I’m kinda stressed out. We’re in the middle of a major house remodel, which has required a serious amount of legwork to pack up our stuff. We’ve just relocated to a rental for the next two weeks while our floors are being redone. The construction has gone way over budget and way past the deadlines. Last night, our house alarm went off for the second time in the middle of the night, dispatching a fire truck and eventually frustrating a number of firefighters.
On top of that, we’re dealing with some medical complications from a family member’s recent surgery. The kids are burned out from school. And here I am, doing my darndest to kick off a book launch that’s screaming toward me in early January.
When I was a kid, I learned how to juggle—balls, bean bags, maybe even bowling pins. Now, a half-century-old, I’m doing my best to juggle life. And I often feel like I’m about to drop something important.
One could argue that now, of all times, is the least appropriate moment to get up on my high horse and rant about purpose. But, of course, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. You see, purpose is the bulwark.
Admittedly, I borrowed this concept from the popular political podcast of the same name—the idea that we all need a last line of defense. That when all else fails, we need a failsafe. A framework. A final bastion of sanity, strength, and confidence to lean on, to relax our shoulders and know we’re not entirely adrift.
You see, purpose is the bulwark. When times get tough, when money is short, and the stresses pile up, purpose—specifically little p purpose—is our defense. Why?
Because we can’t control most of what befalls us in life. We have no say over our genetics, our luck, or even the bad decisions we inadvertently make. Life moves fast and is anything but trauma-free. Suffering, in one form or another, is often part of our daily experience. I long ago stopped trying to compare the validity or depth of suffering. One man’s heartbreak is another man’s minor blip on the road. But we all feel our own trauma and pain deeply, regardless of how it might stack up on some more objective scale.
What we’re talking about here is agency. I have little agency over many of the things that happen in my life. But purpose—purpose is the opposite. It’s something we can choose. We can decide what little p purpose looks like in our lives and build a world of activities around it.
And isn’t that exactly what we need when times get tough? We may not have all the answers to the chaos life throws at us, but we do have a last line of defense. A bulwark. A life of purpose that we can build for ourselves, one that helps gird us against happenstance, bad luck, and poor decisions.
Is purpose your bulwark?
Today’s Poll
Did you catch this week’s episode of Earn & Invest (Click to listen)?
Join Us In New York City (Click the image below)
Come join us for a night of celebration and hang out with some of your favorite podcast hosts including Jordan Grumet (Earn & Invest), Joe Saul-Sehy and OG (Stacking Benjamins), Paula Pant (Afford Anything), and Jillian Johnsrud (Retire Often). In addition to joining fellow enthusiasts, you will get an early peak at Jordan's new book, The Purpose Code (available January 7th), as well as hear sometimes hilarious stories from behind the scenes of their shows. Meet us on the mezzanine level of Pianos at 158 Ludlow St, New York, New York. Get ready for an evening filled with good vibes, great company, and of course, amazing insights from the book. Meet the Podcasters, mingle with fellow listeners, and enjoy some refreshments. It's going to be a blast!
Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether you're a long-time fan of the the shows or just curious to learn more, this event is for you. See you there!
The Purpose Code is Now Available on Preorder!
As mentioned in the above episode, get one free hour of coaching with he purchase of 5 or more copies of my new book, The Purpose Code. This offer is limited to the first twenty people, and only in this preorder period! Just send me proof of purchase and we will schedule your session.
