Breaking Frontiers

How far can we go to achieve our purpose?

“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone's task is unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.” Viktor Frankl

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” Friedrich Nietzsche

The most amazing pages in history are full of stories of people who broke the frontier and decided to go beyond their preconceived limits and capacities. They endure and prove that the force of the purpose is stronger than the limitations. These kinds of people are so moved and inspired by what they can do, that they decide to become it. Abraham Maslow in “A Theory of Human Motivation” said that “what a man can be, he must be.”

So, what exactly is our Purpose? It is our long term aspiration, the positive energy that makes us actively invest and engage efforts and time into meaningful activities. Our souls need a purpose to live. For some people, their purpose was the liberation of their countries from slavery through non-violent movement (Gandhi); for some others, the discovery of the scientific cornerstones of the basic principles of creation, existence and life (Einstein, Higgs, Sagan, Hawking, etc.); for others it is the message of love (Jesus, Mother Theresa); and even a message of forgiveness and non-discrimination (Mandela).

The interesting thing is that there are as many purposes as people on this planet, yet most humans decide or neglect their purpose and carry out soulless and spiritless lives. Jim Rohn used to say that the only difference between us and other animals is our capacity to control and change our philosophy about life. Thus, we have to challenge ourselves to explore, discover and pursue our purpose.

Sometimes, some people believe that failure, for instance, is in some ways a synonym of a talentless life. In the prospect of failure, I challenge people to build strengths, to train their minds and their hearts for the learning and growth that comes only when we realize that things are not too easy. Such challenges require and demand more from us. Then, when the purpose is clear, failure is nothing more than a block on the road to make us work harder in the pursuit of our dreams.

Plenty of exemplary people in history, in the most diverse fields, have worked and died pursuing the achievement of their purpose. They decided that they didn’t want to live hopeless lives, without great adventures or something particularly exciting. These people didn’t necessarily think that their purpose was the source of happiness, but definitely the source of meaning. Gandhi’s effort toward his purpose made his life absolutely meaningful, yet he decided to undergo painful experiences that most likely didn’t make him very happy.

Exceptional people know or seek to know their purpose. The highest motivation of humans, as described by Maslow, is the motivation for Self-Actualization. He defined this as a “the tendency to become actualized in what he is [people] potentially…the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming”. I believe that when people explore and discover themselves, they create an intrinsic and profound sense of responsibility in order to achieve what is meaningful to them.

Inspired people are actively in the pursuit of meaning for their lives. Meaningfulness is translated into active engagement in what it is important for us. Usually, what is meaningful is at the same time fulfilling. But let’s not fool ourselves and believe that all that is fulfilling is meaningful. To determine that difference, people must ask themselves, is there a limit to what human beings can do? Is there a frontier after which humans beings cannot go anymore? Can we overcome our fears and ultimately achieve our potential? What should I do, starting today, in order to explore and discover my true self and pursue my purpose?

Life is mysterious and its ways are astonishing. Fyodor Dostoyevsky in The Brothers Karamazov said that “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” We find ourselves daydreaming about things we would like to achieve in our lives. Unveiling our purpose is not an easy exercise, because the meaning of our lives lies in there. We need to create a true commitment to ourselves. Sailors need a compass, their true north, to guide them through steady or stormy oceans. We need our compass to drive our energy through success, to remain humble. Similarly, we need our compass to guide us through failures, to push us to try harder.

There are few things you can start doing today (not tomorrow, but now!) to begin this journey:

1. Explore and discover yourself: ask yourself who you are, what you want to do. Think about your life many years from now and in the twilight, when somebody asks you: “Was your life meaningful? Why? What did you do to make it valuable?” Start thinking what your answers are going to be. Take the time to know yourself, dedicate time to you. Become a student of your own life and listen to your mind and heart. Open your mind to the answers. Connect your mind with your emotions, and balance your left-analytical and your right-emotional brains in a synergetic choreography to make the best dance of your life. “Know thyself” is itself an achievement, because it is the commitment to know our purpose, our potential and become what we should become. One hint: you can think about what you love doing, the things you are good at and the things the world needs. You might have some answers in the intersection. Don’t be afraid of your own curiosity! In Figure 1, Conor Neill, teacher and coach depicts this intersection.
   
2. Discover the difference of Meaning and Happiness: plenty of research has shown the difference between Meaning and Happiness. The first comes only when your feel a deep satisfaction for actively engaging in projects that brings gratification to your needs. Happiness is not the exclusive element of our own good and self-interest, but a temporary state of satisfaction. Some people have found that knowing the truth is more important than comfort or austerity. Therefore, this person might still pursue truth regardless of the pain it might cause him. Meaningful lives are happier than meaningless ones. Nonetheless, happiness doesn’t always entail meaning. Your challenge is to explore how these concepts apply to you and define, in the light of your own purpose, what brings fulfillment because of achievement of the purpose.
3. Change your philosophy: “the truth will set your free” is a biblical maxim and also a basic premise for many eastern and western religions. Spirituality is a connection with your own truths. If you believe that something is truth, all you need is hope, faith and conviction drive you in changing your philosophy of life. Should you explore and discover your purpose, it becomes part of your own unique and personal truth. You are now accountable to yourself. Learn from the world, but don’t let it change or determine your purpose. Knowing the truth (your purpose), sets you free, but only if you open your understanding. Albert Einstein said that “All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom."
4. Give your dreams a try: now that you know yourself better, now that you have explored and discovered your purpose, you must determine what brings meaning to your life and change your perspective on how you see what is happening around you. It is time to give it all a try. Go out there and work for it! Give your dreams a try. Don’t be afraid of failure, take a risk and break frontiers. When you fail, get up, meditate, learn from it and keep trying. Give life to your dreams by going after them.

Some people will sabotage your dreams by telling you that it is impossible to achieve them. Sometimes you might freak out and run away and relinquish. Maybe you will find yourself pushing yourself to the limits between life and death. Or it could be that giving one dream a try seems small and insignificant in the light of the big picture. However, going after the purpose means taking important risks and breaking frontiers. In the big scheme of your life there are no small dreams, only preconceived limitations and frontiers waiting to be challenged. Pick up the starfish in your life and bring them back to life.

Work in exploring and discovering yourself and your purpose, then think about brings you meaning and happiness, and understand the difference. By having an idea of what your purpose is, then you can change your philosophy to fill it with hope and faith, and the conviction. Finally, give your dreams a try because they are worth pursuing.

Seneca on On the Shortness of Life said that “It is not that we have so little time but that we lose so much.... The life we receive is not short but we make it so; we are not ill provided but use what we have wastefully.” It is true that life is short for those who are lost in the hopelessness of a lack of purpose, yet it becomes truly amazing and fascinating for those who embrace the challenge to become what they are meant to become. Don’t be afraid. Be brave and courageous to move forward and break frontiers.

About the Author: Enrique Rubio is an HR Professional at the InterAmerican Development Bank. He is an Electronic Engineer and Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Enrique writes about leadership and HR, and he also an ultrarunner.

Twitter: @erubio_p

Read more:

Are you and your organization in Constant Learning and Change (Part I)?

What makes a genius a genius? (Constant Learning and Change (Part II))?

Are you Purposefully Supporting and Challenging your Team?

The most compelling challenge of our times?

Breaking Frontiers: how far can we go to achieve our purpose?