Why It Matters: Unlocking the Power of Purpose

The Dilemma of Purpose

It's crazy to me how difficult it is for most people to define their purpose. Despite the wealth of literature on this subject, including popular books like Start With Why by Simon Sinek and The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, few people can clearly articulate their purpose or "why." Whenever I ask a group to raise their hands if they can state their purpose, I see fewer than five hands. That's a problem.

Throughout this book, we've discussed concepts like purpose, knowing your center, and similar ideas. Is it any wonder our world is in its current state when so few people have this concept anchored and implemented in their lives?

A good friend of mine likes to say the two most important days in your life are:

1. The day you were born

2. The day you figure out why you are here.

The Importance of Purpose

Why is understanding one's purpose so difficult for people to grasp? I'm going to address this based on my experience and perception, which are neither right nor wrong.

The Role of Religion

Let's start with the importance of purpose. I'll use scripture references because religion often plays a part in this struggle. Matthew 22:36-39 (NIV) reads:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

My purpose here is broken down into these two things:

1. Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind.

2. Love my neighbor as myself.

The first one seems straightforward for most people because there are boxes to check, such as going to church, reading the Bible, praying, tithing, partaking in communion, and giving your time.

The second one is discussed elsewhere in this book. The primary thing to remember with the second one is that my ability to love my neighbor is directly tied to my ability to love myself.

The Radical Idea

Here is the radical idea for this chapter: If the second command is like the first command, then logic states that my ability to love God is also tied to my ability to love myself. Loving God is never about the boxes that I check. Understanding who I am and why I am here is the key to expanding my ability to love both God and my neighbor. If I believe that I am created in God's image, how can I think so little of myself without thinking little of Him?

To put it simply, the way we view ourselves can reflect how we view the divine. If we continuously belittle ourselves, we are inadvertently belittling the image of God within us. This understanding reshapes how we see self-love—not as vanity, but as an acknowledgment of our inherent worth and purpose. For instance, my purpose statement is, "Learning to show up better in my world so that I can help others learn to show up better in theirs." This purpose is both personal and outward-facing, illustrating the balance between self-improvement and helping others.

Overcoming Misconceptions

Another hurdle for most people is thinking that having a big vision or purpose statement is the opposite of humble—that there is somehow pride involved.

Is it more prideful for me to be who God says I should be or for me to do the opposite?

The Example of Jesus

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." I didn't say it; Jesus did. If I say, "I am the light of the world," that is a really big purpose statement. Why then do I struggle, thinking it is prideful to have any version of a purpose that fits inside that?

Jesus gave examples of a purpose statement such as "I am come to seek and to save that which was lost" and "I am come that you might have life and that more abundantly." Another key point regarding your purpose statement is that it is all about you and all about others.

As Sydney Banks said, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It's thinking of yourself less."

Flawed Thinking

There is another flaw in thinking that makes this difficult for a lot of people: making their purpose about something like their work or family. This is flawed because things like work and family can change. For example, several years ago, a man we know went to work with a wife and kids and came home to an empty house because his family was killed in a tragic accident. If his purpose was tied to his family, what happened to his purpose?

Your purpose has to be big enough for the other things that are important to you to fit inside it. That is how you guard against losing your way even when you lose something or someone important to you. Do not tie your feeling of fulfillment to anything that can be lost or taken from you.

The Consequences of a Lack of Purpose

Is it any wonder our world is in the shape it is? People without a clear understanding of purpose are doomed to wander aimlessly. They are "driven with the wind and tossed." They are more likely to follow others who seem to have a purpose even when that purpose is about nothing except manipulation.

Lack of purpose leads to every emotion related to fear. Following others who seem to have a purpose, even though their purpose is about nothing except manipulation, also leads to every emotion related to fear.

The Call to Action

Stop it! Start by changing your mindset. Ask yourself questions like "Why am I here?" and have the patience to wait for answers. You can't hear if you aren't listening. You will hear if you are truly listening.

Stop thinking so little of yourself. That directly translates to how you think of others.

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