Hi guyyys, I’m writing to you guys again, this time on a very Important subject, “purpose”.
Before we proceed, let me confess to y’all that I always have serious Issues arranging my thoughts, a million ideas pass through my mind at every interval and it makes it difficult for me to even write appropriately, because as I am writing on a particular aspect, my mind is drifting towards another.
Yeah, so back to purpose.
"Purpose" has often been advertised as the fundamental guardrail of living so that one isn't just "existing." However, apart from its spiritual or religious perspective, purpose can be very abstract and might just be a mirage.
Image gotten from Unsplash: Smart
First, let's consider what purpose means. Generally speaking, purpose is “the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists." Invariably, it can be rephrased as the reason for which we exist, so that we aren’t just existing. In essence, it's the reason we get up in the morning. For some, it could be to be a doctor and save lives literally; for others, it could be to be a comedian and make people laugh; for others, it is saving the ecosystem; and for some, it's tied to their spirituality or religion, spreading their faith. Purpose often comes in different textures and shapes, often influenced by circumstances, geographic location, prominent ideologies, natural talents, skills, hobbies, and more.
However, when we consider “purpose” as a particular and try to examine its intricate properties, we might arrive at the fact that it is, in fact, ambiguous. How do we even arrive at purpose? How do we determine what sector of life to hinge our purpose on? Do we just go after the things we enjoy doing the most? Do we select purpose based on the situations we find ourselves in? Even after discovering purpose, how sure are we that what we’ve chosen is the right and appropriate one? The issue is very complex and intricate.
Image gotten from Unsplash: Jukan Tateisi
From a secular perspective, one of the many properties of purpose is that it revolves around others. It often centers on doing something that other people benefit from while we derive some sort of satisfaction from it. It's like picking a particular issue to address and doing that for a period of time while others benefit, and we derive euphoria from it.
Given this, it is evident that purpose can be “anything" as long as we derive pleasure and others benefit from it, basically pointing to positive impact, especially as it pertains to the secular world. Interestingly, one doesn’t even necessarily have to be at the frontline of what they are doing to enjoy “purpose"; as long as they are doing something either in collaboration or single-handedly, they are being “purposeful.” It doesn’t have to make sense to many others; it doesn’t matter how you arrive at it or what sector it addresses. What matters is “positive impact,” lives being influenced and changed for the better as a by-product of what you are contributing.
From a religious perspective, it's much easier since there are guardrails and instructional tools such as the Bible for Christians or the Quran for Muslims and many others. Purpose is found within the confines of these guides as it is easier to point to an end goal even by the instructions conscripted in them. However, this also gets interesting when religious adherents fail to consider the means through which they are to arrive at such ends, and then they employ “life-threatening" means to get their goal in order to fulfill purpose. The solution thus lies in the properties ascribed to purpose: “benefiting the people.” Purpose cannot afford to be self-centric; it must primarily cater to the people. It is then by extension that the result of catering to others brings joy.
Image gotten from Unsplash: Michael Heuser
In conclusion, whether viewed through a secular or religious lens, the essence of purpose is inherently tied to positive impact and benefiting others. While the journey to discovering purpose can be complex and multifaceted, the ultimate measure of its value lies in the positive changes it brings to the lives of others and the fulfillment it provides to oneself. Purpose is not a fixed destination but an evolving journey, shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and the contributions we make to the world around us.