You Don't Need to Find Your Purpose
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly
and without fear for newer and richer experience." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Allow me to have a little rant - one that might resonate with anyone who's ever felt lost or under pressure to find their "life purpose."
We're diving into the world of purpose, and why I think the whole "find your purpose" narrative might be doing us a disservice.
Purpose as a Process, Not a Possession
Your purpose isn’t hanging around, waiting to be found.
Have you ever heard someone talk about "finding their purpose" like it's a lost sock hiding under the couch? That's a classic example of nominalisation – turning a verb (living purposefully) into a noun (purpose). But here's the thing: purpose isn't something you just stumble upon. It's not a tangible object you can shove in a wheelbarrow (which is a simple test for nominalisation).
For me, the idea of finding one, fixed purpose is a recipe for pressure and dread.
It sets off my inner perfectionist screaming, "If I don't pick the RIGHT purpose, my whole life will be a meaningless void!" Yikes.
This pressure to find THE purpose intensified for me during a recent personal struggle with accepting the harsh realities of climate change and planetary overshoot.
If everything's falling apart anyway, what's the point? Why bother?
Life Might Not Have A Purpose
Thankfully, I'm slowly emerging from that existential rabbit hole.
Here's the liberating truth I'm embracing: there might not be an inherent point or purpose to life other than to be alive.
Think about it – plants grow, rivers flow, and even the human body constantly repairs itself. Life resists the natural tendency towards decay and disintegration, according to Jeremy Lent in The Web of Meaning.
This inherent pushback against entropy, this desire to create and connect, that's where I'm feeling my purpose.
Maybe life's purpose isn't some grand, pre-determined plan, but rather an ongoing act of creation.
Living with Intention, Not a Script
Instead of searching for a pre-ordained purpose, what if we focused on living with purpose?
This means living with intention, with presence, and with a focus on what truly matters.
I get to define what makes my life meaningful.
What brings me joy?
How can I use my skills and talents to make the world a better place?
How can I contribute, even in small ways?
How can I create a life filled with meaning and connection?
This shift from "finding" to "living" with purpose feels expansive and freeing. There's no right answer, no singular path. It's a journey of exploration, open to change and growth. I can make it up as I go, following my curiosity and passions.
Living with purpose is about intention, presence, and embracing the journey. It's about creating meaning in each moment, not following a rigid script.
The Beauty of Making it Up As You Go
The best part? There are no wrong answers!
Purpose can evolve and change over time. We can experiment, make mistakes, and redefine what matters to us.
Purpose isn't something to find, it's something to create.
The idea that I get to create my own purpose is liberating. How about you?
How do YOU live with purpose? What gives your life meaning? Do you feel the pressure to find a single, fixed purpose? Share your thoughts in the comments below – I'd love to hear from you.
If you enjoyed this post, you might also want to read this post on clarity or watch this video on the gift of uncertainty.