All my life I have wondered whether or not there is a purpose in our lives. Are we here to work and die, or is there something else?

This was a question I heard the other day from a 60-year-old woman, who has no financial need to continue working, but feels this problem of purpose unresolved. Why is she here and has she met that need?

We all have a purpose and, until discovered, life has a wandering feeling that grows over time.

Many years ago in a Chinese restaurant, I opened this fortune, “The day you were born, a problem was solved.” Is it possible that the reason this woman feels that she has something left to do is because she still has to solve this “problem” referred to in the Chinese proverb?

I think so. I encouraged her to discover and pursue her purpose. “But how?” she cried out. And I understand. It is confusing to determine our abilities, much less something as potentially shocking to others as purpose and “problem solved.”

Discovering purpose is an essential part of prosperity and relates to what is perhaps our most valuable asset of all: time.

Time is so precious that it cannot be bought and can never be replaced. How do you spend yours? Are you happy with what you do for a living or with the way you spend your time?

If you are dissatisfied with the way you are spending your time, you may still need to define your purpose. You may also have some idea what it is, but are not sure how to apply it to your current situation or career.

Purpose can be found by discovering 3 things within each of us: priority, skill, and passion. Once discovered, we can craft a statement of purpose by which we can make our future decisions, ensuring that we solve the problem that we are meant to solve. The statement of purpose is essential as it acts as a rudder on our ship, keeping us on course.

Without identifying our purpose, or without elaborating a statement to keep us on track, the end result is similar to this Thoreau quote: “Most men lead lives of silent despair and go to the grave with the song still in them.” . The woman who asked the question about the purpose was feeling the bubbling of a song inside her and felt the fear that she would not hear it.

Jerry Seinfeld, who enjoyed more than 9 years as an actor in the hit sitcom “Seinfeld,” recently started an Internet show called “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.” Following his formation in 2012, he was interviewed on the ESPN radio show, “Mike & Mike.”

I too can talk about the effectiveness of this research. In 2006, after 15 years in my chosen field, I was drawn to what else I could do. After 6 months of research, I discovered and developed a process to not only pursue my purpose, but also to help my clients pursue theirs.

I focused my life on this task and that scathing question hasn’t bothered me since.

I also encourage you to undertake the task of researching your greatest abilities, thus determining your purpose and solving that problem that only you can solve.