I feel like I haven’t completely let the cat out of the bag to some extent. While I’ve been preaching about purpose this whole time, I have definitely been leaving something out. As mentioned last week, the Harvard study points to one overwhelming factor when it comes to living a happy life..interpersonal connections. Yet, I keep pushing this purpose button over and over again.
Why?
Well, you may remember from my last book, Taking Stock, I have stressed the importance of purpose, identity, and connections. While in the book (as well in The Purpose Code) I have spent much time on how to fulfill the dictates of the first two, I have been slow to instruct on connections. The reason? Connections naturally follow when we live a life of purpose and identity.
It’s simple. When you fill your time with things you love (the joy of addition) and get rid of all you loathe (the art of subtraction), you tend to become the kind of person people want to be around. You create a life of joy, fulfillment, and maybe you find yourself in a state of flow.
This is attractive to other people. When they see you engaged, intentional, and full of light, you become exceedingly attractive to them. Especially if those things that engage you also are important to them. People naturally gravitate towards those people who dig the same things that they dig.
This happened to me quite naturally. When I finally gave myself permission to leave medicine (something that no longer felt purposeful) and delve into podcasting, I became a beacon for people with similar interests as me. As I joyfully created The Earn & Invest Podcast, I showed up every day as my best self.
This version of me attracted others. Some became my teachers (like my good friend Joe), others became collaborators (like my original co host Paul). Some even became my students. I quickly became a part of communities like the personal finance community, the financial independence community, and a community of non-fiction writers.
These communities have provided me so many close friends, important projects, and wonderful activities to fill my time. These are what are called communities of internal purpose. They exist to take care of themselves and are made up of individuals who come together to support each other, learn, and grow. The idea is to foster a sense of fellowship and build deeper, more supportive relationships.
Thus, as the title of this post suggests, purpose is everything and nothing. It is the internal driver that leads to community and connections. And communities and connections ultimately lead to happiness.
Don’t ask what makes you happy. Ask who.
Today’s Poll
Did you catch this week’s episode of Earn & Invest (Click to listen)
Preorder My Book (Click on the image)
Purpose leads to community. I love this post, Jordan. And I'm in it!
Philosophy professor Hubert Dreyfrus once said that "The goal of life, for Pascal, is not happiness, peace, or fulfillment, but aliveness.” I think purpose, community, meaning ... all the things we talk about wanting, are all pathways to aliveness.
Thanks for writing!