Meaning/Purpose From the Ground Up
Not just picked out of the sky
When people say ‘discover your purpose’ they’re usually referring to an intellectual exercise where you try to identify something to dedicate your whole life too. And in these exercises nobody really talks about meaning because it’s not as specific and easy-to-articulate-but-not-to-achieve as a purpose. But every day we are changing, hopefully growing, and our understanding of ourselves changes too. We are challenged to somehow go deeper than all that and find what is our core driver - that which is permanent in a universe of impermanence.
When I look back at all the times I was challenged to discover my purpose I’m saddened by the guidance on how I was supposed to do it, the guilt of failure, and the time wasted ‘trying on’ different purposes that felt like they were just kinda selected, not discovered. I believe there are processes to actually discover purpose and I’m sure there are others than the one I had to figure out on my own.
Most frameworks and gurus focus on purpose because if you find something appropriate and hold that in your mind, the pursuit of the purpose creates meaning. Meaning is the real goal, but it’s emergent, not a destination. It emerges from the intersection of your natural tendencies, your current station, and what the world needs from you in this moment. These three things are constantly shifting, which is why a static purpose statement can quickly feel hollow.
You can feel meaning by simply being fully present in what you’re doing. You can start anytime. Check out the presence exercises in The Puzzle. Building greater meaning is the secret in The Puzzle. You’re always placing new pieces and each piece you place changes what pieces could come next. The more present you are in placing them, the more options emerge after. Your upbringing and station in life aren’t obstacles to overcome or background to transcend; they’re simply the starting pieces on the board right now. The question isn’t “what should I dedicate my life to?” but rather “what feels right to do next (what piece feels right to place next), given where I actually am and where I want to go?”
The missing ingredient in most meaning-making conversations is the honest recognition that your brain has preferences, capabilities, and limitations that aren’t negotiable through willpower alone. You can’t purpose your way into loving something your neural architecture finds tedious. You can presence your way into doing a good job, but your self-reflection will show that it wasn’t natural. Your self-reflection can show you those moments when time disappeared, when the work truly felt like play, so you can build intentionally towards more of those moments.
That is meaning from the ground up. It’s not a destination that you’re marching toward, but a structure you’re assembling piece by piece, using materials you actually have, guided by what actually brings you alive.
When I started to truly apply presence, I found I could love even the mundane work in front of me. I found joy in mopping floors and cleaning equipment. But each night, upon reflection, my mind wanted to do more than that. Zen Buddhism says we should keep the meaning right in front of us, but that essentially paralyzes you at the moment you are awakened to the power of presence. Presence allowed me to access meaning with whatever I was doing, but the yearning for greater meaning persisted.
Being present in the day, reflecting on what worked best and what didn’t feel natural, then shifting the next day towards the things my brain loved to be doing…choosing the wood to chop and the water to carry…created the magic. Day after day I chose where to focus my energy and then summoned as much presence as my brain had the energy for. The days started to change, my productivity accelerated and opportunities opened up I never thought possible. I continued to be present and jump into opportunities and execute extremely well. Work became play.
Soon I realized I was living my dream. Meaning is described as the experience of doing what matters to you. I get to do that every day. Everything I do matters to me and I know tomorrow will present me with more opportunities for meaning. Presence and Self-reflection. Intention and Attention. chop wood/carry water and then choose the wood/water. That’s how I create my purpose instead of choosing one.