ON PURPOSE

What is my purpose?  

A common question people coming for coaching have is “What is my purpose?”. On exploration, what they usually mean by this is “What is my purpose in life?”. But there are other possible meanings, which point to the 3 layers of purpose that I find it useful to explore. 

Personal:  What is my purpose in life?

Both personal and impersonal:  What is life’s purpose for me (as an individual)?

Impersonal: What is the purpose of life (in the universe)? 

This is an exploration where there aren’t right and wrong answers, but just a deepening understanding as we explore.  Starting with the impersonal…..

​

First question:  What is the purpose of life (in the universe)?

​

It’s useful to first know what our answer to this question is, if we have one.  “I don’t know” is a good answer - you don’t need to make up an answer. But if you do have a more defined answer, knowing what it is can impact on your understanding of the other layers of purpose. My answer, as best I can understand it, is that we (as in conscious life) are how the universe experiences its beauty and wonder, its meaning and love. 

​

Second question:  What is life’s purpose for me? 

Your answer to the earlier question will likely influence your answer to this question.  So, for me, life’s purpose for me is to live, love and show up fully, to be present, flowing and evolving with the evolution of life and the universe. 

So my answer at this layer is still relatively impersonal, but for some people it can shift more towards the personal. It might bring in elements that are fundamental to them as individuals, such as their parenting or artistic practice, for example. 

Third question:  What is my purpose in life?

Your answer to this question may be influenced by your previous answers. Purpose at the personal level can change significantly over time, and change frequently for some people.  It might be about achieving a particular creative or business goal, for example. It might be about how you are in the world, rather than about what you do. 

If you are looking to find it, and haven’t been able to yet, a quick tip is that it often is right in front of us and we just haven’t noticed it. What are the books you read for pleasure, the podcasts you listen to, and the courses you sign up for? What are activities you would do even if you weren’t paid for them? 

What can get in the way of us discovering our purpose in life?  It can be the act of seeking that gets in the way.  Seeking often leads to us looking outside ourselves, but this is the personal layer, so the answer is within us. It can be self-doubt or a lack of confidence or perceived lack of our worthiness that stops us believing that it could be our purpose. These are good areas to explore in group or individual coaching.  

Or it might be that for you, a personal purpose isn’t relevant. I personally find it more useful to navigate life through my understanding of impersonal purpose and my in the moment sense of knowing. I have stopped using a personal purpose to navigate by, so I don’t have one to share with you here. But I also know many people who find it very helpful to be very clear on their personal purpose. Again, there’s not a right or wrong. 

​

So, what's your purpose?

​