I have lots of simple purposes for my actions. Being of service to others is a huge one for me.
This service takes many forms, such as: writing, helping my friends and family with their needs (home maintenance, etc.), and caring for my best friend, a shih tzu named Marley.
Here are a few points I’ve discovered while working towards having a more well-defined purpose in my life and in my work. This endeavor seems as if it may be perpetual, but it is also incredibly valuable nonetheless.
1. Defense Against Being Led Astray
Without a well-defined purpose, we can easily run awry and be betrayed by our desires or someone else’s. If you don’t have your own reasons for living and working, there are plenty of ignoble people who will give them to you and easily lure you into their psychological clutches.
2. A Source of Motivation
Having a well-defined purpose keeps you moving forward. When hard times hit, if you have a sense of duty (that well-defined purpose provides), you will be able to be more resilient, and you will likely fall back on your sense of purpose, whether you are conscious of it or not; it will guide you.
3. Self-Confidence
Being purposeful sinks into your character and begins to mold your life from the inside out. It brings clarity, allowing you to overcome obstacles with greater ease. These wins will instill confidence in your abilities and help you to have more wins.
4. Clarity
Clarity is a massive benefit of beginning to clearly define your “why”, as in, “why do you get up in the morning?”. It doesn’t have to be anything complex or serious. Having a sense of your reasons for being lets your mind relax and think more clearly. Having purpose helps you ground your mind in the present and partake in the work–and the joy–of the day.
5. Peace
Along with clarity, peace begins to arrive as well. The past and the future, which our minds usually obsess over, become less relevant. You begin to stop questioning how you might overcome future obstacles or why certain things happened in the past. Instead, you operate from your imbedded sense of purpose and act in accordance with it.
I find that understanding my purpose is–like I said in the beginning–ongoing. But it is also an interesting area of self-exploration which I plan on continuing to delve into. The attempt to understand my own motivations is both illuminating and sometimes difficult.
I would love to hear about others’ experiences in attempting to consciously understand their sense of purpose.
~ Best wishes,
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