We all want fulfilment, some of us more so than others. Some of us want simplicity and comfort; others need extravagance and more money than they can handle. For decades, psychologists have studied how long-term, meaningful goals develop throughout our lives. The plans that foster a sense of purpose are those that can change the lives of others, such as launching a charity or business, helping the community, or supporting those less able than ourselves. It’s a spirit of willingness that is the driver – and, of course, a head full of ideas.
Alas, sometimes there are those with both drivers and ideas, but they are not for the greater good, and these individuals cause hurt and dismay, at the least. So let’s stick with the positive.
A sense of purpose has evolved in humans to accomplish big things together, well, actually most things - which is why any sense of purpose combines with better physical and mental well-being. People who donate their time working at a charity can be life-changing. If they climb a mountain in a group and raise funds or do anything that involves a high-level purpose. Purpose helps us both as individuals (and as a species) to survive. Without purpose, no goals would be met.
Many seem to believe that purpose arises from our unique gifts and sets us apart from others - but that’s only partially true. It also grows from our connection to others and our willingness or needs to connect with them. Once we find a direction, we’ll almost certainly find others travelling in the same lane, hoping to reach the same destination or result. But, like most things, it’s easier to write about than solve. So let’s look at opportunities to sharpen purpose and find our individual ‘why’.
Well, some solutions are simple. Reading connects us to people we’ll never know, across time and in situations we’ll never experience, but from which we’ll learn how others progressed. Reading allows education in behaviour, in what and how it can be achieved - reading fires up the imagination. Reading allows us to learn about others who share the same kind of thinking as we do. Or different thinking that opens up different points of view. Reading builds confidence. Reading provides us with a sense of meaning and purpose. Purpose is part of meaning, and meaning is a much broader concept that usually also includes value, efficacy, and self-worth. Books, articles, and social media can (if chosen with care) give depth and width from which we can learn a great deal about purpose.
Reading fiction might allow youngsters, for example, to consider the whole lives of characters, giving them specific insight into a lifespan without having had similar experiences. By seeing the purpose in others' lives, we are more likely to see it in our own. In this sense, the goal is as much about imagination as it is about deciding to do something. That something has to arrive from somewhere. TV, cinema, theatre and other staged entertainments also add to the process by which we suddenly say to ourselves, “this is a direction I want to travel.” That may be a life-changing move or a small step change. Many people find pivotal ideas and inspiration from articles and books. If we find books that matter to us, they might help us see what matters in our lives. Of course, finding purpose is not just an intellectual pursuit; it’s something we need to feel and know is right for us, despite the risks involved.
Sometimes, another person’s pain can lead us to purpose. When we see suffering, unfairness, and hurt, it can spur us to improve the situation or help those affected. Sometimes, emotions push us towards a purpose. If we are in awe of a cause, for instance, or show gratitude or feel altruistic, these things propel us toward purpose. Of course, it’s not enough to feel like we’re a small part of something big; we also need to feel driven to make a positive impact on the world, however small or large that ‘world’ is.
Having a winning mindset is essential, and we may need help to pull together the good things that can benefit from thinking proactively about our lives, fearing failure less and sometimes taking a risk or two. Research indicates that children and adults who count their blessings are much more likely to contribute to the world beyond their immediate selves. If we can see how others make any part of the world a better place, we’re more motivated to offer something back.
One aspect of finding true purpose is listening to what other people appreciate about you. Seem strange? Well, it shouldn’t. You may have qualities you feel modest about, but others may find them admirable drivers of purpose – both socially and professionally. Artists, writers and musicians often describe how their appreciation from other artists, writers and musicians fuelled their work. Sometimes this helps people understand that they have a purpose or calling that meets their talents. Gratitude strengthens relationships and creates a bond that inspires a purpose to change direction or find a new one. Those closest to home or work often have a far better understanding of what you might achieve than you do yourself. So listen.
If you’re having trouble remembering or considering your purpose, look at the people around you. What do you have in common with them? What are they trying to be? What impact do you see them having on anything? Whatever it is, do you admire it, or is it inconsequential to you? Can you help make that impact? What do they need? Can you give it to them? If the answers to those questions don’t inspire you to relate to whatever you’re considering, you might need to find a different purpose - and with that thinking, a new purpose may arise. But, and this is important, finding a purpose isn’t necessarily taking five minutes. There are many examples where people find a true meaning (big or small, but always big to them) later in life.
Whatever our age, we feel energised, motivated and expanded when we have a sense of purpose. People who consider their work or activity a calling — in other words, who feel it has a purpose — tend to be more satisfied than those who see it as just a job or something to do. Having a calling is not limited to people in executive positions or to religious people. A calling is a purpose that can be as modest as it can be high-level. Remember, in 1969, a janitor at NASA believed with absolute conviction that he had as much to do with putting a man on the moon as the astronauts.
Nothing gives a person inner wholeness and peace like a distinct understanding of their trajectory. Fulfilment is a right we should all enjoy; it’s not a privilege. Finding fulfilment in life starts with understanding exactly why we do what we do. If we can understand this ‘why’, we’ll also understand what drives our behaviour when we’re doing the things we like most and at which we are best. That, in turn, gives us a reference point for everything that we might choose to do in the future. After that, we can make more deliberate choices – in career, business, home, and social life. And others may want to join in. The ‘why’ defines your end goal. The sooner that’s clear, the more defined everything else about your ambitions will be.
At some point in life, you’re going to have to stop thinking about taking action and act. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the writer, said famously, “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.” Our particular ‘why’ can’t be forced. It needs focus. Once you’ve defined your aims and what you want, it’s easier to avoid distractions from what is important. And it’s vital to remember that people who’ve made genuine changes in their lives and managed to attain challenging goals are not necessarily stronger, more intelligent or less afraid than you. The only difference is that they decided to ‘do’ something rather than just think about it. And here’s the thing. Create a vivid mental image of your purpose once achieved – whatever that means to you, no matter how modest. This image should be as vivid and sharp as you can make it.
Vince Stevenson - Founder College of Public Speaking 2006 Ltd
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