The Pursuit of Purpose

Reflections on What Gives a Life Meaning

Don Henley, drummer with the Eagles and a multi-award-winning solo artist, once sang:

“Everybody’s got to have a purpose — some people just do not know.”

(Driving With Your Eyes Closed, 1984)

It’s a line that cuts through the noise — not preachy, just true.

We all sense that purpose matters. But finding it, living it, and staying true to it? That’s another story.

This piece is a reflection on that quiet search — how our sense of purpose shifts over time, and why it matters now more than ever.

The human experience is bound, almost from the beginning, to the search for purpose.

For many of us, that begins with career. We work to succeed, to earn, to provide. Purpose looks a lot like achievement — and that’s not a bad thing. It was certainly true for me, and for many of the people I’ve worked alongside over the years.

But something often shifts with age. Not always — but hopefully.

We start to question what it’s all for. Our motivations change. The ladder we were climbing begins to blur, and we realise we’re more interested in direction than position.

This is when refining our sense of purpose becomes necessary.

When we stop to think — really stop — we often find that beyond survival, beyond the pursuit of pleasure or status, lies a deeper yearning. For me, and perhaps for you, it’s about understanding our place in the world and contributing something of value while we’re still here.

Purpose, at its heart, is more than motivation. It’s the quiet cornerstone of a life that feels coherent and real.

This isn’t a new idea

Socrates and Aristotle both spoke of living a life of virtue, of fulfilling one’s potential.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about authenticity and contributing to the greater good.

Wisdom, it seems, has always known what modern life so often forgets.

But defining purpose is deeply personal. For some, it’s in learning. For others, it’s in creativity, health, service, relationships, or compassion.

Purpose doesn’t always look dramatic. It might show up in daily kindness. In gentle consistency. In noticing what others rush past.

To use the over-used phrase (which nevertheless is true) It’s a journey — not a goal.

A process of self-discovery rooted in values, passions, and the quiet things that spark something inside us. And once we sense that spark, we begin to shape a life around it.

That doesn’t mean the path is straight. In my experience it rarely is. Life has a way of throwing obstacles in our way. We may get derailed. Or we may need to rethink our purpose altogether. But we should never quit.

That’s why adaptability matters — and why it’s worth checking in with ourselves from time to time.

Purpose isn’t fixed

Things change. World events, personal circumstances, relationships and goals. And purpose should change and grow as we do.

Ultimately, living with purpose isn’t just about personal fulfilment or gratification. It’s much more than that.

It allows us to give something back. Whether through creativity, kindness, or quiet influence, a life aligned with purpose leaves a ripple behind — something that outlives us. Call it a legacy of you like.

But remember one thing. The pursuit of purpose isn’t easy. It takes honesty, courage, and resilience. But it’s also the most rewarding journey I know — one that brings meaning not just to what we do, but to who we are.

Postscript

What gives your life shape right now?

What have you let go of — and what are you still moving towards?

Whatever it is, may it be yours — truly yours — and may it leave a quiet light behind.