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Podcast version:
Is there a reason behind the things we do each day, or are we just filling time?
Most of us go through life with this quiet question, searching for something that makes everything make sense.
In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl quotes Nietzsche in an attempt to answer this question:
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
But what if finding that “why” isn’t a single, sudden revelation?
What if purpose isn’t about one grand answer, but a series of small, honest realizations that add up over time?
Let’s take a closer look at five myths we’ve all heard about purpose—and the quiet truths that might just lead us to something real.
Myth #1: The One True Calling
Let’s start with this idea that purpose is a single, true calling—that everyone has just one big thing they’re meant to do in life.
It’s a comforting thought, right? But it also creates a lot of pressure.
What if you’re interested in a bunch of different things? Or what if you haven’t found that “one thing” yet?
Does purpose have to be just one big calling?
Think of someone like Leonardo da Vinci. He was a painter, but he was also an inventor, a scientist, a writer, a sculptor, you name it.
His purpose was not one thing—it was a combination of everything he explored.
His life shows us that…
Having multiple passions isn’t a distraction from finding meaning; it can be the foundation of it.
So if you’re feeling pressured to find your “one true calling,” try thinking about purpose as something flexible, something that changes as you grow and discover more.
Embrace a “Purpose Portfolio” Mindset
When you allow yourself to explore, purpose can grow layer by layer, just like a portfolio.
Here’s something you can try:
Make a short list of the top three things you feel interested in. Don’t worry if they seem unrelated. Think of each one as part of your “Purpose Portfolio”.
Once you have your list, ask yourself, “How can I nurture each of these interests, even just a little?”
Maybe it’s taking a weekend course, setting aside time to practice, or connecting with others who share the same interest.
These small steps keep each interest alive, allowing the underlying purpose to grow and reveal itself to you.
It’s not about finding the one thing; it’s about letting your curiosity guide you.
Life’s meaning doesn’t have to fit into one box.
Myth #2: The Eureka Moment
If purpose isn’t just one true calling, maybe it doesn’t need to hit us all at once either.
You know that idea of the big “Eureka!” moment? Like one day, you’re just walking along, and suddenly—bam!—you know exactly what you’re meant to do in life.
It’s tempting to think purpose will show up in one big, clear revelation. But life doesn’t usually work that way.
Most of us don’t discover our purpose in one big “aha” moment. It’s more like a series of smaller realizations.
These “micro-Eurekas” might feel minor—a hobby that gives you a spark, a project that lights you up, or a moment that feels strangely fulfilling.
But over time, these little things add up, showing you what really matters.
Think about it: maybe you enjoy writing a journal or feel absorbed in helping a friend solve a problem.
Each of these moments might seem small, but they’re actually clues.
Purpose often pieces itself together from tiny sparks rather than arriving all at once.
Keep a “Micro-Eureka” Journal
Here’s a practical step: keep a “micro-Eureka” journal.
Every day or two, jot down anything that genuinely engages you, even if it’s just for a moment.
After a few weeks, review your notes. You may notice patterns—types of experiences or conversations that bring you alive.
It’s a simple habit, but over time, it can reveal a direction that feels right, built from those small moments of clarity.
Purpose doesn’t have to come in one cinematic moment.
It can show up along the way, in tiny moments that pull you forward.
And sometimes, these “micro-Eurekas” can be just as powerful as any big epiphany.
Myth #3: Purpose Equals Career
Then there’s this other idea that purpose and career have to be the same thing.
It’s like we’re taught that landing the “right” job will unlock life’s meaning, as if purpose was sitting there in a work email.
But let’s be honest—most jobs don’t check every box of who we are. Tying our whole purpose to a career can feel pretty limiting.
Think about it. Purpose can show up in so many other parts of life.
Sure, work might be one piece of the puzzle, but there’s also your relationships, your hobbies, the causes you care about.
Some of the things that bring the deepest sense of purpose have nothing to do with a job title.
It could be the time you spend helping friends, creating something meaningful, or just being there for people you care about.
Purpose doesn’t have to live in a job description—it can show up in all the places that make you feel alive and connected.
So, if you’ve ever felt like you’re falling short because your job doesn’t feel like “the one,” maybe it’s worth looking outside of work.
Ask Yourself Where You Find Fulfillment Outside of Work
Here’s a question to think about: where in your life do you feel the most purpose that has nothing to do with your job?
Reflecting on this question can help you broaden your sense of meaning, reminding you that purpose can be a blend of all the roles you play, not just the one with a paycheck.
Myth #4: External Validation
Look, I’m not saying this is your case, but a lot of people struggle to find purpose because they think it has to be something others notice or praise.
It’s that feeling that, for your life to mean something, it needs to be big, visible, and impressive—something other people will recognize.
Let’s call this the “External Validation” myth. And who doesn’t want a little recognition, right?
But what if purpose doesn’t need an audience to be real?
Think about Vincent van Gogh. Today, he’s one of the most celebrated artists of all time, but in his own life? He sold only one painting. Just one.
But he kept painting anyway. For him, purpose wasn’t about impressing others; it was something he felt connected to, something that mattered even if no one else cared.
If purpose didn’t need an audience for Van Gogh, maybe it doesn’t need one for us either.
When we think our purpose is to impress others, we risk choosing paths that aren’t even ours.
Maybe we pick a career that sounds good or set goals for approval. In the end, we’re left feeling disconnected, chasing what looks right instead of what feels right.
If your purpose feels quiet, like something only you “get,” maybe that’s exactly as it should be.
The real question isn’t:
- “Will this impress anyone?”
It’s more like:
- “Does this feel meaningful to me? Does it make me feel fulfilled?”
Because that’s where purpose lives—in what feels right to you, not in what the world thinks.
Reflect on Purpose Beyond Approval
Here’s a question to consider:
If no one else would ever know about it, what would still bring you joy and fulfillment?
Think about what you’d choose to do even if it never gained any applause.
This can help you connect to a purpose that’s personal, regardless of external validation.
Myth #5: The Fixed Destination
Finally, let’s talk about the idea that purpose is some kind of fixed destination.
Like, once you “find” it, you’re set, as if purpose is this ultimate finish line where everything just falls into place.
But what if purpose isn’t about reaching a single point? What if it’s more about the journey itself?
Purpose is something that grows and changes with you.
Maybe you’ve been really into one thing for a while, and then something else comes along and feels meaningful.
That doesn’t mean you lost your purpose; it just means it’s evolving.
Purpose can shift, take on new forms, and show up in unexpected ways.
It’s not about pinning it down to one answer—it’s about letting yourself explore and adapt.
Think of purpose like a river that winds through different landscapes.
Some stretches are calm, some are rocky, and sometimes it twists in ways you didn’t plan.
But it keeps flowing.
That’s how purpose works, too—it can change shape and direction, but it’s still there, moving with you.
Think About What Feels Right, Right Now
Here’s a question:
What does it feel meaningful to you at this moment?
If you let go of the pressure to find a “final answer,” what interests or passions would you want to follow right now?
Isn’t it better to think that you can find purpose in so many different experiences and live a full and rich life rather than do only one thing?
Sometimes, purpose is about paying attention to what calls you today, knowing it can change as you grow.
So, maybe purpose isn’t a lightning bolt or a single path. It’s not something we find once and hold onto forever.
Instead, it’s built from small moments, evolving with each new experience, shaped by the questions we ask ourselves along the way.
If we let go of the myths and start noticing those quiet truths, purpose becomes less about a final answer and more about a journey we can shape, day by day.
So, as you move forward, remember: your purpose doesn’t need to be grand or perfect.
It just needs to be real—and yours.
