry Thoreau encourages us to examine our lives and identify what we really need.  What is necessary for your life may vary greatly from another’s, so it’s important to determine what means the most to you and create your own definition of ‘necessities’ in your life.

Identifying what brings you the greatest joy and employing your own judgment in determining your necessary items can bring great contentment to your life.

Seek Out Wisdom

But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things. – Henry David Thoreau

Wisdom is often thought of as the quality of having knowledge and understanding, but there’s a lot more to it.  Wisdom teaches us to think outside the box and assess our current situation without succumbing to desperation.

By heeding Thoreau’s words and acting with wisdom, we can create positive resolutions instead of desperate measures. 

Wisdom is the kind of power that prevents us from succumbing to extremes so that we may first find a positive perspective, then work towards positive change.  It can turn pain into purpose. 

Wisdom allows us to make peace with moments of uncertainty and challenge God in a manner that truly reflects deep faith.

How to Find Purpose In Life Summary

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you’ve imagined. – Henry David Thoreau

At the conclusion of his two years spent living in the woods, Thoreau provided an excellent summary of his experience.

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.  He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws be expanded and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings.  In proportion as he simplifies his life, the laws of the universe will appear less complex, and solitude will not be solitude, nor poverty poverty, nor weakness weakness.” – Henry David Thoreau

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you have imagined.

Summary of 7 Steps on How to Find Purpose In Life

1.   Question Society’s Truisms
2.   Question Your Prejudices
3.   Connect to Nature
4.   Expand Your Intellect
5.   Go Beyond Your Career
6.   Redefine Your Necessities
7.   Seek Out Wisdom

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