The Truth about Finding Purpose
Think of someone who found purpose. Were they self-centered or other-centered?
Get out of yourself if you want to find purpose.
The most surprising truth about finding purpose is it’s about others. Those who find purpose make life better for others.
Service and purpose:
You won’t find purpose thinking about the meaning of life.
You won’t find your purpose at an amusement park or while …
- Watching TV.
- Playing video games.
- Living for money, pleasure, or ease.
When it comes to finding purpose, money is distraction. Pleasure is seduction. Ease is evil.
You find and express purpose while serving others.
Aspiration, action, and purpose:
Aspiration obscures purpose when it’s so big you can’t take action today.
Inaction is the enemy of finding purpose.
‘Someday’ is the enemy.
Serve now to discover purpose. If you aren’t sure of your purpose, go do something.
Purpose reveals itself while you do things.
Self-reflection and purpose:
Effective self-reflection is preceded by action.
Don’t sit under a tree thinking about yourself. Reflect on what you did in service to others.
Ask yourself, “What pulls you toward more service?”
The darkside of finding purpose:
Anyone who believes finding purpose is fun is an idiot.
You find purpose in frustration, discomfort, sadness, disappointment, and pain.
- What about this world makes you sad?
- What gets you frustrated and fired up?
- What eats at you when you’re trying to go to sleep? I’m not talking about how others disappoint you. I’m talking about the pain you feel for others.
Find purpose by leaning into sadness and feeling your frustrations.
The thing that hurts the most is calling you to purposeful action.
Meet the need YOU feel.
People who have found purpose leaned into pain and did something about it.
How might leaders find purpose?
What distracts us from finding purpose?
” Anyone who believes finding purpose is fun is an idiot.” Love it. If you don’t want it bad enough to pay the price, then you don’t want it bad enough.
Thanks Ron. It would be great if finding purpose was fun and easy. Purposeful action requires work. If it isn’t hard it isn’t worth doing. That’s not to say that purposeful action is painful in itself.
Purposeful HARD work is fun
Good article. However, I see purpose from a different perspective. You are what you do. That is purpose in and of itself. Become aware and conscious of what you do best. Develop, grow, and evolve that self-knowledge. Finally, share what you have learned about yourself with the world. That knowledge and information could make a difference in someone’s life.
Thanks ZK. So glad you joined in. I think we agree that purpose and doing are connected. I suppose what I hear in your comment is that we don’t have to find purpose. Just go do stuff.
Reflect helps us narrow our focus. There are too many things to do.
Doing your best is part of it. The other part is being useful. There is a ‘you’ component and an ‘others’ component.
The idea of bringing your best self – learning self – to the world is powerful. I’m not too excited about the term “Learned.” I prefer to share what I am learning.
Great post as always Dan.
Totally enjoyed and appreciated it!
Thanks Donald.
Wow, this was good!
How might Leaders find purpose; mentor. We need to slow down, look around, and find one person to mentor. Tell them your story, where you came from and give them direction when they ask, always give them hope.
‘Authentic’ is a big buzz word as of late and it is necessary to be an authentic, good story teller.
Teach them to be a good story teller, teach them to write their own story.
Dan, Over a year ago I changed careers. I am now an entrepreneur moving my purpose toward philanthropy. This post speaks to me. Thank you for reminding me that pain can be an our guide, that inner authentic voice that we must not ignore; instead embrace it, walk with it and talk with it for a while…then set it free so you can do the work to make things better.
Great story telling. Thanks!
Thanks melrose. Wow! I’m so glad you brought story to the conversation. It’s essential to finding purpose. For example, social workers often have a story about a trouble family or past.
Congratulations on your new direction. I wish you success.
Great stuff, Dan. So much of what you say about the ‘enemy’ of finding purpose are true. One additional thought. I encourage others to understand their gifts – those things they are good at and they enjoy doing. Those gifts that are almost effortless when you are using them are often the keys to where you purpose may lie. The ‘getting there’ is all you say it is – HARD.
Be well…
Jim
Thanks Jim. Yes! I’m so glad you brought the joyful side to this conversation. 🙂 It’s fulfilling to bring value to others by using your gift. Although finding purpose might be hard. Living it is easy, even when it’s hard.
Perhaps lesson of aspiration is that real people pull you more than imaginary ones. Aspiration assumes you’ll intuit now what’s needed from you today to serve effectively tomorrow. When or how should you do that?
Years ago in my 20s I read Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life.” It’s opening sentence was “It’s not about you” which resounded deeply with my young, egocentric self. The more I grow in my career, the more I realize this is true at work as well. Such great points about the dark side, and it’s true that those who found purpose “leaned into pain.”
Great stuff, as usual! Congratulations!
I’ve met lots of people with a very strong sense of purpose. They didn’t care who got hurt when they were working to fulfil that purpose.
Wow! Excellent!
I am catching up on your blog and this is a case of reading this at the right time. Thanks for writing this one and in general!
Virtually every post of yours, Dan, is fantastic. Having written that, for me at least, this is one of your very best!!! So rich in content worth everyone’s Consideration!!!
Thanks John. You humble me and I also appreciate your kind words. Cheers