Unleash Your Potential #64 - Purpose and Meaning
- Douglas McCall
- Aug 28, 2024
- 3 min read
Douglas: Welcome to the Unleash Your Potential Blog; what question can I answer today?
AspireAid: How do I find more purpose and meaning in my life?
Douglas: Here in the United States, we are a "more" kind of culture, aren't we? We want more money, more things, more "likes," more followers. Our portion sizes at restaurants keep getting larger and larger. Our cars, in general, are getting bigger. The one who has the most stuff wins, right?
While this is not true for everyone, it is pervasive enough that we can find examples everywhere we go. The parent and music teacher in me remember an iconic song from High School Musical sung by characters Sharpay and Ryan called "Fabulous," which talks about her need for better and more. Perhaps it is also true outside of the US, but I am not as well-traveled as I would like, so I cannot speak to that.
When I first read your question, the first thought in my mind was, "Why is it always about more?" As I sat with the question and began to respond, I coalesced around the idea that maybe the goal shouldn't be to have "more" purpose and meaning in your life. Perhaps the goal should be to have the "right" purpose and meaning in your life. Sometimes, when we are hungry, we are not hungry. We are just thirsty. If we grab a drink, the hungry pangs will go away. In this case, perhaps your desire for more purpose and meaning is a desire to strive for the right purpose and meaning.
As with many things I talk about, this can is actually an identity question. To be fair, I am the "identity guy," so it ultimately tracks with much of what I say. But back to the point, this feeling of more might be your subconscious trying to tell you that the things you are striving for might not align with your real purpose and meaning.
I suggest that when you feel like you need more purpose and meaning, it is time to turn your gaze inward and take stock of where you are right now. What do you believe your purpose to be at this point? Then, dig deeper and search to see if this is what your purpose is supposed to be right now. If you sit quietly with these thoughts for long enough, your subconscious mind will start to reveal thoughts and possibilities and "tugs" toward where you genuinely want to be.
I am spiritual, so for me, this is about quieting my mind so that God can speak to me through silence and help me understand my purpose and calling. I realize that not everyone who reads my blog will have a spiritual background, and I honor everyone's beliefs. Still, I wanted to offer the spiritual side of this question because, for me, in the past year, my conversations with God have been critical to helping me understand my purpose better.
Regardless of how you come at this conversation (spiritual or not), the point is to quiet the outside noise and listen intently for where your inner voice (wherever it may reside) wants you to go. Having a more significant purpose means spending time on projects and activities and with people who lead your life in your desired direction. If all the stuff you do and the people you spend time with align with your purpose, you will find greater meaning.
From my perspective, it's not about having more. We can have all the things, and if they do not speak directly to what we believe our purpose is, then we will continue to feel like we need more. Stop, take stock, and figure out if everything is in alignment. I am confident that your sense of "I need more" is likely just a sense of "what I am doing isn't in line with who I am." Examine and search if you are out of alignment, and make changes to bring things back into alignment. You may start to feel like you have more purpose and meaning.
I hope my answer sheds some light on your question. If you want to dig into this concept further, I encourage you to reach out and set up a conversation. In the meantime, check back tomorrow for the next question in the Unleash Your Potential Series!
Be Well!
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