What is purpose, really?
The great resignation. Quiet quitting. Rage applying.
These are just some new phrases we’ve seen in the media following the pandemic of 2019(+), and all of them have something in common - they’re actions as a result of human reflection. The forced slow-down of work from home afforded us the time to pause and reflect on whether working 9-6 (or longer) was actually serving us, or if there was a better way we could be living with purpose.
The idea of having a ‘purpose’ brings with it a whole lot of pressure, though. High profile personalities present purpose to us through the media as a sort of driving force that they feel (intensely) inside, and that relates in some way to saving the climate / world / children / [other cause] they care about. Most often, they have the privilege to follow their purpose because they have the financial, racial, gender, or educational means to do so.
When we everyday people take a moment to ask ourselves what our purpose in life might be, it can feel overwhelming. It can feel like we need to carve out a strong identity, and that if we’re ‘just living your life’, then we’re not living with purpose.
Well, I call bulls**t. Purpose is simply the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning.
Yes, for some people this is moving to a third world country and supporting communities in need through education and nutrition - awesome! But for others, purpose can simply be leaving each person a little happier than before they met. Or making a pet’s life as comfortable as possible. Or producing good work that educates the public about their choices. Or being a good leader, because you once had a bad one and don’t want others to go through what you went through.
Purpose can be little, and meaningful, and wholesome.
To me, purpose means:
Educating Australians on impactful mental well-being strategies, through therapy and other means, so that they can feel even just a little bit better
Taking advantage of the wonderful weather Australia affords us by walking outside at least once a day
Providing my partner the love he deserves as gratitude for how he makes me feel
Showing my cat the safety and compassion it may not have seen when on the streets
Being a good friend, there for my mates when they need me (and when they don’t!)
Many people can have a bit of an ‘existential crisis’ around 27 years of age, when things are getting serious in the traditionally-conventional areas of life (careers are taking off, relationships are getting serious) and they feel their perceived ‘purpose’ slipping further and further away. If this is you, consider taking a step back and reflecting on whether your previous big idea of purpose is still relevant to your life today, or whether you could reframe what purpose means to you.
Sometimes simply finding contentment in the little things is a good enough reason to get out of bed.
Image by Yumna Al Arashi, 2017.
This month I’m…
Reading: (and cooking from!) Heartbake by Charlotte Ree.
Viewing: Parks and Recreation on Stan, my go-to feel-good show.
Following: Gentle Hair Dos on Instagram for the relaxing vibes and ‘hairstyle minus the headache’ inspiration.
