I wrote this journal article on Sunday, Christmas Eve. I picked this title to reflect on the holiday commemorating the importance of Jesus Christ's teachings. I am a spiritual free thinker, not adhering to any specific religious practices for now. I respect and like the teachings of many religions and philosophies. Hence, the topic of “Purpose” is inspired by many great people having noble purposes in life; it is not specifically about Christ.
[photo of the lighting pole at The Jetty, the Portugese Settlement, Melaka. 24 Dec 2023]
Having a purpose in life (personal or professional) leads to higher satisfaction, fulfillment, and a sense of control. Where is ‘purpose’ in the framework of an Organic Learning Organization?
Purpose is one of the driving forces of our action in the Operating Model.
Organic Learning Organization
Business Operating System
Life Operating System
Mastery
Interaction
Operating Model
Behaviour - Attitude - Intention
Action - Identity - Desire - State
Action: Focus - Program - Commitment
‘Purpose’ impacts our ‘Intention’, and gives us the ‘Commitment’ to push through resistance and challenges.
Purposes, beliefs, and values guide our decision-making and behaviors. Vision is the desired outcome in the future, whereas purpose is the motivation behind the action. Vision is pull, and purpose is push. The purpose of a business is the ‘reason’ (meaning) why the company exists, while the vision is the future state in which the leaders set long-term goals. Having a clear purpose empowers us to face challenges and to do unpleasant work.
“If you have a strong purpose in life, you don’t have to be pushed. Your passion will drive you there.” - Roy T. Bennett
I believe there is no destined purpose for everyone. Life's purpose is to be found, through trials and attempts, exploring what is potentially interesting or meaningful. Eventually, we connect to something purposeful and are willing to give more than we get from it.
Purpose can be characterized by the context and dimension, not limited to:
high-level (general) or low-level (specific)
personal or professional
long, medium, or short term, etc.
Example of purpose:
Parents take care of their children, nurturing them to become independent adults.
Researchers finding cures for dreadful diseases, reducing suffering.
Daily rock - set an intention for today.
In the wheels of life, it is good to balance the four wheels: Health, Happiness, Wealth, and Wisdom (2H2W). The purpose is one of the levels of ‘happiness’, a better term would be ‘fulfillment’:
Present
Progress
Peace
PURPOSE
Passion
Pleasure
“Activity without a purpose is the drain of your life.” - Tony Robbins
As a living organism, we aim to survive long enough to pass on our genes. A seed must first break down before it can grow, flower, and produce more seeds. A worm has to transform into a cyst before becoming a butterfly to lay more eggs. Besides transforming ourselves from babies to adults and procreating more offspring, humans can also share knowledge and skills that help the community increase its survival rate and well-being.
My purpose for the second mountain is to live a fulfilling day to live a sustainable life. I am willing to sacrifice my life energy (time and effort) to learn and to share this philosophy. I wish to bring positive influence to at least 2 people; in turn, each can positively impact 2 or more people.
I suggest we start the simple practice of setting daily rocks and having clarity of intention (purpose and vision) regarding how a good day today will turn out.