The Power of Choosing a Purpose

'Man's deepest desire is to find meaning in life, and if that meaning is found - he can survive anything' - Victor Frankl

Having a clear purpose; something to continually strive towards bigger than you will allow you to build resolve and withstand obstacles on your path.

Viktor Frankl’s, Man's Search for Meaning is an anecdotal narrative of his experience living in Nazi concentration camps. Frankl never gives the reader a linear narrative of his time in the camps—instead, he explains how the daily struggles of camp life affected the mental state of its inmates. An example of this is Victor choosing to make meaning of the suffering at the camp which would allow him to be a better person. This idea will allow him to choose his own life.

One particular moment Victor recalls himself enduring the suffering by picturing himself presenting a lecture in the future on what he was learning in that moment, or when he embodied and transcended his mind to the love he felt for his wife. He observed those who weakened in the moment and died quickly were often those who lost meaning and had unreasonable expectations of early liberation. In order to survive, Viktor noted that you had to be okay with dying any moment while gravitating to the future self or state of hope and fulfilment. For Frankl, this was letting go of the privileged life he had before this experience and to transpire all energy and zest into his future self-helping others by practicing what he subjected as logo-therapy post the daunting camps.

Like Frankl, we are human; albeit living a different reality. It’s within our nature to grow, aspire and reach out for something greater than us, commonly termed our purpose. This keeps us alive. Hope in achieving this pulls us forward.

In Okinawa, Japan people commonly live past 83 years old, about an average 7 years longer than the average human. Without a word for retirement, Okinawan's live their life by ikigai - 'the reason for which you wake up in the morning'. Regardless of their job, the Okinawan's maintain a strong sense of purpose that fuels their life and longevity. They work towards being craftsperson in the work they do, to be their best; presenting their efforts with a proud sense of achievement.

Your ikigai is your internal fuel, provides clear direction and keeps you going and reaching for your best daily. It is useful to ask ourselves why we wake up in the morning? What is it that you’re trying to achieve? What is your craft and what does mastery look like for you? It is working back from this point that can truly fuel you to live a long and purposeful life.