What's the Vision?

It's time to share the why behind Thoughts On Purpose

After a chat with one of our readers Chris, I thought it was time that I shared a bit more about my vision for Thoughts On Purpose and where it comes from.

Well, like so many others, the story starts in lockdown.

LOCKDOWN

During the first lockdown I got some much needed time to reflect on my life. The time I saved on commuting alone was almost 2 hours a day that I could use to have some fun, to rest and to reflect.

I used some of this time on a writing exercise called Self Authoring, which was an absolute revelation! It helped me to take a step back and notice some patterns about my life that I was too close to notice before, and create some invigorating long-term goals for myself.

During this process I realised that I had a passion for mentoring. That I had a set of skills that I wanted to make more of, and a desire to pass on all of the blessings I’ve received in my life to those who need it. I had all these desires but no clear way to use them.

PILOT

So I began to create an online self-development course called PILOT with the aim of helping young adults who were feeling stuck to take charge and feel empowered to direct their own lives. I designed the course and built a website using a curious blend of cognitive psychology, contemplative spirituality and modern technology.

My friend Evan graciously volunteered to be a guinea pig, and he was more patient, flexible and enthusiastic than I could have ever hoped; even as I wrote it on the fly and we tried to intersperse the practices with coaching sessions.

As we arrived at the later stages of the course, I was still trying to resolve a tension I was feeling that it was all too broad and I was struggling to define what it was. It had all gone well but it needed a stronger focus.

It’s like I didn’t know for sure what I was trying to do when I set out, but I was pushing ahead to see what might come of it anyway.

IN COMES VOCATION.

I’m struggling to trace this back exactly, but I believe the next realisation came from reading a selection of books: I began to realise that helping others find a life of passion and purpose, especially a connection to a higher purpose, is what really makes me come alive. It suddenly made sense. First, Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl rocked my socks off, driving home the message that meaning is the core psychological motivation for mankind.

Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life; everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he cannot be replaced, nor can his life be repeated, thus, everyone’s task is as unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.

Then this was followed by a double sucker punch in the form of Mastery by Robert Greene and the ideas of Luke Burgis, the author of Wanting — which showed me how vocation is central to this question of a meaningful life.

Later, through some conversations with friends, I was reminded of the “plan b” careers I had been keeping stored away in the back of my mind: often being attracted to the idea of being a counsellor, careers advisor or spiritual director in some other life. At the nexus of all of these desires though, is the aim to help people find a life full of purpose, to discover their gifts and put them to service for a higher purpose.

Feeling excited about this prospect, I realised that I couldn’t just use what I already knew to adapt PILOT. I would need to dive into the world of purpose and vocation and find out as much as I possibly could. Then, armed with this knowledge, hopefully create a course/workshop/methodology of my own that could really set people on their path of fulfillment.

And why keep it to myself? I decided it was better to do my research in the open, and have a conversation so that we can learn together!

I feel certain that people are seeking better, more direct guidance in this area and it’s not good enough for the vast majority of people to leave it up to chance to find their calling. I have a hope that we will discover tools and teaching and language to make this journey accessible to all.

With your help I would love to develop the following:

• Practical courses that help people discover what they’re made for

• Podcasts and interviews that delve deep into how people discovered what they love doing

• Writing on cultural topics through the lens of vocation, including criticism of purpose-related stuff where it’s not doing what it says it should.

So this is where Thoughts On Purpose comes from and where you come in. Won’t you join me? I want to hear what you think. Would you like to spearhead a part of this project or join me in my research? Get in touch by replying to this email or comment.

Or if you know someone who would be interested in getting involved, or learning from what I find here, then share it here.