0. What is Purpose?
Before we tackle where purpose comes from, or how we wrestle with it, we need to ask a more basic question: What even is purpose?
The word shows up everywhere. We say someone “did it on purpose,” ask about the purpose of a tool, or wonder about our own life’s purpose. Same word, very different meanings. That’s what makes the conversation tricky. Depending on how you define purpose, you might end up with a very different understanding of what it means to live well, to succeed, or to matter. Is purpose something you’re designed for? Something you choose? Something that emerges over time?
Before we can answer those questions, we need to clarify what purpose actually means.
Everyday Uses of Purpose
The word purpose gets used in all kinds of situations. Consider a few examples:
Imagine two children are playing and one steals a toy from the other. The child with the stolen toy then locks eyes with the other, and with a small smile, proceeds to break it. The other might cry out "You meanie! You did that on purpose!" In this scenario, the sad child is using the word "purpose" to attribute intent and motivation to the breaking of the toy.
You notice a strange spoiler on the back of your friend’s car and ask, “What’s the purpose of that thing?” Now the word shifts. It's not about intention. Instead, you are asking your friend to explain the utility, function, or reason for the spoiler.
Someone reflects on their career and says, “I find purpose in helping others.” Here, it’s not about intent or utility. It’s about the sense of meaning they draw from the role they play in others’ lives.
Same word. Three different angles: intention, function, and meaning.
These everyday examples show just how flexible the concept of purpose really is. And that flexibility matters. Depending on how you define purpose, you will end up seeing your life through a very different lens. Let's consider some of the primary ways people understand and define purpose, and the core question each perspective raises.
Purpose As...
A Function
One way to think about something's purpose is in terms of its function. This perspective is frequently used in science to describe complex systems. Each part of a system accomplishes a function, and that function contributes to the whole.
For example, consider the cardiovascular system in the human body. Its primary job is to circulate blood so that oxygen, nutrients, and energy reach the body's cells while removing carbon dioxide and waste. Within this system, each part has a different purpose. The heart pumps blood. The vessels carry it. The blood transports oxygen and nutrients. The purpose of the entire system, and each part within it, is tied to the function it performs.
We can apply the same logic to ourselves. If you believe humans were created or designed in a specific way, then it makes sense to ask: What were we made to do?
An Identity
Purpose can extend beyond functions and instead focus on who you are. From this perspective, someone's purpose transcends the tasks they accomplish or the role they play.
Consider someone who has spent their whole life teaching. Even after they retire from the classroom, they might say "I'm still a teacher at heart." In this case, their purpose isn't limited to the act of teaching or the outcome it produces. Instead, it's rooted in who they are, not just what they do.
The same could be said for parenting. Even in seasons when their children no longer need daily care, some parents still feel a deep sense of purpose in who they are as a mother or father. From this view, purpose focuses on being more than doing.
If you believe that purpose is tied to your identity, then it makes sense to ask: Who am I meant to be?
An Intention
Some people understand purpose as a matter of direction. When someone says they want to “live purposefully,” they often mean they want to live with intention and make deliberate choices that move them toward something that matters.
Consider a former athlete who begins mentoring teens in underserved communities. She might say, “My purpose is to help young people avoid the mistakes I made.” She wasn’t trained for this role, and it may not define her identity the way her athletic career once did. But it’s the goal she has chosen. It shapes how she spends her time, where she puts her energy, and what she commits herself to. Her sense of purpose is rooted in the direction she has decided to go.
This kind of purpose doesn’t necessarily emerge from how we were made or who we are at the core. It flows from the goals we set, the missions we embrace, or the future we want to create.
If you believe that purpose is tied to intention, then it makes sense to ask: What should I pursue?
An Outcome
Some people understand purpose by looking at results. From this perspective, purpose isn’t about design or identity, and it’s not about goals or direction. It’s about what your life actually produces.
Someone may not feel a strong sense of calling or direction in the moment, but when they look back, they see how their actions shaped the lives of others. They might say, “I didn’t know what I was doing at the time, but I can see now that it made a difference.” In this case, purpose is judged after the fact. It’s measured by impact.
This way of thinking often shows up during moments of doubt. When plans fall through or intentions don’t lead to expected outcomes, people might wonder, “What’s the point?” In these moments, the question isn’t about identity or function. It’s about whether the results were worth the effort.
If you believe that purpose is tied to outcomes, then it makes sense to ask: What difference will I make?
A Role in a Story
Another way to think about purpose is through the lens of story. From this view, our lives are chapters in a larger narrative, one that is still being written. Purpose isn’t always obvious in the moment. It’s something we come to understand as we look at how the pieces fit together over time.
Consider someone who has faced hardship, loss, or failure. In the middle of it, they may feel directionless or stuck. But later, they are able to look back and say, “That season shaped who I became,” or “That experience made me more compassionate.” The purpose wasn’t always clear at the time, but it emerged within the story their life was telling.
This view assumes that life has a broader arc, one that includes growth, change, and meaning beyond what we can always see in the present. From this perspective, we discover purpose not all at once, but as we respond to what life brings.
If you believe that purpose is part of a larger story, then it makes sense to ask: What part do I play?
Summary
When discussing purpose, the perspectives mentioned above often get blended together since they are deeply connected to one another. It's important to note that they aren't mutually exclusive, but highlight unique aspects of purpose. Here's a quick view of how they compare:
You may find yourself drawn to one of these more than the others, or you might see parts of each in how you think about your own life. Regardless, whichever view you hold or prioritize will shape how you measure meaning, how you respond to failure, and how you decide what truly matters. Hopefully in the future, this website will help tease out some of these implications. For now, let's dive into our first topic: The Origins of Purpose.