Purpose, the new Grail

 Finding one’s purpose is the key to self-realization

If you are anything like the millions of people searching on the internet for self-development topics, you might have come across web pages and articles related to Purpose, Passion, or Vision as these are the 11^th most researched topics in that area. Originating from the 14^th century, “purpose” – from Anglo-French purpos, Old French porpos "an aim, intention" (12^th century), and from porposer "to put forth” – is generally defined as something set up as an object or end to be attained: an intention.

Though its appearance in our modern vocabulary is relatively old, the twenty-first century has sparked a keen interest in the importance of purpose in one’s life. Robert Byrne famously stated that “the purpose of life is a life of purpose”, as an author and Chess master who pursued his passion until his late 70s, the key message was that a life with a clear goal is the essence of a life worth living.

We all have examples of people who lived a life that the general opinion would describe as purposeful, usually containing evidence of successes (with a material component), a pinch of uniqueness, and something of a (somewhat) linear story line, one that we can easily comprehend, admire and sometimes aspire for. We see the signs of passion, dedication and discipline that (otherwise normal) human beings have exerted and that led to great achievements and successful lives. No doubt that the media and social media have been fueling the public’s appetite for such stories of incredible life paths, inspiring many…in the comfort of their couches and lives.

You have to live a purposeful life

This has become the new mantra of success and fulfilment that youth and adults alike are seeking like the new Grail, holy or not, to bring their lives to new levels. A life that would enable them to walk in the shoes they were created for. Very close to that is the Japanese concept of ikigai. As illustrated below, Ikigai means one’s reason for being, one’s “raison d’être”, and is believed to be the convergence of one’s passions (what you love), particular abilities (what you are good at), community service (what the world needs), and what you can be paid to do.

Although this concept has long existed in Japanese culture, it was popularized by Japanese psychiatrist Mieko Kamiya in 1966 when she wrote “On the Meaning of Life” (translated ikigai ni tsuite). But it is at the end of the twentieth and beginning of the twenty-first century that its importance was highlighted by scientists and spiritualists around the world, striving, among other things, to uncover the secret of longevity detained by Okinawans. Indeed, Okinawa, the Japanese “island of longevity”, detains a world record in concentration of centenarians (though the U.S. still holds world counted record  of centenarians). The Okinawans’ ikigai is believed to be one of the keys to their longevity. Their “raison d’être” becomes, in this sense, their literal reason for continuing to live, not only keeping their motivation high, in occidental terms, but also providing consistent fuel to their bodies as well.

The search for purpose is also at the heart of many scriptures in the Bible, where man are  called to align their purpose with God’s. Or, rather, he should go beyond his own “plans” and adopt God’s purpose for his life.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19;21.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8;28.

Here, purpose becomes a corollary of our relationship with God, through which we get a clearer path on how to engage fellow human beings, contribute to the community and attain inner harmony/peace, beyond the (often-contradictory) plans in our hearts.

In Africa, especially in the Southern and Eastern sub-regions, ubuntu is at the heart of one’s purpose and even human essence. As defined by African Journal of Social Work (AJSW)[1], ubuntu means:

“A collection of values and practices that people of Africa or of African origin view as making people authentic human beings. While the nuances of these values and practices vary across different ethnic groups, they all point to one thing – an authentic individual human being is part of a larger and more significant relational, communal, societal, environmental and spiritual world.”

This definition reminds us that our humanity can only be attested through the eyes and the relations with fellow human beings. And though the African sense of community has been weakened through modernity, the community (the others) still play an important role and cannot be undervalued.

While living with and for a purpose provides a clearer path to our actions, plans, and daily decisions, today’s incentive to “search for/find” one’s purpose can appear to many as, yet, another capitalistic good to covet. A Holy Grail that one should find as soon as possible, as it encloses the full meaning of life, the living instructions enabling us to sail through our existence.

In that regard, when asking a centenarian why he has lived so long, many expect a spectacular answer. One that would enable us to understand our own lives so deeply and clearly that we could then set off to a similar longevity path.

In reality, many of them, like one senior man interviewed by Héctor Garcia and Francesc Miralles (Ikigai, Penguin Life ed. 2017), would just respond “I don’t know, I just haven’t died yet”.

In reality, our life’s purpose is not a grand goal that we find by trekking into the highest mountains or diving into the deepest seas.

In reality, our path can be predefined, influenced by external forces, or change at the whim of our decisions.

In reality, purpose might not be  a coveted Grail to find, but rather lies within our daily actions, the direction of our thoughts, our daily commitment to live, beyond making a living.

The purpose of our life may not be bestowed upon us by a benevolent (or maleficent godmother) in our baby crib, nor does it require us to live like Okinawans, or yogis in Indian Temples.

The purpose of our life can be as simple as remaining (or becoming) connected to ourselves, our feelings, our emotions; connected to others, with open-mind, open hearts and open hands. Because, you see, alone, we are an insignificant cell looking for a purpose that can never be found elsewhere than in our common humanity. “I am because We are” should be the simple and humble motto to live by and to live an extraordinary life, at our microlevel.

If we are looking for a purposeful life, let us remember that being unique, and uniquely positioned (in our family, community, world) is the perfect starting point for anything. Well, at least in my point of view.

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[1]  Mugumbate, Jacob Rugare; Chereni, Admire (23 April 2020). "Editorial: Now, the theory of Ubuntu has its space in social work". African Journal of Social Work. 10 (1). ISSN 2409-5605.