4. Can We Fail?
The idea of “living into our purpose” assumes something deeper than simply existing. It suggests there are things we are meant to accomplish with our lives. But can we fall short? Can we reach the end of our lives and realize we’ve somehow missed it?
Jeff, a medical practitioner, once shared his struggle to balance competing priorities: family, faith, and career. Although he led a thriving medical practice and saw it as a valuable opportunity to help his community, he intentionally limited the amount of time he gave to it. He wanted to serve his community in other capacities and spend time with his family and young kids. One of his mentors, convinced of his untapped potential, frequently urged him to invest more in his career. Eventually, frustrated by Jeff’s lack of ambition, the mentor said, “You know, you could have really been someone… but you’re not.”
Is it possible that Jeff missed his purpose of giving absolutely everything to medicine? Or was he better able to fulfill his role as a husband and father?
Failure is in the eye of the beholder?
The idea of failing at our purpose depends heavily on the Origins of Purpose.
If purpose is something we define for ourselves—a blend of dreams, passions, and personal goals—then failure seems not only possible but painfully common. A life spent chasing the wrong things, or stuck in fear and indecision, may end without those aspirations ever coming to fruition. And yet, even then, who gets to say whether we’ve truly failed? Is purpose the destination, or in an honest pursuit of a value or self-actualization?
If purpose is something objective—given or woven into the fabric of our being—then the stakes feel higher. Can someone live their whole life and never discover what they were created for? Could they know, but willfully choose to ignore or run from their purpose? Are they destined to fulfill their purpose no matter what?
A Difficult Question
Can purpose be thwarted due to unforeseen tragedy? What of children, the unborn, or those whose lives end unexpectedly? Did they live into their purpose in some way? Or were they prevented from fulfilling it?