What is Life's Purpose?

I started my journey with Purpose Project by exploring the topic of life's purpose through a review of existing research and conversations with individuals who have clarity in their purpose. I am learning a lot, and my perspectives are evolving as I go. 

I started my research with the basics, seeking to answer the question "What is life's purpose?" In this post, I share what I’ve learned about what life’s purpose is, including insights that have shifted my understanding.

Purpose Across Contexts

I recall sitting at Starbucks with my friend Josh Plaskoff, talking about purpose, and him saying, "In some fields, the purpose of life is reproduction." That comment, while so simple and true, turned on a light bulb for me. It taught me that the concept of purpose varies widely depending on the context or field of study. In biology, purpose is the continuation of a species. In the health sciences purpose is about longevity, and resilience. And in psychology, purpose focuses on meaning-making and personal fulfillment. 

This diversity of definitions underscores the complexity of studying purpose and clarified that no single definition can encompass every perspective. With my personal interest primarily in meaning-making, I focus my research in the field of psychology.

Early Insights

As I set out to answer the question - what is life's purpose - I stumbled onto research from Damon, Menon, and Bronk (2003) that included this definition: 

"Purpose is a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something that is at once meaningful to the self and of consequence to the world beyond the self." (Damon, Menon, and Bronk 2003)

Based on this definition, I saw purpose as having three key components:

1. A goal or something to accomplish.

2. Doing something that benefits others.

3. Doing something that is personally meaningful.

In the beginning, this definition resonated because these three elements aligned with what I was searching for in my own life. I wanted to discover what I am supposed to do with my life to have a positive impact on this world. 

I wanted a goal to pursue and something to achieve. 

Purpose is Personal

I've since changed by perspective. 

In May 2024, I started interviewing individuals who have clarity in their life’s purpose and are actively pursuing it. You can listen to many of these interviews on the Purpose Project podcast. Through these conversations, I noticed that purpose doesn't always fit nicely into the above definition. 

For example, episode 8 guest, Ramatoulaye Diallo, has a purpose of building schools so all children can get an education. Ramatoulaye's purpose aligns with the definition above. However, Crystal Morse in episode 2 shares a purpose of being a light in people's day. Her purpose isn't necessarily about accomplishing a goal. It's more about a way of living. 

While Ramatoulaye’s purpose involves a clear, action-oriented mission to build schools, Crystal’s purpose focuses on embodying a positive presence in everyday interactions. Both are equally valid expressions of purposeful living.

I have come to believe that purpose means different things to different people, and that’s part of what makes this topic so rich and meaningful.

My Evolving Definition of Purpose

As someone who is seeking to live a life of purpose, I have found value in defining what purpose means to me. 

For me, purpose is a way of living rather than a pursuit of a goal. It is living as we truly are, ensuring that our actions align with our values, beliefs, and sense of self. 

Here is my working definition of purpose.

Purpose is a constant state of alignment between who we are and what we do, requiring self-awareness, acceptance, and courageous action.

This shift in perspective - from goal oriented to a way of living - has been transformative for me, personally. It is transformative because I now realize that in order to live a life of purpose, we must do the hard work. We must explore who we are at a soul level and accept what we find. We have to be aware of how social norms influence our behaviors and be willing to go against the grain, face our fears, and allow ourselves to be unapologetically who we are. 

I don't think I'm alone when I say that this - having an alignment between who we are and what we do - is REALLY hard. It's hard because our society and culture don't prioritize purpose. Our social structure teaches us how to fit in, not how to understand, accept, and love ourselves for who we are.

Looking Ahead

While goal orientation is not a focus in how I've chosen to define purpose, taking action is. In later blogs, I’ll share more about this distinction and other aspects that I am learning on this journey to understand and live a life of purpose. 

What does purpose mean to you? How do you define it for yourself? I’d love to hear your thoughts and reflections as we continue this exploration together.

This post was originally published on LinkedIn, December 24, 2024