The Fluid Nature of Purpose (Evolve as You Do)
Research into positive psychology and career development emphasises that purpose is fluid throughout life. Rather than one singular word or phrase cast in cement, your Why can adapt to new, different situations and/or events that mean you have to pivot and change direction. One mental health expert from mayoclinichealthsystem.org noted that for most people, a sense of purpose “changes and develops as they move through life”. Consider your purpose was tightly tied to a demanding job, until an accident or illness made it impossible to continue. Initially, you might feel lost – a natural grief for the identity and direction that was disrupted. However, as humans we are remarkably adaptable. Often, given time, people find new sources of meaning that fit their changed circumstances. For example, retirees often rediscover purpose through volunteering or hobbies once their career ends, channelling the same values into new activity. A parent whose “why” was in the home bringing up their kids may, after the nest becomes empty, pivot to mentoring and helping young people in their community.
My own journey took me from confidently declaring my life mission in an Oxford leadership workshop in Bangkok 7 yrs ago, to suddenly wondering if that mission still made sense after a cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosis sidelined my plans. It’s been humbling to realise that having to rewrite my purpose statement doesn’t mean I’ve failed – it means I'm growing and adapting. In psychology, there’s even a silver lining known as post-traumatic growth: people who endure profound challenges sometimes emerge with a renewed appreciation for life and a new sense of meaning and purpose. In other words, a shattered old compass can be the start of discovering a new true north (I think I'm at about North West and the glass is still cracked a little for now 😉). Many survivors of illness or trauma say that while they wouldn’t have chosen their hardship, it ultimately pushed them to explore paths and passions they never considered before. (Think of the stroke survivor who, upon recovery, finds purpose in advocating for others with disabilities, or the former corporate exec. who, after getting packaged off, builds a fulfilling second career around a long-neglected passion.) There are stories like this everywhere that we have all heard, however losing your Why isn’t the end of the narrative – it’s a point where we get an opportunity to stop, reflect, reassess and get going again, with a fresher, brighter more optimistic outlook to fulfil our future.
Embracing Purpose on Your Terms
One important insight I’ve gained in researching this, is that purpose doesn’t have to be grand or unchanging. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking your life’s ‘Why’ must be something monumental (“cure cancer” or “world peace”). In reality, your purpose can be as simple as making someone else's day better, expressing your creativity, or taking care of your own health so you can be there for your family. The experts in this area define purpose essentially as having an overarching aim or direction that’s meaningful to YOU – it doesn’t need to impress anyone else. Especially after a major life change, starting with small, meaningful goals can restore your sense of purpose without being overwhelming. Maybe your Why right now is to manage your recovery with grace, to share your story to help others (like me), or even just to master the art of sourdough baking because it brings you some enjoyment and creates a purpose. All these things are valid. Purpose is deeply personal, and it can, and should, be redefined on your terms.
Also, remember that not having a crystal-clear purpose for a while is okay (again, like me!). Sometimes we go through a “purpose pause,” where our main job is to heal, reflect, and explore. During these times, it helps to stay curious and kind to yourself rather than rushing to “fix” the uncertainty. In fact, the process of searching for meaning can itself be enriching (albeit at times a little frustrating too) – a study I read found that young people actively exploring what gives their life meaning reported greater life satisfaction (at least in youth, the search itself was positive). Give yourself permission to be a work-in-progress. Your Why can evolve, and you can have more than one. It might be family and career and a cause you care about, all in different proportions as life unfolds.
Inviting You to Reflect (What’s Your ‘Why’?)
Writing this reflection has been a reminder that purpose is both powerful and pliable. Yes, having a Why – a reason to get up in the morning – can turbocharge our well-being and resilience. It can help us weather storms and even improve our health. But equally, I’ve learned that losing your sense of purpose for a time isn’t the end; it may be the beginning of a new chapter of growth. If you’ve ever had to rediscover or reinvent your purpose, you’re in good company. Nearly everyone will have to face that crossroad at some point, especially after life-altering events like I've experienced over the past 3 years.
The Fluid Nature of Purpose (Evolve as You Do)
Research into positive psychology and career development emphasises that purpose is fluid throughout life. Rather than one singular word or phrase cast in cement, your Why can adapt to new, different situations and/or events that mean you have to pivot and change direction. One mental health expert from mayoclinichealthsystem.org noted that for most people, a sense of purpose “changes and develops as they move through life”. Consider your purpose was tightly tied to a demanding job, until an accident or illness made it impossible to continue. Initially, you might feel lost – a natural grief for the identity and direction that was disrupted. However, as humans we are remarkably adaptable. Often, given time, people find new sources of meaning that fit their changed circumstances. For example, retirees often rediscover purpose through volunteering or hobbies once their career ends, channelling the same values into new activity. A parent whose “why” was in the home bringing up their kids may, after the nest becomes empty, pivot to mentoring and helping young people in their community.
My own journey took me from confidently declaring my life mission in an Oxford leadership workshop in Bangkok 7 yrs ago, to suddenly wondering if that mission still made sense after a cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosis sidelined my plans. It’s been humbling to realise that having to rewrite my purpose statement doesn’t mean I’ve failed – it means I'm growing and adapting. In psychology, there’s even a silver lining known as post-traumatic growth: people who endure profound challenges sometimes emerge with a renewed appreciation for life and a new sense of meaning and purpose. In other words, a shattered old compass can be the start of discovering a new true north (I think I'm at about North West and the glass is still cracked a little for now 😉). Many survivors of illness or trauma say that while they wouldn’t have chosen their hardship, it ultimately pushed them to explore paths and passions they never considered before. (Think of the stroke survivor who, upon recovery, finds purpose in advocating for others with disabilities, or the former corporate exec. who, after getting packaged off, builds a fulfilling second career around a long-neglected passion.) There are stories like this everywhere that we have all heard, however losing your Why isn’t the end of the narrative – it’s a point where we get an opportunity to stop, reflect, reassess and get going again, with a fresher, brighter more optimistic outlook to fulfil our future.
Embracing Purpose on Your Terms
One important insight I’ve gained in researching this, is that purpose doesn’t have to be grand or unchanging. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking your life’s ‘Why’ must be something monumental (“cure cancer” or “world peace”). In reality, your purpose can be as simple as making someone else's day better, expressing your creativity, or taking care of your own health so you can be there for your family. The experts in this area define purpose essentially as having an overarching aim or direction that’s meaningful to YOU – it doesn’t need to impress anyone else. Especially after a major life change, starting with small, meaningful goals can restore your sense of purpose without being overwhelming. Maybe your Why right now is to manage your recovery with grace, to share your story to help others (like me), or even just to master the art of sourdough baking because it brings you some enjoyment and creates a purpose. All these things are valid. Purpose is deeply personal, and it can, and should, be redefined on your terms.
Also, remember that not having a crystal-clear purpose for a while is okay (again, like me!). Sometimes we go through a “purpose pause,” where our main job is to heal, reflect, and explore. During these times, it helps to stay curious and kind to yourself rather than rushing to “fix” the uncertainty. In fact, the process of searching for meaning can itself be enriching (albeit at times a little frustrating too) – a study I read found that young people actively exploring what gives their life meaning reported greater life satisfaction (at least in youth, the search itself was positive). Give yourself permission to be a work-in-progress. Your Why can evolve, and you can have more than one. It might be family and career and a cause you care about, all in different proportions as life unfolds.
Inviting You to Reflect (What’s Your ‘Why’?)
Writing this reflection has been a reminder that purpose is both powerful and pliable. Yes, having a Why – a reason to get up in the morning – can turbocharge our well-being and resilience. It can help us weather storms and even improve our health. But equally, I’ve learned that losing your sense of purpose for a time isn’t the end; it may be the beginning of a new chapter of growth. If you’ve ever had to rediscover or reinvent your purpose, you’re in good company. Nearly everyone will have to face that crossroad at some point, especially after life-altering events like I've experienced over the past 3 years.
The Fluid Nature of Purpose (Evolve as You Do)
Research into positive psychology and career development emphasises that purpose is fluid throughout life. Rather than one singular word or phrase cast in cement, your Why can adapt to new, different situations and/or events that mean you have to pivot and change direction. One mental health expert from mayoclinichealthsystem.org noted that for most people, a sense of purpose “changes and develops as they move through life”. Consider your purpose was tightly tied to a demanding job, until an accident or illness made it impossible to continue. Initially, you might feel lost – a natural grief for the identity and direction that was disrupted. However, as humans we are remarkably adaptable. Often, given time, people find new sources of meaning that fit their changed circumstances. For example, retirees often rediscover purpose through volunteering or hobbies once their career ends, channelling the same values into new activity. A parent whose “why” was in the home bringing up their kids may, after the nest becomes empty, pivot to mentoring and helping young people in their community.
My own journey took me from confidently declaring my life mission in an Oxford leadership workshop in Bangkok 7 yrs ago, to suddenly wondering if that mission still made sense after a cardiac sarcoidosis diagnosis sidelined my plans. It’s been humbling to realise that having to rewrite my purpose statement doesn’t mean I’ve failed – it means I'm growing and adapting. In psychology, there’s even a silver lining known as post-traumatic growth: people who endure profound challenges sometimes emerge with a renewed appreciation for life and a new sense of meaning and purpose. In other words, a shattered old compass can be the start of discovering a new true north (I think I'm at about North West and the glass is still cracked a little for now 😉). Many survivors of illness or trauma say that while they wouldn’t have chosen their hardship, it ultimately pushed them to explore paths and passions they never considered before. (Think of the stroke survivor who, upon recovery, finds purpose in advocating for others with disabilities, or the former corporate exec. who, after getting packaged off, builds a fulfilling second career around a long-neglected passion.) There are stories like this everywhere that we have all heard, however losing your Why isn’t the end of the narrative – it’s a point where we get an opportunity to stop, reflect, reassess and get going again, with a fresher, brighter more optimistic outlook to fulfil our future.
Embracing Purpose on Your Terms
One important insight I’ve gained in researching this, is that purpose doesn’t have to be grand or unchanging. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking your life’s ‘Why’ must be something monumental (“cure cancer” or “world peace”). In reality, your purpose can be as simple as making someone else's day better, expressing your creativity, or taking care of your own health so you can be there for your family. The experts in this area define purpose essentially as having an overarching aim or direction that’s meaningful to YOU – it doesn’t need to impress anyone else. Especially after a major life change, starting with small, meaningful goals can restore your sense of purpose without being overwhelming. Maybe your Why right now is to manage your recovery with grace, to share your story to help others (like me), or even just to master the art of sourdough baking because it brings you some enjoyment and creates a purpose. All these things are valid. Purpose is deeply personal, and it can, and should, be redefined on your terms.
Also, remember that not having a crystal-clear purpose for a while is okay (again, like me!). Sometimes we go through a “purpose pause,” where our main job is to heal, reflect, and explore. During these times, it helps to stay curious and kind to yourself rather than rushing to “fix” the uncertainty. In fact, the process of searching for meaning can itself be enriching (albeit at times a little frustrating too) – a study I read found that young people actively exploring what gives their life meaning reported greater life satisfaction (at least in youth, the search itself was positive). Give yourself permission to be a work-in-progress. Your Why can evolve, and you can have more than one. It might be family and career and a cause you care about, all in different proportions as life unfolds.
Inviting You to Reflect (What’s Your ‘Why’?)
Writing this reflection has been a reminder that purpose is both powerful and pliable. Yes, having a Why – a reason to get up in the morning – can turbocharge our well-being and resilience. It can help us weather storms and even improve our health. But equally, I’ve learned that losing your sense of purpose for a time isn’t the end; it may be the beginning of a new chapter of growth. If you’ve ever had to rediscover or reinvent your purpose, you’re in good company. Nearly everyone will have to face that crossroad at some point, especially after life-altering events like I've experienced over the past 3 years.