Is Purpose In Life Important?

In the realm of philosophy, personal development, and self-help, there appears to be two opposing views on the value of having a purpose in life.

If you are not aware of this schism, allow me to bring you up to speed:

One camp contends that purpose is a vital part of remaining energized for greatness in life. Further, it presupposes that we are born with a purpose (a “gift” or a “calling”, in some circles); some of us realize and pursue that purpose, while others ignore it or deny its value, and toil away their lives in some unfulfilled role.

The other camp claims that life has no meaning, and purpose is just another one of those head games that humans play; a product of ego and logic, and ultimately destructive to living a carefree and fulfilled life. As such, purpose is a notion that keeps our satisfaction somewhere other than where we are.

As most of my readers know, I have been an advocate of having a purpose in life. This stand is likely to label me as part of the former camp. But, as with many tenets of fulfilled living, it isn’t that cut and dried. Weirdly, I understand and agree with both camps.

Understanding both camps only appears to be disingenuous.

The real story is that the concept of purpose is available for interpretation (like all language is) by both humanity and logic, depending on how you interpret the world. The schism lies in that interpretation of purpose, not in the concept itself.

Seeking a purpose in life can indeed be a destructive force in the search for fulfillment and satisfaction. The problem lies in the word “seeking”. If we are “searching for”, “seeking”, “trying to find”, or “deciding on” our purpose, we have already removed ourselves from it. Purpose is an illogical and unreasonable truth, and any attempt to figure it out is a logical — and therefore destructive — approach to the idea of a purpose.

When approached logically, purpose is a useless head game, but so is everything else.

The humanitarian approach to purpose is one where that purpose reveals itself to us when we are not working to identify or label it; in those unguarded moments available only to those who seek guidance from their emotions rather than logic.

Purpose itself is not the ticket to our enlightenment; it is, rather, a symptom of enlightenment.

It is merely evidence that we have already created the state in which fulfillment is realized. It is a glimpse into a beautiful future that is ours to enjoy.

Think of it like you would a good joke: something that takes you by surprise when you expect something different. It is discovered rather than decided upon. We can’t logically figure out why we laughed at something, and any attempt to analyze it immediately removes the humor of it. So it is with purpose.

An authentic purpose is always pursued for the sheer joy of the experience, never for the correctness of it. It always enhances the life of the individual first, which then spreads to the enhancement of life to others.

Purpose is only known by what you’re already doing, never by what you “should be” doing. When you realize some pattern of activity that fits that description, don’t dwell on it too much, and don’t try to label it as “your purpose”. That is logic creeping back into the picture.

Any attempt to describe our explain your purpose to another is the beginning of the end for the joy that it contributes to your life, the lives of others, and the makeup of the world.

The authentic answer to the question “what is your purpose” — when asked by either someone else, or yourself — is, “my purpose is always evident in my active pursuits; in what energizes me”. It is in the recognition of those pursuits that we are energized and enthused for what lies ahead.

All dysfunction in a human is evidence of a failure to acknowledge that your purpose is reflected in your actions, not that you have no purpose. It is that awareness of what energizes you that keeps you moving forward.

Interestingly, the answer to the question posed in the title is “purpose is only important when viewed through the eyes of humanity, not logic”. To those viewing purpose in the context of humanity, the answer will always be “it’s the thing that brings energy to life”. To those viewing through the lens of logic, the answer will always be, “can’t find any rational justification for it.”

Radically different views of the very same concept. But, a with most things in life, your choice comes down to what feels best.