Purpose

Purpose is found at the intersection of “what you can do,” “what you like to do,” and “what is needed.”

I have a fake job. It’s my passion for more reasons than I can list, but it still is much more difficult to quantify than many other jobs. At the end of Daniel’s day, he knows that he fixed x number of tractors, and that his tasks resulted in yadda yadda results. In a parallel universe, someone else is able to gauge their success by knowing the number of widgets they assembled. Neither is the case in my purpose. In addition to the nebulous nature of tracking what I do, there’s the confidentiality of it all. I can’t, shouldn’t, and won’t talk about my purpose, but that doesn’t make it any less powerful.

Despite those elements that make my purpose secretive, I am still able to address why it is a purpose for me. I am lucky in that my job is needed. I am also lucky that my job requires words. I can do words (not that this sentence would indicate as such, but I can). I like to do the things required in my job. It’s needed, I can do it, and it’s what I like. Purpose.

Does this mean that I roll through situations seamlessly? Hellz to the no. If you’ve spent any time with me, you’ve certainly seen a tantrum, a moment I’ve needed to fix my face, or a moment when I’ve worked hard to appear disinterested. My hope is that those instances are the world’s way of giving me reason to check in about my commitment to purpose.

You ever take a second to look at a tiny, inconsequential portion of a painting or photograph? Just pick a teeny spot. Look only at that spot. “That’s dumb,” you say? Yes, yes it is.  “Why would I look at just a little spot? That little spot doesn’t show me the whole scene.” Yes. Any tasks of purpose are going to have spots that are less than what the big picture represents.

The resolve and discipline that makes you stop focusing on those small areas is another way to determine if you’re fulfilling purpose. When you have the bump in the road, but it only makes you want to push harder to operate, you know you’re on the right track. Being grounded in purpose helps with sustaining yourself through difficulties. (Don’t think I’m smart for that comment. I literally stole it from a meme. I AM however, smart enough to steal from memes.)

So purpose continues. Stronger.

My purposes are what they are. Yours will, and should be, different.

The world needs a lot of things. Humans are blessed with varying gifts. Thank goodness for that. if only me people existed things like “why are the highways not built?! I sent an email. I had a meeting. And then another meeting about the meeting. I don’t understand” would happen. Or we’d all starve to death because we didn’t have the widget maker or the farmers. All the talents are needed. The thing that you’re good at, that the world needs, and that pleases you to do, is no less or more important than my thing. All the things matter. All the things are needed.

So, in whatever your purpose is, go do great things.