Without a clear sense of purpose, we’re likely to spend most of our lives stuck in the past or tangled up in today’s problems.
When I sit down with people, I often start with the same question: “What do you want from life?” It always catches them off guard. Most come to my wife and me because they’re facing big problems. They expect the conversation to revolve around fixing those problems.
But can I be bold? We all have problems. Marriage struggles, job frustrations, financial stress, health issues, addictions. The difference is this: some people have learned how to turn problems into challenges that grow them instead of letting those problems become life-shaking events.
So how do you learn that skill? I don’t think you can. At least not without a purpose bigger than your problems. When our sense of purpose is small, our problems loom large. And when problems dominate our focus, they only grow heavier.
Clarity of purpose is what allows us to live intentionally.
Life comes at us with endless options. That sounds exciting, but it can also feel paralyzing. Where should I live? What job should I take? Who should I marry? Without clarity, every decision feels like a gamble, and regret piles up over time. Before long, it feels like we’re carrying a heavy bag everywhere we go. A bag of constant reminders that maybe we’re not making the right choices.
But purpose changes that. Clarity lightens the weight of decision making. Instead of endlessly questioning every choice, we can build our lives with confidence.
Clarity of purpose answers the questions that haunt us.
Did I choose the right career? Am I where I’m supposed to be? Without answers, the responsibilities of life feel crushing. And when that inner whisper about purpose won’t go away, we tend to numb it with busyness, entertainment, or coping habits. But the whisper never leaves.
I’ve always been mission-minded. I want to really live, not just exist. Honestly, I can’t go through the motions. My heart won’t let me. And I’ve learned that’s not a weakness. It’s a calling.
Maybe you feel the same. Maybe you carry a sense of responsibility to live your life fully, to make the difference only you can make. You’re not more special than others, but you know you can’t waste the life you’ve been given.
For me, getting clear on my purpose has given me the ability to build a life that matters—across every endeavor I take on. That clarity is my foundation.
If you don’t have clarity on your purpose, make that your top priority. Without it, you’ll end up wandering, hoping to land in a good place. With it, you can build something solid.
And here’s the good news: the question of purpose will never stop whispering to you. You don’t have to run from it. You can answer it.