Purpose can feel like some nebulous thing that shifts constantly and is hard to grasp. Like clouds passing in the sky constantly moving and changing, and so hard to catch any one of them.

Are monks sitting on mountaintops watching clouds the only ones that get to experience “purpose”?

I don’t think so. Here are two examples of how someone might live in order to serve some higher purpose.

Mimi.

Mimi is an well-to-do architect in Paris and is very interested in ending sex trafficking.

She makes great money that affords her the lifestyle she wants (in Paris), and is committed to a cause near and dear to her heart – helping young girls around the world not be sold for sex. This is her great passion or purpose, and her job helps Mimi give back. She’s more committed to her work as an architect because of what those resources allow her to do. It’s a win-win.

John.

John is a executive coach and writer. He was a CFO of a natural grocery store, and decided to jump ship and start his own business.

John’s purpose is to support C-level executives teaching them how to have better business practices with an emphasis on operations and sustainability. John finds great purpose in this work, and is able to make a living doing it. Some might call John lucky and it’s a win-win.

Both examples achieve the same outcome, but the paths are different. Mimi and John are working towards creating a positive impact, and I wouldn’t say one is better than the other.

If you’re wrestling to find more purpose in life, or if you want to commit more to things that have meaning, here are some questions that might be helpful:

1. What problem are you noticing in the world that’s important to you?
2. How would you like to help solve that problem? (Everything counts no matter how small the effort)
3. What organizations are already set-up working towards solving these problems? Have you considered supporting them?
4. If you run your own business or company, what problem are you working to solve and why?
5. What good comes to someone working towards helping solve a bigger problem?
6. What does purpose mean to you, specifically?
7. If I didn’t know what purpose meant, how would you explain it to me?

Ashley Paquin
10/29/22