“Having a purpose is more important than ever.”
Here’s what will start to happen when you discover your purpose and keep it in mind with everything you do. Knowing thyself, following your bliss, finding your why, developing a calling, searching for meaning… these are all individual ideas on the broad topic of purpose. Purpose is something we all seek but it can remain elusive for some. I have outlined five reasons why I believe the pursuit of purpose is so vital in our modern world that I know will convince you of its power.
1. Purpose helps you manage your life.
I believe the defining factor of purpose is to help me organise my life! Self-awareness leads to self -management. The more aware I am of my skill set, the easier it
is for me to stay on top of things. Rather than wandering aimlessly lost in the great chaos of abundant choice, I can zoom in with laser focus on my strengths. The more self-aware you become, the less you will need others to motivate you or crack the whip to compel you to action. Once you find your purpose, you will automatically self-correct and keep your life running on the oiled guardrails of your soul’s direction. Like a passenger on a rollercoaster with tight turns, steep slopes and wild inversions, when you have a purpose you will be able to stay safe during life’s inevitable ups and downs.
2. Purpose helps you overcome your inadequacies.
Know yourself and you will understand both your weaknesses and your strengths. Steve McQueen, an English writer and director, most famous for his film “12
Years a Slave,” was asked by a reporter about his dyslexia, “Has that affected or influenced your work?” His response was, “I suppose it has. I just get on with it. I
use whatever muscles I have to do what I have to do.” Knowing your life has purpose validates your sense of worth and value. All our lives are filled with shortcomings and inadequacies, but we can rectify those insufficiencies, fix areas in need of repair and become an unstoppable force when our purpose is at the forefront.
3. Purpose helps you improve your mental and emotional wellbeing.
Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, quipped, “The most common form of despair is not being who you are.” Research backs this statement up. One study concluded that wealthy countries like France, Japan and Denmark rank high in happiness but also have some of the highest suicide rates in the world. Personal meaning ranks low in these countries. However, poor and war torn nations like Afghanistan and Syria have low rates of suicide, and high rates of meaning. It seems like unhappiness does not predict suicide ideation but lack of meaning does. Purpose can become your lifeline in times of despair.
4. Purpose gives you power in your present.
You have certain practices and processes that are both instinctive and intuitive. These abilities enable us to craft a vision for our future. Those without a deep understanding of their talents remain stuck in a permanent and ceaseless present. Identifying a clear path in front of us provides power in our present by unleashing the boundless and mystical power of hope. Hope is not an emotion or a nebulous idea. It is a learned behaviour and the result of goal-oriented thinking.
5. Purpose keeps you in your lane.
We have to believe our lives have purpose. In fact, the odds of YOU being alive, with all your proclivities and tendencies are 1 in 400 quadrillion. Yes! Someone did the maths! (Thanks Dr Ali Binazir). This is not just a poetic idea, it is a scientific fact. There will never be anyone like you, ever again.
This alone should stop you from comparing yourself with everyone else. Comparison is an act of violence against yourself. Many people today are committing brutal acts of violence against themselves because of the rate at which they compare themselves with others on social media.
The wonder of your existence and the constellation of the talents you possess should help you stay in your lane. Thomas Merton said, “Finally I am coming to the realisation that my highest ambition is to be what I already am.” If you could get a glimpse of your best self, you would cease trying to be someone else and devote all your attention on becoming the best version of you.