“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” - Robert Byrne

In a world where distraction is everywhere and multitasking is common practice, it seems obvious that our presence in the moment is compromised. What is the impact of not being present and how does that affect our purpose in life?

Presence is defined here as: striving to listen more than you speak, making eye-contact, remembering the things that you are told by others and being in the present moment.

Purpose affects every aspect of our being. People who have purpose have the belief that their life matters and that they can make a difference.

Purpose is defined here as: the reason for which something exists or is done. There is a desired result or aim in mind.

Purpose is at the very core of positivity and a reason to get up in the morning. Having purpose is also a prime motivator that defines choices and provides a line of sight for what is important. “Business experts make the case that purpose is a key to exceptional performance, while psychologists describe it as the pathway to greater well-being ¹.”

“Regarding psychological well-being, our past work has shown that higher sense of purpose levels relates to greater life satisfaction, positive affect, grit, and hope. When considering health, we have found that a higher sense of purpose relates to fewer negative daily symptoms, predicts greater longevity, and predicts more beneficial cognitive outcomes. Sense of purpose also appears connected to greater comfort with and openness to diversity. Finally, having a higher sense of purpose level also predicts both greater net worth and income over time ².”

Being Present

When asked what he would do if he had his life to live over again, the actor Bill Murray said in an interview: “I would like to be more present.” He suggested that fame had become somewhat of a distraction from his being able to always be present.

To be present and in the moment is to be focused on the task at hand, and nothing else. When you meet someone, that person has all your focus. Your thoughts and feelings are not distracted by something unrelated, which transports your presence from the moment. When distracted or sidetracked from your task, your purpose will also be negatively affected.

Take the example of throwing darts. When focused on the board, my grip on the dart, and my breathing, I am in the moment and I can be very accurate. When something distracts me and takes my focus away from my task—a loud noise or a rude comment—I am lucky to hit the wall.

My purpose of throwing the darts accurately has now been lost due to my lack of presence. I have been transported away from being in the moment and subsequently have lost my purpose. Presence and purpose are inextricably connected and dependent on one another for success.

“Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside us, unplayed.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes

An Inner Voyage

To decide what you are actually seeking in life, you will need to take an inner voyage. Your personal goals will not be found on Google, or be copied from a friend or mentor. That is, if you want them to work for you. Ultimately, you are defining your purpose.

How can anyone achieve that for you? You are the only one who can commit to your purpose. A major part of figuring out the content of your life is an inner voyage. You will need to explore yourself in depth.

“Life has meaning only if you do what is meaningful to you.” – Alan Cohen

What Has Meaning to You and Why?

Start your inner voyage by exploring what you determine as meaningful. Is work meaningful? What about relationships, are they meaningful to you? How important is having fun?

Explore your inner contents for the most meaningful parts of your life. This helps you decide where you want to put your purpose. This structure also helps you to decide where your focus needs to be. Not just long term but in each unfolding moment.

Why are these directions meaningful? Knowing why something has meaning to you helps you to commit more fully. When you do not know why you are motivated, you tend to vacillate and become misdirected and random.

Becoming Your True Self

When we start to align with our purpose and stay present and in the moment, we are moving toward arriving at our true self. You can now start to understand and develop a sense of yourself as an independent individual. Your purpose and presence, which are unique to you, will guide you to a place that is defined by yourself.

You can break away from the limitations of judgment and negativity passed along to you by others. The past labels given to you by others, or yourself, no longer apply.

You have come to recognize the power of your own values, ideals, and beliefs. The past has lost its hold on your present and future identity. You are in the now, not the then.

Formulating Your Goals

Through purpose and being present you will also be more fluent at setting and achieving your goals. At the core of achieving one’s goals, is knowing your purpose and staying connected to that purpose by being focused and in the moment.

Taking on your personal power through presence and purpose helps you discover and realize your true self. Through cultivating these habits of purpose and presence, your mental and physical health will also benefit. Support your inner voyage and it will continue to assist and develop your depth as a person.

References

^{1-Craig, N. & Snook, S.A. (2014). From Purpose to Impact. Harvard Business Review, May 2014.}

^{2-Pfund, G. & Hill, P. (2018). The Multifaceted Benefits of Purpose in Life.}

^{ResearchGate. Dec. 2018.}