Finding purpose in the digital age.
Without a reason for being in the modern world, we quickly become lost and jaded…
For previous less privileged generations, their purpose was clear: earn enough money to survive and support a family…
For most of us, having enough money for the absolute essentials is no longer a cause for concern; this societal progression is obviously a blessing, but it has left our generation with a huge problem…
“What now?”
I propose a 4-part approach to purpose, based on the Bio-psycho-social(-spiritual) model of psychology:
Biological:
Our biological purpose is to procreate and raise children.
This desire is ingrained in the primitive centres of our brain for evolutionary advantageous reasons…
Hence, why some people find purpose in earning loads of money, and others do not…
Seeing yourself as “the provider” for your children is a lot more fulfilling than simply making a number on a screen increase.
Psychological:
Our psychological purpose is to be happy.
As children, we play without anyone telling us we should or that we need to; it’s natural to our being.
Our brains are even wired to become addicted to things we find fun and stimulating (this same system has been hijacked by “reels” content, which is why it’s so addicting).
Social:
Our social purpose is to provide value to others, which most of us do through our jobs…
Some jobs make us feel like a cog in the wheel, not really making a difference in anyone’s life…
While other jobs provide a clear, direct view of how we are helping others.
Some jobs are inherently shallow and unfulfilling (think day trader), while others are directly impactful (think nurse)...
Others require a bit of mental gymnastics to connect to the bigger picture (think accountant, who manages the money of an organisation that is making a positive impact).
Spiritual:
Our spiritual purpose depends on what teachings you want to subscribe to…
For some religions, life is a test of will and morals; for others, it’s a relinquishing of ego…
Some non-religious teachings focus on connecting with feelings of “oneness” through exploring nature, meditation, or other rituals…
As a culture, we’ve largely rejected organised religion, but that doesn’t mean we should completely reject all forms of spirituality…
How “spiritual” we are (i.e. how easily we can engage in and connect with feelings of spirituality) is a genetically heritable trait, meaning that spirituality is in our DNA, it’s innate to us as humans.
Practical Mindfulness Blog #149
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Finding purpose in the digital age.
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