For most of my young adult life and twenties, I’ve been trying to figure out:
- How to make work feel like play
- And… the purpose of life, both my life and life as a whole.
Pretty deep stuff, as you can imagine.
5 Insights I’ve Learned About Purpose
While I’m closer to some sort of answer than I was at 17, 18, 19, or 20, I’ve had many insights, such as:
- Growth is one of the purposes of life.
- We have more than one purpose. Believing there’s only “one thing” puts enormous stress on trying to find it.
- Purpose is about contribution, service, and community, living for something beyond yourself.
- Purpose and passion aren’t static. We won’t discover them sitting on the couch, but by taking action and engaging with the world.
- Purpose is finding what we feel most connected to and living from that place.
And yet… I still often feel like I’m chasing my tail when it comes to purpose. I’m not where I want to be in terms of career, work, or whatever you want to call it.
I believe there’s a symbiotic relationship between work and purpose, while recognising that purpose is more than just what we do to pay the bills.
Our work is often a way to bring purpose to life. And like so many, I just haven’t clearly figured it out.
Which brings me to this (cliché, but clichés are clichés for a reason because they hold truth):
Purpose is a journey, not a destination.
Discovering our purpose and bringing it into the world is not an overnight phenomenon.
It’s a journey of ups, downs, and everything in between.
Part of me wishes this wasn’t the case. Because, my God, I just want to “find my purpose” and live it fully!
But then I remember: don’t fight reality.
And I think to myself… but then what?!
Sure, life might feel more purposeful and meaningful once purpose is discovered and lived. But I also think what makes purpose what it is… is the journey or pursuit of it.
That’s something I have a hard time remembering.
Yet every time I do, it brings me great solace and peace of mind.
The Mindset That Helps When Exploring Purpose
And that state of mind matters. Because I don’t know about you, but I’m stressed, worried, anxious, or in distress, the whole topic of purpose becomes even more overwhelming.
Which is the opposite of what we want.
Instead, I’ve found that curiosity, openness, and calmness are the best states of mind when approaching purpose.
In these states, we think more clearly, connect more deeply, and truly reflect on what gifts we have to bring to the world, and what resonates most deeply with us.
Why Purpose Matters for Health and Longevity
So, why does this matter? 🤔
Because purpose not only improves our day-to-day experience of life, but research shows it has powerful health benefits too.
This NIH-reported study showed a 46% reduced risk of mortality in those who lived with a greater sense of purpose. Pretty impressive!
Most people chase the latest diet or fitness trend to improve their health. But could the deeper answer lie in cultivating purpose and meaning?
That’s not to dismiss fitness and nutrition; they’re vital. But this points to something bigger, I’ve shared many times: health is holistic. Purpose is part of it.
And just like health, purpose isn’t just for a select few. It’s deeply personal, and every one of us is on this journey, whether we recognise it or not.
Signs of purpose are all around us every day.
But with our heads buried in phones, rushing through life, or overthinking things that don’t really matter (guilty here 🙋♂️), we often miss them.
Yet not seeing something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
That’s why I’m such an advocate for mindfulness practices like meditation. They not only improve health but also cultivate awareness, grounding us in the present, where life is actually lived.
Walking the Path of Purpose
My underlying point:
No matter how hard it feels, purpose is personal.
No one else can walk the path for us. We each have to embark on our own purpose journey, consciously, if we want to cultivate a life of meaning, joy, and fulfilment.
And surely that’s something we all desire, at least at some level? 🤷♂️
Reminders
1. Growth is one of the purposes of life.
We’re not meant to stay the same; we’re meant to grow and evolve. Every experience, good or bad, is an invitation for us to grow into a better version of ourselves. As I like to call it: more of who we truly are!
2. Purpose isn’t static; it’s discovered in action.
Waiting for purpose to “arrive” often keeps us stuck in a cycle of overthinking and bad feelings. I know because I’ve made this mistake. It turns out that purpose isn’t static. It emerges as we engage with life, experiment, and then reflect.
3. Purpose is about contribution and service.
Purpose has a symbiotic relationship with contribution and service, and for good reason, too. When we live for something beyond ourselves, often found in offering our gifts to others and bringing our strengths into the world, life takes on a different meaning, and true fulfilment is found. In simple terms, contribution and service are the gateway to purpose.