Do we need to search for what we’re meant to do? Don’t most lives develop a purpose without our conscious effort? Yes, many people do find a sense of purpose naturally and without much conscious effort. Some people know from a very early age that they want to be a doctor or a writer or an engineer. Other people seem to find their purpose somewhat later in their lives but still fairly effortlessly—for example, when they discover a new interest in high school or take a course in college that inspires them.The people who come to see me are people who are having trouble finding their purpose, even when they’ve made a lot of conscious effort to find it. For some reason, nothing has clicked. Usually, this is because they’re experiencing some kind of emotional block that’s keeping them from finding what they love to do. I try to help them understand what’s getting in the way emotionally so they can feel free to find and do what they love.What is the process for this search? I usually like to start by finding out what they feel is missing from their lives. Often, people have trouble articulating it. They may have a sense that their lives could feel more meaningful. They may sense that other people they know are more passionate about something in their lives and that that passion is missing for them. Often, they don’t know how to describe it beyond the vague feeling that something is missing.How do you help your clients clarify what they want to do?It really depends on the situation. Often, asking someone what they would do if they could do anything they wanted to—if, for example, they had tons of money and didn’t need to making a living—helps them to identify what they love to do. Once they’ve identified it, we can start talking about how to make it practical. But, often, people become so afraid that what they want to do won’t be practical that they dismiss it without trying to figure out how to make it practical.Do people actually find their purpose on their own, or do they need help? Many people find it on their own. Other people go to career counselors or coaches to help them figure out what’s a good fit for them or to figure out how to overcome practical obstacles to doing what they love. But some people have emotional blocks that get in the way of their finding their purpose in life. Therapy can really help remove those emotional blocks. It can’t change the economy but it can help people overcome the emotional blocks that keep them from what they want to do.Does happiness inevitably follow?Sometimes I think people have an overly idealized view of what it means to do what you love. It doesn’t mean that you’re going to enjoy everything you do. You’re still going to have to do lots of things that you don’t enjoy that much, whether it’s paying the bills or going to auditions or attending boring meetings. But, if you’re doing something you really care about, I think it’s a lot easier to deal with the aspects that aren’t that satisfying.How did you know you wanted to be a therapist?I started out as a philosophy professor. I really enjoyed teaching. I enjoyed talking about ideas and interacting with students. However, a lot of academics involves writing and publishing and I really didn’t enjoy that. I had had a good experience in my own therapy and thought it might be something I would want to do, but I had no experience doing it. My therapist encouraged me to do some volunteer work, so I worked at a suicide prevention hotline. I loved it and that convinced me that I would be happier working as a therapist. It’s a decision I’ve never regretted.Click to learn more about finding your life path with Jane Rubin, Ph.D.