Living a Purpose Motivated Life

Living well is difficult, and living in a way that optimizes all the necessary aspects of your life is even more difficult. While our time here is short, it's important to have certain fundamental qualities that drive your objective behaviours, or in simpler terms, actions. These are your basic traits that are components of your self. You should construct them in a way that benefits you, and then the people around you in the best way possible. Easier said than done though.

This is not an article on "crafting your personality", that's a completely different topic. This is about designing yourself intentionally and consciously. It's about rewriting your programs to support newer behaviours and actions. While this is a broad topic, I'm going to talk about one specific quality that's a part of these basic characteristics and that's living a purpose-motivated life. This is different from living a "purpose-driven" life. While you might use both these terms interchangeably, in my experience, driven-ness is different from feelings of motivation, but this may not apply to everyone.

It's important to have a purpose. It's important to have a handful of things that you truly care about and are willing to dedicate your life to. This can be the development of some skill, fulfilling the obligations of a relationship, your duties as a parent, your responsibilities as a teacher, and the list goes on. It can be anything, really, but it's important that you have a purpose for yourself that goes beyond your time spent on this planet.

Purpose helps avoid distractions. It keeps you steady on your goals and creates a feedback loop that promotes positive action towards a certain destination, that may or may not be known. Even if your purpose is something as lofty as reducing financial fraud or eradicating hunger and you're contributing in some small way to those causes, it's a good start. Sometimes it can be something as simple as providing for your family or learning a new language!

Now let me explain how this is different from being "purpose-driven". Being purpose-driven is compulsive. It's not a free form of movement through life. It involves tension and stress. Being driven to the point where you forget the basic necessities of life may make you successful and wealthy, but it might not lead you to a fulfilling life. One might argue, that there's a threshold to how much driven-ness is healthy for you, and I may agree that a certain amount of driven-ness is better than laziness, inaction and lethargy. Balance is important!

Being purpose-motivated, on the other hand, allows you to flow through life with a sense of freedom. It provides direction without the overwhelming burden of pressure. You’re motivated by a sense of fulfilment rather than driven by external expectations or compulsions. This subtle shift creates an internal space where growth and learning can flourish naturally. You’re not burning out to reach an end goal; instead, you’re learning, adapting, and evolving with purpose as your guiding compass, enjoying the process along the way. Motivation stems from within, while driven-ness often originates from the demands placed on you externally. This is a valuable distinction.

One of the most important elements of living a purpose-motivated life is the sense of intrinsic joy that accompanies it. When you’re motivated by purpose, every small achievement feels like progress, and each failure becomes a valuable lesson rather than a setback. The pursuit itself becomes meaningful, and you can enjoy the journey without being overly focused on the destination. This kind of mindset allows for flexibility and creativity, and it opens up opportunities for growth that might be missed when you're solely "driven" toward a rigid, predefined goal.

Moreover, living with purpose allows you to align your everyday actions with your long-term vision. Whether it’s the small decisions you make at work, how you interact with loved ones, or how you choose to spend your free time, each action can reflect and reinforce your core purpose. This alignment not only strengthens your sense of self, but it also makes you more effective in achieving what truly matters to you. It's no longer about ticking off items on a to-do list, but rather about building a life that is in harmony with your deepest values and goals.

However, living a purpose-motivated life does not mean that you avoid challenges or hardships. In fact, purpose often gives you the resilience to face them head-on. When you have a clear purpose, you’re more willing to endure setbacks, because you understand that they are part of the bigger picture. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by obstacles, you view them as opportunities to learn and grow. Purpose acts as a guiding star that keeps you moving forward, even when the road gets tough.

Ultimately, living well is not about adhering to someone else’s blueprint for success, but about crafting a life that is meaningful to you. It’s about consciously cultivating the traits, habits, and behaviours that align with your personal purpose. This approach requires introspection and effort, but it pays off in a life that feels more balanced, fulfilling, and deeply connected to your core values. Whether your purpose is big or small, personal or professional, embracing it can transform the way you experience life, making even the simplest moments rich with meaning.

Mindfulness is a powerful tool that helps build purpose and achieve a form of enlightenment without needing to retreat from your current life. By practicing mindfulness in your daily routine, you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and actions, fostering a deep connection with the present moment. This awareness allows you to align your day-to-day decisions with your greater purpose, guiding you toward a more intentional and fulfilling life. Simple practices like mindful breathing, pausing to reflect before reacting, and observing your surroundings can cultivate clarity and inner peace. Over time, this conscious awareness transforms your routine into a path of personal growth and enlightenment, without requiring drastic changes to your lifestyle.

— Aditya Patange ?

I actively work on Open Source Software, check out my GitHub Profile . ?

I write byte-sized insights on Threads to supercharge your day. ??