I recently came across a Daniel Pink video that helped clarify and summarize some key insights about finding life’s purpose in a really actionable way. The framework was so helpful that I wanted to share it.

Stop asking “What’s my passion?” Start asking better questions.

Pink suggests that the classic advice to “follow your passion” often leads us nowhere. Instead, he offers seven more practical questions that can actually help you discover your life’s purpose.

The Seven Questions That Matter

1. What made you weird as a kid? Think back to what you did for fun at 7 or 10 years old, even if others thought it was odd. Those childhood quirks often point to authentic interests that society hasn’t yet conditioned out of you.

2. When do you lose track of time? Notice when you naturally enter a flow state. These moments reveal activities that align with your intrinsic motivation.

3. What do people consistently thank you for? Ask friends and colleagues: “What do you appreciate about me? What do you think I’m particularly good at? How do you think I’ll leave a mark on the world?” Their answers reveal your unique strengths.

4. What’s your sentence? As Clare Boothe Luce once told John F. Kennedy: “A great person is a sentence.” Can you summarize your life’s purpose in a single, clear sentence?

5. Where can you make your biggest contribution? Look around at the people, teams, and communities in your life. What do they genuinely need that you’re uniquely positioned to provide?

6. What would you do if money weren’t an object? This classic question strips away practical constraints to reveal what truly motivates you.

7. What will you regret at 90? Most people regret what they didn’t do—not being bolder, not starting that business, not taking their shot. What three things might your 90-year-old self regret not pursuing? Flip it: What will make you proud to have accomplished?

The Bottom Line

Purpose isn’t something you stumble upon—it’s something you actively discover through honest self-reflection. These questions can guide you toward a clearer understanding of what makes your contribution to the world uniquely yours.

Ready to dig deeper? Start with just one question and spend some real time with your answer.