Thoughts On Finding Purpose
14. january 2019
Clearing in the forest
Clearing by Martha Postlewaite
Do not try to save
the whole world
or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create
a clearing
in the dense forest
of your life
and wait there
patiently,
until the song
that is your life
falls into your own cupped hands
and you recognize and greet it.
Only then will you know
how to give yourself
to this world
so worthy of rescue.
*********
In the course of the last two years my original goal of FI (Financial Independence) by 2022, expanded beyond the financial aspect:
My 5-year goal is to design a life I don’t need a vacation from, to feel fulfillment and enthusiasm every day, to let my creativity flow, to be in touch with nature and to be part of a bigger purpose. – The Goal is Dead. Long Live the Goal, 10.10.2018
This last one, the P word was a daunting task to say the least. I’ve been ignoring it for years, keeping myself busy with the activities at hand – study, work, side projects, getting on with life. It was only recently that I slowed down, took a deep breath and I finally listened to the nagging voice: What are you doing? Where is it all leading to? What’s your purpose?
I didn’t have an answer. What’s the big, grandiose life purpose? It was vague and confusing. Isn’t this something for visionaries?
Enter Jake Desyllas, host of the Voluntary Life podcast. In his recent Your Purpose in Life Can Change episode (16min), Jake brought the much needed clarity to the subject. Stop reading, go and listen to his podcast right now (also available on Youtube). I am going to outline the points I resonate with here.
MY IDEA OF A BIG LIFE PURPOSE
That’s how I used to look at purpose: A big, meaningful mission I’m given for my lifetime. I need to find it and achieve it. A nirvana state where I have a single focus. Working towards my it brings fulfillment and joy, I feel like I belong to a ‘bigger purpose’. It’s dynamic but it’s peaceful and still at the same time. The unimportant fades away, I only use my energy on what matters to me.
Tada – BIG LIFE purpose – overwhelming, dontcha think?
WHAT A PURPOSE REALLY IS
The etymology of the word purpose
c. 1300, “intention, aim, goal,” from Anglo-French purpos, Old French porpos “aim, intention” (12c.), from porposer “to put forth, to design, to intend, to propose,” from por- “forth” (from Latin pro- “forth;”) + Old French poser “to put, place” – Etymonline
The word purpose is a combination of “forth” and “put, place”. In other words “to put forth, to design, to intend“. There’s much more dynamic than I thought. It’s not something given, it’s something I decide to put forward in motion. It then becomes an aim, intention, goal and I go for it.
