There's No Finish Line To Purpose

One of those big, existential questions we ask ourselves is “What is my purpose?” We believe that in knowing what we’re born to do, the impact we’re meant to create in the world, and having more certainty for the direction of our life, we will experience a deeper sense of fulfillment.

And I agree! As someone who has a nonprofit called the For Purpose Foundation, it’s something that I’ve oriented my entire life around.

Interestingly, I think there’s a simple answer to that big question. I believe that we all share the same purpose. It’s an insight I borrow from Abraham Maslow, where our purpose is to:

1) Become all that we can be (self-actualization) and

2) Use our gifts and talents in service of others.

Our same purpose becomes different in how that gets expressed - who your best self is and the way you help others is completely unique to you. 

Having said that, there’s an interesting thing implied in this definition that I want to call out more directly.

You can never fully maximize your potential, there’s always more and different versions of self-growth… And you can never run out of ways to help others. 

This means that there’s no finish line to ‘purpose’.

Your purpose isn’t something that you reach or achieve, it’s something that you live into every day. A fresh day is a fresh opportunity to live out your purpose.

Purpose is a journey, not a destination. It’s a process, not an outcome. It’s dynamic, ever-changing, and constantly evolving.

On a day to day basis your purpose needs to be oriented in a certain direction. That’s why I find it more helpful to think about it this way: Rather than trying to discover your purpose, we go on a mission. 

It takes the pressure off a bit because a mission doesn’t need to be the same your whole life, it’s simply what’s present right now. It comes in waves and seasons. 

So I’d ask you: What’s your mission in your self-improvement? Mine is to cultivate as much intentionality as possible, which involves making my best plan and executing it. That’s what I feel most inspired by right now. 

And in my impact, it’s to help people convert human intention into action, primarily in their lifestyle and habits but with a vision to expand that into also including their desire to make a difference.

But hey, that’s just me! What’s yours?

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