"People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall."

~ Thomas Merton

Many people experience a midlife crisis because eventhough they've had certain accomplishments in life – perhaps they've raised a family and achieved a level of material and career success – they still don't feel happy, as if something were missing from their lives. They start asking themselves about a deeper meaning of life, and what it is that would make them happy and fulfilled.

We often need to dig deep to discover our true values and desires, sometimes buried deep under the layers of automatic living. What is it that causes you joy, gives you meaning and makes you feel most alive when doing? What is it that you are most proud of? That you would want to be remembered by? What is one big problem in the world that you would love to contribute solving? Those are just some of the questions to discover your purpose.

Knowing your purpose gives you a tremendous energy and motivation. It also gives you the courage to begin and the persistance to continue, even in the face of obstacles. Living your purpose fulfills the highest need in the Maslow's pyramid of needs – the need for self-actualization.

You can read more about life purpose here.