Personally, I’m a purpose based (driven) person. I don’t do well in meaninglessness. What about you? Obviously I don’t mean on a level of intensity that it becomes consuming and obsessive. Nor do I mean the elimination of those fun, spontaneous, and joyful times and activities that occur; because while there may not be an observable purpose, they typically do afford that context. What I’m talking about are the essential and eternal life-giving activities that allow you to find purpose and meaning.
Perhaps it’s the way I was raised or a predisposition but I always seek to find meaning and purpose in who I am and what I’m doing. If that sounds slight self-aggrandizing or absorbing, so be it – not the intent. Personally I tend to rarely repeat those activities that don’t seem to have any function (and no, I’m not eliminating those activities that are fun and/or joy for fun’s sake). Besides, this is my value, it doesn’t have to be yours. But… what is yours? Is purposelessness your purpose? And if that sounded judgmental… I suspect I’d have to agree.
Webster defines purpose as: “the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used… an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.” The lesson here is that what you do and say always has a purpose. But do you recognize the purpose? Are your words and actions purposeful… or subconscious? And ‘yes’ is a perfectly acceptable response. Again, I’m not indicating an all consuming approach but I am asking if you know your own personal context and what prevails the majority of the time. If there’s any value judgment in this, it’s that it really is important for people to know their mindset.
Purpose is not a drudgery nor is it a penalty. It is not an imposition. Purpose does not thwart creativity or inventiveness. Purpose is structure within which we act to give our lives meaning. Purpose is always individually defined. And since, by definition, purpose always exists… how do you define your purpose life style? Look at your actions as a guide because how you spend your time evidences your purpose.
