Purpose, Simplified

DR beachLet’s kick off the PURPOSE-ful month of August by simply defining what it is, and figuring out how to find it.

To my mind, finding purpose is the art of asking yourself personal “why” questions; purpose itself lies in the answers to those questions.

For example:

Purpose: Parenting

Question: “Why do I want to be a parent?” The answer will help you qualify your parenting values, and direct your interactions with your children.

Purpose: Work

Question: “What do I want to be when I grow up?” The answer will help you find goals for your education and work life.

Purpose: Life

Question: “What am I truly passionate about?” The answer will open your mind to all sorts of potential new avenues.

Here are some of my personal “Why?” questions, the ones I turn over in my head as I fall asleep, take a walk, or do the dishes. (I highly recommend deep thinking while washing dishes.)

“Why do I want to write?” I don’t WANT to write, I NEED to write. It gives me balance, clarity and creative energy. Inspiring readers and building my repertoire are strong secondary goals.

“Why did I become a teacher?” I wanted to be a positive influence on future generations, to make connections and motivate students the way my best teachers were able to connect and motivate me. 

“Why is it important to make money?” To take care of my family; so I can enjoy life experiences; so my husband and I can travel when we’re older. 

“Why don’t I relax more?” I rest when my body tells me I need to, but I feel most content when I’m doing something that feels productive in some way, like writing a blog post or playing with my son. 

Asking the right “why” questions, searching for answers and finding purpose are all things that help me better understand myself and what I want from life.

A primary lesson of fiction writing is that you must always be able to identify the main character’s motivation (what he wants). That is the only thing that propels the story forward. I think this is true in real life, too. If you don’t know what you want, if you don’t have a purpose in most areas of your life, you’re stuck. No one likes to feel stuck!

If you have another interpretation of purpose, or would like to share your personal “Why” questions, please comment below!

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