Chapter 1: Understanding Meaning and Purpose

In life, we often find ourselves pondering whether we can function "without purpose," while hoping that a sense of purpose will eventually return. Is this a viable strategy?

Photo credit: iStock

By Eric Maisel

Let’s revisit our graduate student for a moment. She faced two significant crises in her life. The first was the disappointment when her graduate program failed to provide her with meaningful experiences. The second crisis stemmed from her realization that her academic journey, which was supposed to lead to a fulfilling career, had stripped her of both meaning and purpose. The combination of these losses cast a dark shadow over her life.

It’s possible to encounter a meaning crisis without a corresponding crisis of purpose. For instance, imagine you teach at a school where changes in curriculum or leadership make your job feel less significant. This situation results in a meaning crisis, but your passion for teaching remains intact. You can seek a new position elsewhere and find fulfillment in teaching again. This scenario illustrates how one can navigate a meaning crisis without succumbing to a deeper crisis of purpose.

To combat a meaning crisis, it's essential to remember that we possess multiple life purposes, which open up various avenues for finding meaning. You might engage in a day of service, advocate for a cause, enjoy time with your children at the zoo, or embark on a nature hike. However, if the meaning crisis feels all-consuming, as it does for our graduate student—where nothing seems to hold value—then the notion of “life purpose” may not provide the necessary relief.

In simpler terms, if you experience a “bad meaning day” at work, it’s still possible to have a “good meaning day” at home. But if that “bad day” results in a profound sense of purposelessness, you’ll carry that burden home, making your personal space just as bleak as your work environment. This heavy feeling of lacking purpose can drag you down into a deep depression.

This kind of crisis is more common than we realize. Even minor setbacks can trigger it. For example, if you’ve built your identity around acting and then face a disappointing audition, both your sense of meaning and purpose may collapse, leading to drastic decisions like leaving the industry altogether. Similarly, winning an award you coveted might feel like a catastrophe if a rival takes it away from you, plunging you into despair. Likewise, a significant betrayal in a long-term relationship can shatter both meaning and purpose.

Whether the triggering event is small, medium, or monumental—or even a fleeting thought that diminishes the importance of what once mattered—a crisis of this nature is one of the most severe experiences a person can face. While some degree of meaninglessness can be managed, the absence of both meaning and purpose leads to despair.

So, how can we re-establish a sense of purpose when it feels like it has vanished? Is the approach similar to addressing a lack of meaning? When facing a meaning crisis, we might remind ourselves that meaning fluctuates and its absence isn’t a tragedy. We can revisit past experiences that felt meaningful or explore new activities in hopes of rekindling that feeling. But will these strategies work for purpose?

Can we genuinely function “without purpose” while convincing ourselves that it will return? This presents a significant dilemma. Losing purpose is far more consequential than merely lacking meaning. Meaning is a transient feeling, whereas purpose serves as our guiding principles. If we "lose the plot," how do we continue to live? Why maintain daily routines or make healthy choices? Isn’t it easier to succumb to lethargy or indifference?

For now, let’s pause on this conundrum. We recognize our graduate student is grappling with the dual challenges of a meaning and purpose crisis. The temporary relief offered by medication may numb her pain but is not a solution. We have more effective strategies to help her, and they will be explored soon.

Chapter 2: Strategies for Reclaiming Purpose

How to heal when your life purpose has been stolen

This video discusses methods for reclaiming your purpose after significant life setbacks, offering insights and practical strategies.

NYC Lets Criminals Rob Tourists… On Purpose

An exploration of societal issues surrounding safety and personal security, emphasizing the importance of finding purpose in a chaotic world.

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The original article was published in The Good Men Project.

About Eric Maisel

Eric Maisel is the author of over 50 books, including Redesign Your Mind and The Power of Daily Practice. He is known for his work in creativity coaching and contributes to Psychology Today. For more details, visit www.ericmaisel.com, contact him at [email protected], or subscribe to his newsletter.