The word purpose has its origins in Middle English, Old French, and Latin. In Middle English, the verb Purposen denotes intention, aim, objective, plan, or goal. In Old French, the concept of purpose stems from the verb purposer or porposer, which denotes intention, proposing, or putting forward an idea, reflecting its original Latin meaning. The usage of the noun and verb (purpose and to purpose) dates to the 12th and 13th centuries in Old French and Middle English.
The concept of purpose is used in psychology, philosophy, religion, theology, and spirituality, and is generally agreed to represent the reason something exists or is done. In psychology and personal development, there is the suggestion of intention. This intention often refers to a long-term goal (life-long?) that the individual considers meaningful and may extend beyond themselves, as in ‘doing good’ in the world or making a positive impact on others.
Some of the reported benefits of having a purpose:
- Connecting values, ideals and intention to deliberate action
- Experiencing a stronger sense of place in the world order
- Strengthening identity and sense of self
- Increased motivation and focus
In Western society, discussions of purpose, meaning, self-knowledge and personal journey are commonplace. With personal freedom and individualism highly valued, the assumption is that we are both entitled to and responsible for determining our own purpose. When individuals bond around a common purpose, a community often forms. This community occurs when we, as individuals, determine our values, interests, and goals and join others to strengthen and enact them collectively.
With the question of purpose, at least on an existential level, resting with the individual, how does one determine their purpose both in the short-term and over a lifetime?
Some ideas to consider include:
- Considering both intention and eventual outcome
- Level of meaning to the individual
- Consequence for others or the World Beyond the Self
- Journey vs. Destination
- Mission: the why and the how
- Purpose requires nurturing, ongoing evaluation, and cultivation.
- Working toward a sense of fulfillment, legacy or in spiritual terms, eternal life
In my experience, a sense of purpose evolves, continuously informed by our thoughts, emotions, and senses. We feel and experience the desire to ‘make meaning’ both for ourselves and for others. In a capitalist society, however, our instinct to experience purpose may, at times, be eclipsed by other pressing needs, such as earning an income, securing food, housing, and health care. We may be forced to lay down our ideals in exchange for the ‘realities of life,’ at least for a time. Even if our current purpose becomes finding a job, attaining a credential, or living independently, we may feel that these objectives are not our ultimate purpose in life.
Questions to consider:
Is there such a thing as micro- and macro-purpose?
Can we pursue purpose on several levels simultaneously?
Short-term or long-term purpose? How do we reconcile these aspects of purpose?
And finally, do we truly determine our purpose ourselves, or is our purpose existentially linked to a greater (outer/innate) force, or determined by the needs of others around us?
Please share your thoughts, as we continue to explore purpose in the installments to come.
“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”
–Maya Angelou
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