Quote:
Originally Posted by ImOpen  Those words are not Steve's true purpose. That would be a mockery against his person. We are all much more than that. We are greater than anything we can express. Don't try to define things you cannot comprehend. |
I think you've hit the nail on the head with this. I don't think the idea of writing down your purpose is to
define it ; or even to express it. As you point out, that is doomed to fail ; it
would be a mockery.
As I see it, the written purpose serves as a reminder hook. When (for example) Steve writes that his purpose is "To grow and help other people to grow", that doesn't express the idea in detail. It
certainly doesn't define it. It's not of use to anyone but Steve and it's not
meant to be.
What it does is serves as a reminder of what's important to him. He's not following the words, he's following exactly what you're talking about; that inner sense of purpose that
cannot be expressed as words. The words just remind him of that inner purpose.
Life is full of distractions and temptations, it's easy to drift without realising. A written purpose is an ongoing reminder to tap into that internal purpose and stay on course.
(That's how I see it, anyway ; Steve is free to disagree, of course).
All that said, I'm still trying to find my hook. I've certainly fallen into the trap of "mission statements" and the like that
are just words. Words themselves have no motivational power. Unless they're a link to something meaningful inside you, then they do nothing.