What might a robust sense of purpose in life look like?
When you think of person who lives with a robust sense of purpose, who comes to mind? It’s tempting to assume that only fancy people with important jobs like Oprah, Dr. Fauci, or Michelle Obama (ok – you think of yours) are equipped or responsible to conduct purpose-directed lives, but of course, that’s not true.
I think that we manifest a robust sense of purpose when we know the composition of our purpose palette and we act as if our own pursuits really matter, regardless of the particulars of what we’re doing. Recall that based on the Compass Course framework, living with purpose has to do with intentionally using our time and energy in ways that align with our unique inner Compass. Borrowing from Viktor Frankl, this takes the form of doing, savoring, and/or being a certain way in this world. Here are a few examples of decidedly not-fancy people who, for me, exemplify a robust sense of purpose in daily life.
· Many years ago, I went to a JC Penney’s store in a tired little strip mall to buy a pair of Keds. The sales associate was a young man who engaged with me as if I was picking out a pair of Manolo Blahniks at Saks Fifth Avenue. Rather than marking time until he could leave work to get on with his real life, he seemed to be genuinely invested in helping me find a pair of tennis shoes that I just loved. I found it curious then and memorable even now.
· I recently read a newspaper story about a woman who was retiring as a Metro Transit bus driver after 47 years. During half of those years, Melanie Benson drove the same route, characterizing her work as a “joy,” “an honor,” and “an adventure.” According to the story, she reveled in being trusted by her riders, getting to know the “regulars,” even decorating her bus each year on her work anniversary.
· My friend, Marilyn, lives her purpose by savoring - savoring beauty (especially in the form of growing things) and relationships. Her camera is always in her purse so that she can capture any beauty that might present itself. She has become an expert nature photographer, sharing her snapshots with friends and family. Marilyn knows the name of her server before ordering food at a restaurant, can tell you about the family of the nurse who took care of her yesterday in the hospital, and loves to sit back and listen to others with full attention and an affirming smile.
These people seem to throw themselves into rather ordinary activities that become platforms for acting on their values, strengths, and sources of personal meaning with wonderful dividends to those around them. While each person’s purpose palette is different, their examples remind me that living with purpose is not only about taking on the big project (though thank you to those who do); they illustrate how most any activity can be purpose-rich, if inspired by one’s inner Compass and performed with intention.
I believe that we have an obligation to every now and again, figure out what purpose looks like to us and then bring-it with enthusiasm and delight, which is a bit of a challenge for a reserved, self-conscious person like me. But I’m with the French writer, Émile Zola who said, “If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” And so I’ll work on it.
What about you? Where might you really bring-it to the everyday pursuits that align with your inner Compass?
Onward!
Source:
Frankl, V. (1984). Man’s Search for Meaning (Rev. ed.). Simon & Schuster, Inc.