On Purpose

It's Saturday morning. You’re checking your work phone for new slack messages. Emails.

Instead of enjoying the respite of the weekend, you look to see if work has more demands of you. If there's anything more you can give to your company.

While intellectuals love to pontificate about man’s Hobbesian nature, most of us strive for a higher purpose. A purpose that goes beyond material wealth or earthly pleasures.

But finding purpose is elusive. Especially because we commonly anchor it to things that fade—relationships, identities, and worldly pursuits.

Purpose is not like a math test—you can't simply copy someone else's answers. It's something that speaks to your soul.

Finding purpose is difficult. Searching for it directly is like Don Quixote chasing giants.

Institutions can offer a shortcut. The church and the state are more than happy to tell you what you should do. Life is simpler when purpose is already predefined.

The most readily available source of purpose for most people are children. The care of a human life. Ensuring the flourishing of the ones you love.

The long path to purpose is finding something within yourself. This is a calling to do the work you're uniquely suited to do. Something that brings out all that you are. All that you can be.

This is “putting a dent in the universe.” It's “doing small things with great love.”

Purpose is the force that gets you out of bed. It is the reason you are here.