A Sense of Purpose

A Direction for Your Life

If someone were to ask you what the purpose of your life is, would you have an answer? Most people would, but the majority of the answers would not be valid. Most would answer, “To raise my children,” or “To be wealthy!” These are goals that one might set, but are far from being an overall purpose. 

“An action in course of execution.” -Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary

A purpose is something that you want to do throughout your life, regardless of other goals. It must be intermeshed with those goals, but it is NOT those goals. It is a reason to live, to exist, and a way to make a difference. Your purpose is something that will encompass all of the years of your life. Everything that you do will either align with your purpose or further it.

The Need for a Purpose

“All great success starts with selecting one major, definite purpose.” –Brian Tracy, The Psychology of Achievement

A purpose in life is what defines everyone. If you wake up in the morning, go to work, come home, go to sleep, and do the same thing day in and day out for the rest of your life, then you have no purpose. A side effect of not having a purpose is that you will not set goals for yourself. Without purpose, what would be the point? Without purpose, you have only the concept of survival.

Look at the major successful individuals of the world, be they business people, politicians, doctors, or even lawyers. Every one of them has a cause that they are passionate about. It might be animal rights, or even saving the environment. This cause, their purpose, is what has driven them throughout their lives to constantly reach further, to take an extra step towards their goals every single day. Purpose is a requirement for success. You cannot achieve one without the other.

Choosing Your Purpose

Before actually choosing your purpose, take a moment to consider your passions. What are you fascinated with? What is important to you? Is there some wrong being committed everyday that leaves you saying, “Someone should do something about that.” Does a hungry child break your heart? Do you wonder why no one is feeding them? Look inside yourself and find out what you feel strongly about and you will likely have your purpose.

When you consider a possible life-long purpose, take into account those very words, “life-long.” Is your purpose something that will still be this important to you in sixty years? Is it important enough to invest years of your life into? It is vital that you should be committed to whatever purpose you choose. If not, then you are merely wasting years of your life.

Lastly, when choosing your purpose, you must be certain that it is enough. You have to be able to lay down in the evening and say, “I did a good thing today.” It must be enough of an impact for you to believe that you are doing something great for the larger cause. Purpose is a reflection of self. If we do not believe one hundred percent in our purpose, we will not believe in ourselves. If we do not believe in ourselves, we will never achieve success within our own hearts and minds.

Your friend and companion on life’s journey,

Richard