What is Purpose? A Guide to Finding Your Meaning

Do you ever feel like you’re just going through the motions? That despite your successes, there’s a quiet but persistent whisper telling you that you were meant for something more?

If so, you are not alone. The search for purpose is one of the most fundamental human journeys. But "purpose" can feel like an impossibly big and abstract concept. Where do you even begin to look for it?

The good news is that some of history's greatest minds have left us a map. By weaving together their wisdom, we can move from confusion to clarity. Let’s explore the theory of purpose through three powerful lenses.

Viktor Frankl: Meaning Forged in Struggle

Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, gave the world a profound gift in his book, Man's Search for Meaning. His core idea is that purpose is something we build in the face of suffering.

Frankl’s Logotherapy is based on the belief that the primary human drive is not pleasure, but the "will to meaning." He argued that we can find this meaning in three ways:

• By creating a work or doing a deed.

• By experiencing something or encountering someone.

• By the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering.

Your purpose is built from the strength, wisdom, and resilience you forge when facing your greatest challenges. It’s the meaning you choose to create when life doesn't go according to plan.

Carl Jung: Purpose as the Authentic Self

The pioneering psychologist Carl Jung believed that our main task in the second half of life is individuation. This is the lifelong process of discovering and integrating all the disparate parts of ourselves—the light and the shadow—to become a whole, authentic individual.

According to Jung, your purpose isn't a specific job title or role. It is the courageous, ongoing project of becoming who you truly are. It means embracing the parts of yourself you may have hidden out of fear or shame and integrating them to become complete.

Don't think of Your purpose as an external goal you need to achieve. It’s an internal journey of self-discovery. It’s about having the courage to look at all parts of yourself and finally feel whole.

Eastern Spirituality: Purpose as Dharma

In many Eastern philosophies, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism, the concept of Dharma is central. Dharma can be understood as one's true calling, cosmic duty, or the unique role that only you can play in the grand scheme of things.

Unlike a career, Dharma is not about personal gain or ambition. It is about service. It is the understanding that your unique gifts and talents are not just for you; they are meant to be used for the benefit of the world around you. The trick is to perform your Dharma without attachment to the results.

It's not what you can get, but what you can give. It’s found by asking, "How can my unique skills be of service to others?" and then doing that work with love, regardless of the praise or reward.

As you can see, purpose isn’t a single, simple thing. It’s made up of maryed aspects of reality :

• The resilience you build from your struggles (Frankl).

• The authenticity you find by embracing your whole self (Jung).

• The fulfillment you gain from being of service (Dharma).

Sure, it can feel overwhelming, but as my own story has taught me, it's the most rewarding journey you will ever take.

If what you've read here resonates with you, and you feel ready to move from searching to living, then you don't have to do it alone. The first step is often just a conversation.

I invite you to book a complimentary Purpose Clarity Call with me. Together, we can begin to map out your unique path and build the bridge from where you are to who you are meant to become. You can book your call on my Contact page.

References:

• Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man's Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

• Jung, C. G. (1964). Man and His Symbols. Dell Publishing.

• The Bhagavad Gita.