Purpose

Purpose is behind everything. Study nature without purpose and it begs the question: Why are you studying it? Why even start with that plant or that rock? Why not spend your time doing something else if there is no purpose to them?

What is purpose? Purpose is the goal behind what we do. It gives a motivation toward why we are working toward something. In the example above, knowledge or understanding can be the purpose behind studying nature. And the purpose behind that is to know what they are–how they can be used for medicine, agriculture, or engineering. When purpose is removed from what we do or study, it’s as if we’re doing things on autopilot.

For example, we know intuitively that we need to work to earn a paycheck, which allows us to pay the bills, to have electricity, shelter, to eat, etc. But without knowing what truly motivates us, we are left wanting more from life, unsatisfied and unfulfilled from what we have.

It’s as if there is nothing beyond the horizon except a job and a paycheck. We don’t see the other opportunities that are available. The things we can learn or spend our time doing that maximizes our talents and potential. That purpose can start off as a hobby, and grow into something much more. And after we’ve found out what that is, it can inspire us to learn and to create, and we begin to see life in an exciting and meaningful way.