As a concept, purpose is often misunderstood, and here’s a disclaimer; I have my reservations about the term purpose. Why? I think purpose can be whatever you decide is important and you doing it. Hence, you can find purpose anywhere or in anything you do.

What exactly is Purpose, why is it important, why am I here, where am I going? I can’t feel myself in this career or in the program… Purpose.

To psychologists, purpose is an unwavering commitment to achieving a long-term goal that is equally meaningful and positively impacts the world. Interestingly, the intentions that nurture our sense of purpose are those that have the potential to change our lives and those of the people around us, such as starting a nonprofit, researching a phenomenon, changing careers, or switching programs in school.

Always remember, change is constant, thus, our sense of direction, the things that push us to do whatever we want to do also change over the course of our lives. This slightly hinges on grappling with our identities, moving from being teenagers, taking up adulthood responsibilities, and building personal life, to retirement and the list goes on.  Just as the saying that happiness is not a destination, purpose itself is not, rather, it is a journey that involves conscious practice. By implication, purpose is accessible at any stage or age once we are willing to do the work it takes. If you are moving from being a biologist to being a network engineer-work to be that person.

Some of us find purpose in situations we least expect or things we just wanted to do to pass time or use as a saving plan (been there, done that). For some of us, we become worried that people around us would think that we do not have “Purpose” seeing that we waver around. Let me say this, purpose is not what you do, it is who you are. No one is given birth to a nurse, you change roles to get there, and you can move to be a writer at the end. The ability to excel at the seemingly different things that you do makes a difference and when examined properly, you might find the connector among these different things, careers, or programs.

Click to watch this! “Do not let anyone tell you that you are jumping from one career, or thing, or doing this and that. It’s theirs to talk to, it’s yours to do/act. Do you! Do you know why? They will do the same if /when they can. Whatever you find yourself doing, do it well and enjoy it. They will understand later.”

I have come to understand that living the so-called life of purpose is not about finding that one very big thing or one true calling that we were created to be. 

 

Purpose is subjective; spending my time doing something meaningful, and important, and things I can be proud of. Purpose is not farfetched, not this thing that has cosmic meaning, not a predetermined universal destiny, not a big thing that once you find it, every other aspect of your life will be in shape. Purpose is continuous, you create and maintain it and sometimes you lose it, and go back to recreate it.

We need to ask ourselves at different points “what do I find important or meaningful?”

 

We can find purpose/what matters to us in different things/places. What matters to you at 20 may be different from what matters to you at 30…

 

 

MYTH# 1: There is a single purpose for you

MYTH# 2: Purpose is constant/static

MYTH# 3: Purpose solves everything

How about we move beyond finding purpose, to creating purpose? Remember purpose, is that thing that matters to you. Purpose is a question of value, what we choose to be important, and how to be better.

I try to find the connector in all I do. Thus, I can call myself a multipotentialite.

Purpose is Subjective!

I conclude with the words of Emilie Wapnick:

‘to you I say:

Embrace your many passions, follow your curiosity down those rabbit holes, explore your intersections. Embracing our inner wiring leads to a happier, more authentic life, and perhaps more importantly — multipotentialites, the world needs us.