We’re highly complex, self-aware, emotionally attuned beings, and we desire more out of life than just living.

It’s not enough to simply go through the motions of getting a job, settling down, having kids, and retiring at a “reasonable” age anymore. We aren’t willing to be a cog in a machine — we want to contribute to something meaningful and significant that is larger than ourselves.

That’s where all the buzz about “finding your purpose” comes from. The term has a rating of 100 (out of 100) according to Google Trends, making it one of the most frequently and consistently searched queries.

However, despite the wealth of information available, finding one’s purpose somehow remains hopelessly misunderstood.

Mark Lack, speaker, peak-performance coach, and bestselling author of “Shorten The Gap: Shortcuts To Success And Happiness” claims that’s because we’ve lost sight of the foundation of purpose. He’s identified two fundamental components of purpose that the majority of the world appears to be blind to.

I’ve been hosting international business accelerators for nearly two years now, and I’ve noticed a pattern—over 90% of the people who come identify with being in a transition of some kind.

In fact, I find the vast majority of millennials I talk to these days are “in transition.”

That’s because we’re waking up to the fact that we want more out of our lives. The hunt for happiness has shifted away from seeing success as the possession of material things or status to success as a measure of fulfillment and quality of life.

What do you do when what once served you no longer “fits”?

If anyone knows about graceful transitioning, it’s Trevor Barran, a former Wall Streeter who left behind the city for the “pura vida” in Central America. He’s a former aerospace engineer turned 14-time serial entrepreneur who holds a Ph.D from Princeton.

Barran is the CEO of Lionheart Capital and the owner of Aqua Wellness Resort, a stunning Nicaraguan wellness resort nestled in a secluded beach and jungle cove. Aqua places a strong emphasis on nature, with its guestrooms perched high atop the jungle canopy in luxury “eco” treehouse suites where guests can interact freely with native wildlife.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Barran shares about the keys to embracing change. Below, learn from Barran five strategies for thriving inside a life transition that can help you access peace and identify your next move.

1. Embrace New Experiences. New experiences are perfect for transitions because they capitalize on the fact that you’re especially open to seizing new opportunities. Try something you’ve never done before, and it may end up leading you to your next destination. The best experiences provide a “pattern interrupt” and get you out of your comfort zone, whether that’s visiting a foreign location or gaining experience in a new industry. If you’re not one for planning, consider attending a curated event.

When Aqua was still in its development phase, Barran decided to uproot his life and relocate to Nicaragua, though he didn’t know much Spanish. “I have always been motivated by experiences. I think time is the most precious thing we have,” he says.

2. Consult Friends. When you’re not sure where to go next, friends can help point you in the right direction. Friends provide a different vantage point and can see your blind spots. Those who’ve known you for a long time may be able to suggest a new path that’s suited for your interests and skillsets.

While North American culture emphasizes independent action, in some ways it can be limiting. Barran says Nicaraguan culture is heavily focused on relationships, which offers the benefit of a collective mind. “Nicaragua is wired a completely different way. It operates in this very familiar, tranquil, harmonious way, because people highly value their interpersonal relationships,” he says. Psychologists agree that shifting from a “me” to a “we” mindset can help you see a fuller picture.

3. Be Willing To Let Go. Sometimes, a life transition takes the form of a role that’s no longer viable or fulfilling. Is your current role in your job or relationship still serving you? Change may seem threatening, but it’s often just a gateway. “It’s important to know when to let go of things, to be honest with yourself when it’s time. Plan your exit from your responsibilities, because that allows for a much smoother growth beyond you. Much of the trials and tribulations in these founder/entrepreneur experiences occur when there’s a natural transition that the founder isn’t able to see,” Barran advises.

4. Invest In Something You Care About. Shifting your perspective to invest in long-term gain can generate anticipation and excitement. Is there something of grander scale you’d like to see come to fruition? Now could be the time to start laying down the foundation.

Barran says Aqua was a long-term project that was worth the wait. “Dan, the founder, had this vision to create a wellness resort,” Barran reflects. “He had a very compelling idea for creating this resort that connected people with nature, that integrated the jungle into its design. I found it very compelling. We said well, if we’re gonna invest in something that is unknown to us, it might as well be something pretty special.”

5. Restructure Your Priorities. Have you ever climbed to the top of the ladder only to find it didn’t provide what you thought it would? Lack of fulfillment at work is a common source of transition for millennials. Often, what we think will satisfy us—whether it be a promotion, a salary raise, or an esteemed award—doesn’t fit the bill.

Barran recommends shifting your priorities towards things of greater substance. Instead of pursuing self-recognition, seek to share the spotlight and serve something greater than yourself. “If you create a company in your own image it will never be larger than you,” Barran says. “I think business is so much more rewarding when you have a crew of people who are building success with you. You don’t want to go through life being #1 and having no one to share it with.”

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This article originally appeared on Forbes.com

I remember when I graduated college and told my dad instead of getting a “real job” I was going to launch a feather hair extension business. He thought I was out of my mind and was quite angry with me. As someone who had worked on Wall Street his entire life he had always prioritized a steady pay check, consistency and the “safe” choice.

Years later I discovered he wasn’t angry with me—he was afraid for me. Like so many of his peers, the idea of opting for more stress and uncertainty seemed unnecessary and something to be avoided at all costs.

I didn’t know it at the time, but my decision to lean into fear and pursue business for myself would be the catalyst for my success. Moreover, a way of operating; a tool in my toolkit that I have exercised ever since.

What I am referring to is the concept of “Fearvana,” coined by Akshay Nanavati as the method of using fear as a gateway to bliss.

I find millennials are leading by example, using fear in a different way than our parents did to disrupt industries, create innovative solutions to world problems, and prioritize our own personal development.

Fearvana is more than just a new way of living it is a book endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Fearvana’s author, Akshay Nanavati, is also a nonprofit founder, success coach, speaker, and Marine Corps Veteran.

Nanavati says the six years he spent in the military forced him to develop an intimate relationship with fear. Stationed in post-9/11 Iraq, Nanavati often confronted the possibility of losing his life.

In his dance with fear, he found something surprising. According to Nanavati, fear and bliss are actually two sides of the same coin. That is, if we seek to experience bliss, the path leading us there is our fear.

This week on the Unconventional Life Podcast, Nanavati invites us into the world of Fearvana—that is, what it means to tap into fear as a wellspring of bliss.

Fear Shows You What’s Worth Fighting For

Nanavati says we all have a worthy struggle: something in our life that deserves our relentless attention and pursuit. For me, my worthy struggle is my business. The presence of fear is what makes our struggle worth fighting for.

To motivate yourself to stay on track, you Nanavati recommends you surround yourself with triggers called “spark moments,” whose purpose is to ignite the fighter within you. Think Michael Jordan getting rejected from the varsity basketball team—it stirred up a sense of resilience and rebound in him towards his goal.

“Imprint your subconscious,” says Nanavati. “Look for sparks to help inspire you to stay on your worthy struggle and surround yourself with them.”

Stress Is Your Ally

If you find yourself feeling stressed, don’t interpret this as bad news. Though we live in a culture that considers stress something to be minimized, Nanavati says stress is actually a good thing.

“Fear, stress, anxiety, that’s a normal part of life and you’re going to experience it and they don’t have to be a negative thing. When you choose to perceive the response of stress as something that can serve you it can translate into something meaningful,” he advises.

In the same way stress in the body is necessary to build muscle, stress in the realm of the mind and spirit is necessary to build character. Recognize stress as a necessary part of your worthy struggle and an ally in promoting growth.

According to Kelly McGonigal, a Stanford health psychologist, “Viewing stress as a resource can transform the physiology of fear into the biology of courage.”

Conserve Your Willpower

Science tells us willpower is a limited resource—a muscle that can be worked to exhaustion. The more we draw upon it, the less we have to utilize in future challenges.

Nanavati recommends being strategic with your willpower so that it will be available to you in the decisive moments that you need it.

Consider “automating” your day to enable you to run on autopilot and minimize the amount of deliberate decisions you need to make. Nanavati uses an app on his phone to establish guided external structure that reminds him what he needs to do and when so he doesn’t draw from his willpower.

“Every area of my life is systematized to remove thinking as much as possible,” he says. “Then I pick one moment in the day where I’m exercising the entirety of my focus into one activity, because when you do that willpower can be limitless. In at least one endeavor you want to push that willpower muscle and push the limits of possibility and human potential.”

When you need to dig deep to fight fear because you’re pursuing something significant, maximizing your willpower reserve will help you overcome and outlast.

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