You’re stuck in the hamster wheel of life, running faster but going nowhere.
Work, family, sleep, repeat.
You start to feel lost.
You don’t even know who you are anymore.
The mundane makes you feel like you have no purpose.
How are you contributing to the greater good? Who are you helping? How will you be remembered?
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re one of the millions searching for that elusive thing called “purpose.”
And, you might be looking in all the wrong places.
The Purpose Problem
Purpose isn’t some magical destination you arrive at after a long, arduous journey.
It’s not a job title, a relationship status, or a number in your bank account.
So what is it?
Well, that depends on who you ask.
The Purpose Buffet
Robert Greene: Master Your Life’s Task
Robert Greene, the guy who wrote “Mastery,” says your purpose is your “life’s task.” It’s that thing you were born to do, hiding in plain sight since childhood.
Greene’s take: Look back at what fascinated you as a kid. That’s your purpose calling.
Viktor Frankl: Find Meaning in the Madness
Frankl survived the Holocaust and came out with a pretty powerful idea: Purpose isn’t about seeking pleasure. It’s about finding meaning, even in suffering.
Frankl’s advice: Ask yourself, “What meaning can I derive from my circumstances?” Boom. There’s your purpose.
Simon Sinek: Start With Why
Sinek made “Find your why” a business buzzword. But he’s onto something. Your “why” is the reason you jump out of bed in the morning (or at least crawl out without hitting snooze ten times).
Sinek’s strategy: Dig deep and ask, “Why do I do what I do?” That’s your purpose talking.
Joseph Campbell: Follow Your Bliss
Campbell saw life as a hero’s journey. Your purpose? It’s that thing that makes you lose track of time, that thing you’d do even if you didn’t get paid.
Campbell’s call: Follow your bliss. It’s not just hippie talk; it’s a roadmap to purpose.
Eckhart Tolle: Be Here Now
Tolle’s not interested in your five-year plan. For him, purpose is about being fully present in this moment, right here, right now.
Tolle’s tip: Stop obsessing about the future. Your purpose is in this very moment.
Mark Manson: Choose Your Struggle
Manson’s got a refreshingly blunt take: Purpose isn’t handed to you on a silver platter. It’s about choosing what’s worth suffering for.
Manson’s mantra: Pick your battles. What you’re willing to fight for? That’s your purpose.
Elizabeth Gilbert: Follow Your Curiosity
Gilbert’s not into the pressure of finding one grand purpose. She’s all about following the breadcrumbs of curiosity.
Gilbert’s guidance: Don’t stress about one big purpose. Follow what intrigues you today.
The Dark Side of Purpose
Before you go all in on this purpose-finding mission, we need to talk about something nobody mentions at those feel-good motivational seminars.
Purpose Anxiety.
What is Purpose Anxiety?
It’s that nagging feeling that you’re not living up to your potential.
The stress that comes from believing you need to find that one grand purpose that’ll make your life meaningful.
It’s bullshit.
The idea that you have one preordained purpose is wrong.
The Purpose Polarity: One True Calling vs. Multiple Evolving Purposes
| Finding One True Purpose | Living with Multiple, Evolving Purposes |
|---|---|
| Upsides: – Clear direction and focus – Sense of destiny – Long-term motivation – Feeling of significance |
Upsides: – Less pressure – Flexibility for life changes – Encourages exploration – Fulfillment in multiple areas |
| Downsides: – Anxiety if unclear – High pressure to “get it right” – Fear of failure – Inflexibility |
Downsides: – Might feel scattered – Lack of singular focus – Hard to see long-term impact – Difficult to explain to others |
The Truth About Purpose
Purpose isn’t a treasure map with X marking the spot.
It’s more like a GPS that recalculates as you go.
You’re not meant to have just one purpose.
You’re meant to have many.
Busting the Purpose Myths
- The “One True Calling” Myth: Life has phases. What fires you up at 25 might bore you to tears at 40.
- The “Monetize Your Passion” Trap: Not everything meaningful needs to make money. Your purpose isn’t a side hustle.
- The “Change the World” Pressure: Small acts of kindness count. You don’t need to cure cancer to live a purposeful life.
- The “All or Nothing” Fallacy: Purpose isn’t binary. It’s not “found” or “not found.” It’s a continuum.
Embrace the Fluidity
Stop trying to find your purpose. Start living it.
Your purpose today might be crushing it at work.
Tomorrow, it might be teaching your kid to ride a bike.
Next year? Who knows. That’s the beauty of it.
Know Someone That Has Found Purpose? Rock On!
Let’s take a moment to celebrate those of you who’ve found their groove.
They wake up every day knowing exactly why they’re here, and they are living it to the fullest.
That’s not just rare—it’s downright awesome.
They’ve done what many spend a lifetime searching for.
They’ve found that sweet spot where their talents, passions, and impact on the world align perfectly.
It’s like hitting the existential jackpot, and they should be damn proud of it.
So to all you purpose-driven rockstars out there: We see you. We applaud you. Keep shining your light and doing your thing.
The world needs more people like you who have found a calling and are brave enough to live it out loud.
My Take on Purpose
Your purpose doesn’t have to be some grandiose mission statement.
It doesn’t have to be about changing the world or becoming the next Steve Jobs.
Your purpose could be as simple as:
Showing up with love and as your authentic self in everything you do.
The Authenticity Advantage
You wake up tomorrow and decide to be unapologetically you in every interaction.
At work, with your family, even in line at the grocery store.
No masks. No pretenses.
Just you, raw and real.
That’s purpose!
Maybe it’s not about what you do.
Maybe it’s about how you do it.
The Love Factor
Now, add a dash of love to everything you do.
Not the Hallmark card kind.
We’re talking about genuine care and attention.
- Making your kid’s lunch? Do it with love.
- Sending that work email? Infuse it with care.
- Taking out the trash? Yeah, even that. Do it with intention.
Suddenly, the most mundane tasks become infused with purpose.
The Liberation
The specific path you’re on doesn’t matter nearly as much as how you walk it.
You could be a CEO or a stay-at-home parent.
A world-traveling photographer or a local school teacher.
An aspiring artist or a corporate climber.
The path isn’t the purpose.
The purpose is in how you show up on that path.
The Purpose Experiment
Ready to discover how small shifts can lead to profound changes?
Here’s a simple experiment to infuse your daily life with more purpose and authenticity:
- Choose one routine activity from your daily life. It could be making your morning coffee, commuting to work, or tucking your kids into bed.
- For the next 7 days, approach this activity with intentional authenticity and love. Bring your full attention to it. Do it as if it’s the most important task of your day. Do it as the most authentic version of you and infuse love.
- At the end of the week, grab a pen and paper. Reflect on your experience and jot down any shifts you’ve noticed in your:
- Awareness
- Perspective
- Satisfaction
But don’t be fooled – this small act of intentional living can change everything.
It’s not about changing what you do, but how you do it.
Start Now
You don’t need to quit your job, move to a mountaintop, or have a life-altering epiphany to find and live your purpose.
You just need to be you.
Fully, authentically, unapologetically you – with love.
