Good and thoughtful post Jaryd. It may be semantics, but I feel the challenge you have felt has been a limited understanding of the definition of purpose. Your presumed definition / description of purpose, for me, seems to be too closely linked to the ideas of certain goals or an outcome. Purpose in my view is about the journey and not the outcome itself, as you observed in your post.
Principles not greater than purpose. Principles applied with intention equals purpose!! :-)
Put another way: your post really just gives a richer definition or the *real* definition of purpose. And, I mean this in the best possible way in that your post adds to the vocabulary of what purpose really is.
See the verb form definitions of "purpose" in the dictionary and I think you will close the loop back to the true meaning of purpose. Or ask ChatGPT and see what it says to something like:
"When people feel or say they know or have a purpose, what is the definition of purpose in this context?"
The response I got was:
"A guiding principle or intention that gives an individual’s life coherence, motivation, and significance."
No reason to cast aside the Greeks or Aristotile...you are starting to understand what they understood. ;-)
Love this, Jeff :-) ChatGpt (or Gemini Pro 3.5 in my case :-) can be such a great companion in helping me express, refine, think through what I feel deep inside - especially when English is not my fiirst language :-)
Jaryd, thank you for your piece. It resonated deeply because you're courageously grappling with one of the most profound questions we, as human beings, can ask ourselves: Why am I here? Is there any inherent meaning, any guiding purpose to all of this?
It's a journey many of us embark on. When we approach these significant questions, seeking answers, we often find ourselves digging deeper and deeper. And, as you thoughtfully explore, sometimes the very idea of "purpose" can begin to feel more elusive, increasingly complex, and seemingly just out of reach.
But here’s a gentle thought: What if, sometimes, we can’t see the forest for the trees? What if purpose isn't a distant concept to be chased, but something intimately woven into the fabric of our daily lives, present in every moment, simply waiting to be noticed?
If I may offer a perspective: perhaps purpose reveals itself in how we choose to respond to everyday situations. It’s in the quality of our thoughts, the intention behind our words, and the nature of our actions as we navigate the people, encounters, and circumstances that life brings our way each day.
This, of course, invites a deeper self-awareness – an understanding of our own patterns of thought, speech, and behavior. Practices like psychotherapy, mindfulness, and meditation can be invaluable companions on this path. Tools such as the Enneagram, which many psychotherapists and coaches have now embraced, can also offer insightful shortcuts to this self-understanding.
We could perhaps call this initial exploration "Purpose Level 1": consciously engaging with the physical world and our responses to it. This inquiry often leads to a profound realization: that we are truly "response-able" for much of what we experience – in the sense that we are able to respond with intention and awareness.
Then, there's what we might consider "Purpose Level 2" (and here, I'm offering a bit of a conceptual shortcut!). This is where we begin to perceive this physical world as more than just a set of circumstances; it’s a rich playground, a dynamic space allowing us to grow, to evolve, to lift ourselves to new paradigms of understanding. We start to sense that we are not merely "this" (our body) nor just "that" (our mind). We are something 'beyond,' and the extraordinary thing is that this 'beyond state' can be touched and experienced in this life, with this body, with this mind.
And "Purpose Level 3" (an even bigger shortcut here!) is the ongoing journey of 'becoming that' – of embodying this deeper, more expansive sense of self more fully in our daily lives.
Ultimately, purpose may not be a final destination we arrive at. Perhaps it's the meaningful, ever-unfolding venture from "here" to "there" – a continuous journey of growth and discovery. It's not the arrival, but the path itself.
Warm greetings to you, fellow wanderer on this incredible journey.
Yes, you hit the nail on the head with this Stef. My turn of phrase closing the loop to Jayrd's post was that: "Principles not greater than purpose. Principles applied with intention equals purpose!!"
Jaryd's shift to the new newsletter is bold, thoughtful and introspective.
Bold – Exploring vulnerable, sometimes uncomfortable topics, using his personal journey to illuminate paths for others.
Thoughtful – Diving into the heart of the human experience, offering perspective, depth, and clarity on what truly matters.
Introspective – Through honest reflection, Jaryd shares lessons from his own life—reminding us all to pause, reflect, and grow.
Thank you, Michael ❤️
Good and thoughtful post Jaryd. It may be semantics, but I feel the challenge you have felt has been a limited understanding of the definition of purpose. Your presumed definition / description of purpose, for me, seems to be too closely linked to the ideas of certain goals or an outcome. Purpose in my view is about the journey and not the outcome itself, as you observed in your post.
Principles not greater than purpose. Principles applied with intention equals purpose!! :-)
Put another way: your post really just gives a richer definition or the *real* definition of purpose. And, I mean this in the best possible way in that your post adds to the vocabulary of what purpose really is.
See the verb form definitions of "purpose" in the dictionary and I think you will close the loop back to the true meaning of purpose. Or ask ChatGPT and see what it says to something like:
"When people feel or say they know or have a purpose, what is the definition of purpose in this context?"
The response I got was:
"A guiding principle or intention that gives an individual’s life coherence, motivation, and significance."
No reason to cast aside the Greeks or Aristotile...you are starting to understand what they understood. ;-)
Love this, Jeff :-) ChatGpt (or Gemini Pro 3.5 in my case :-) can be such a great companion in helping me express, refine, think through what I feel deep inside - especially when English is not my fiirst language :-)
That’s a great perspective, Jeff. And I love the phrasing of “principles applied with intention equals purpose”. That nails it.
Thank you Jaryd. This is really helpful!
Makes me very happy to hear that. Thanks, Solomon!
…the purposeless purpose…it’s a paperback ready to roll…can even make a kids version the purposeless porpoise…wandering and meandering are underrated…
I’ll never (ever) regret time spent wandering and meandering…not enough time spent wandering, though…
Jaryd, thank you for your piece. It resonated deeply because you're courageously grappling with one of the most profound questions we, as human beings, can ask ourselves: Why am I here? Is there any inherent meaning, any guiding purpose to all of this?
It's a journey many of us embark on. When we approach these significant questions, seeking answers, we often find ourselves digging deeper and deeper. And, as you thoughtfully explore, sometimes the very idea of "purpose" can begin to feel more elusive, increasingly complex, and seemingly just out of reach.
But here’s a gentle thought: What if, sometimes, we can’t see the forest for the trees? What if purpose isn't a distant concept to be chased, but something intimately woven into the fabric of our daily lives, present in every moment, simply waiting to be noticed?
If I may offer a perspective: perhaps purpose reveals itself in how we choose to respond to everyday situations. It’s in the quality of our thoughts, the intention behind our words, and the nature of our actions as we navigate the people, encounters, and circumstances that life brings our way each day.
This, of course, invites a deeper self-awareness – an understanding of our own patterns of thought, speech, and behavior. Practices like psychotherapy, mindfulness, and meditation can be invaluable companions on this path. Tools such as the Enneagram, which many psychotherapists and coaches have now embraced, can also offer insightful shortcuts to this self-understanding.
We could perhaps call this initial exploration "Purpose Level 1": consciously engaging with the physical world and our responses to it. This inquiry often leads to a profound realization: that we are truly "response-able" for much of what we experience – in the sense that we are able to respond with intention and awareness.
Then, there's what we might consider "Purpose Level 2" (and here, I'm offering a bit of a conceptual shortcut!). This is where we begin to perceive this physical world as more than just a set of circumstances; it’s a rich playground, a dynamic space allowing us to grow, to evolve, to lift ourselves to new paradigms of understanding. We start to sense that we are not merely "this" (our body) nor just "that" (our mind). We are something 'beyond,' and the extraordinary thing is that this 'beyond state' can be touched and experienced in this life, with this body, with this mind.
And "Purpose Level 3" (an even bigger shortcut here!) is the ongoing journey of 'becoming that' – of embodying this deeper, more expansive sense of self more fully in our daily lives.
Ultimately, purpose may not be a final destination we arrive at. Perhaps it's the meaningful, ever-unfolding venture from "here" to "there" – a continuous journey of growth and discovery. It's not the arrival, but the path itself.
Warm greetings to you, fellow wanderer on this incredible journey.
Yes, you hit the nail on the head with this Stef. My turn of phrase closing the loop to Jayrd's post was that: "Principles not greater than purpose. Principles applied with intention equals purpose!!"