I used to envy people who announced they’d “found their calling.” It sounded so neat… one lightning-bolt realisation, and the rest of life clicks into focus. In reality, most of us never get that Hollywood moment. We’re left scrolling job ads, wondering why passion hasn’t slapped us in the face yet.
The problem isn’t that we’re lost. It’s that we’ve been sold a false choice:
Stay in a safe job you resent or find your single, life-defining mission you’ll love forever.
That binary makes great social-media fodder. It also keeps smart people stuck on the sidelines, paralysed by the pressure to pick “the one thing.”. This is particularly difficult for someone whose curiosity knows no bounds and associates themselves as a generalist!
Where the purpose panic came from
Work used to be… well, work. Meaning lived in family, faith, hobbies, community. As those institutions loosened, the office rushed in to fill the gap. Employers promised “bring your whole self,” books preached “do what you love,” and suddenly your payslip had to cover rent and existential fulfilment.
Cue the surge in “purpose” Google searches, LinkedIn posts about quitting six-figure roles, and a lingering sense that if you haven’t turned your deep passion into a job title by 30, you’re behind.
Why the dichotomy is wrong
Purpose is dynamic. What lit you up at 22 might bore you at 32. That’s growth, not failure.
One size doesn’t fit all. Some people thrive when work is the centrepiece. Others prefer a solid 9-to-5 that funds a purposeful life outside the office. Both paths are valid.
Passion ≠ constant pleasure. Meaningful work still has admin, stress, dull Tuesday afternoons. The difference is you care enough to push through.
A better frame: The Purpose Loop
Curiosity – follow the itch.
Experiment – run tiny tests in the real world.
Meaning – notice what energises you, double down.
Iteration – repeat as you grow.
Purpose isn’t a destination. It’s the trail of breadcrumbs you leave by acting on curiosity again and again.
6 ways to get unstuck and build purpose
1. List your values, not job titles
What matters to you beyond money? Impact, autonomy, creativity, learning, community… Pick your top three. They’re the lens for every career decision from here.
2. Run tiny experiments
Drop “five-year plan” thinking. Instead:
Shadow a colleague in a different team.
Volunteer for a project that scares you (in a good way).
Ship a scrappy side-project over a weekend.
Each test gives data on what feels engaging in practice, not in theory.
3. Audit your strengths
Write down the tasks that make time fly and the skills people praise you for. Purpose often hides where competence meets energy. Seek roles or projects that let you use those muscles daily.
4. Craft the job you already have
Can you tweak 10 % of your role to align with your values?
Swap a repetitive task with a teammate who enjoys it.
Pitch a small initiative tied to a cause you care about.
Reframe the impact of routine work: “X reports = clearer decisions for 200 colleagues.”
Small shifts compound into bigger meaning.
5. Diversify meaning outside work
Join a community garden. Train for a charity run. Start that podcast.
When purpose has multiple sources, work loses the burden of being “the one.” An added bonus is that outside projects often boomerang back as fresh skills and networks.
6. Schedule reflection loops
Every quarter (or more!) ask:
What gave me energy?
What drained me?
What tiny experiment is next?
Document answers. Iterate. Momentum beats epiphany.
If you’ve already got one great (this article probably wasn’t that helpful for you!), but for the rest of us…
Stop hunting for a single purpose.
Instead, build a constellation of experiences that light the sky as you move. Follow curiosity, test in real life, and let purpose emerge in motion.
Feel stuck? Pick one tiny experiment from the list and book it into your calendar today. Clarity comes after action… never before.
See you in the comments,
Elis
Off the Path – redesign work so it fits life