Purpose

By Will Kirsop

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For centuries, humanity has wrestled with a fundamental question: what is our purpose in life? From philosophers to psychologists, this quest has transcended cultures and eras. Today, modern science affirms that discovering purpose is more than an abstract ideal — it’s a vital pathway to better health, wellbeing, and even academic success. 

Discovering purpose can be especially transformative for teenagers navigating a rapidly changing and often overwhelming world. As parents, educators, and mentors, supporting teens in uncovering their purpose isn't just a philosophical endeavor; it’s a tangible investment in their wellbeing and potential to thrive.

Historical Perspectives on Purpose

Across cultures and centuries, the pursuit of defining purpose has taken various forms, reflecting humanity’s enduring quest for meaning. 

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In ancient Greece, Aristotle posited that humans’ ultimate aim is to achieve eudaimonia — a state of flourishing and happiness rooted in living virtuously. Meanwhile, in France, the concept of raison d’être — literally, "reason for being" — offers a poetic yet practical lens through which purpose is understood. It encapsulates one’s underlying motivation, core values, and fundamental reason for existence. Similarly, the Japanese concept of ikigai views purpose as the harmonious intersection of four elements: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

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Centuries later, the connection between eudaimonia and purpose was beautifully captured by Helen Keller, the iconic author and educator:

“True happiness… is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”

These diverse interpretations reveal a universal truth: purpose is not solely personal — it is profoundly relational, shaping how we connect with others and contribute to the greater good. The quest to understand purpose as a construct spans millennia, cultures, and geographies, underscoring its enduring significance in the human experience.

The Modern Conceptualisation of Purpose 

While purpose may seem abstract or philosophical, in recent years researchers have coalesced around a clear and practical definition. Purpose relates to the extent to which people have a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something personally meaningful that also fosters productive engagement with the world beyond oneself (Kim et al., 2018; Adolescent Moral Development Lab et al., 2018). 

Purpose comprises three core components: 

1. Personal meaning: what deeply resonates with us.

2. Goal orientation: a sense of direction or ambition.

3. Aims beyond the self: how our actions contribute to others and the world. 

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Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American essayist and philosopher captured these components succinctly when he said:
“The purpose of life is… to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

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Further, researchers have distinguished between ‘noble’ and ‘ignoble’ purposes. Noble purpose is characterized by moral and prosocial behavior, inspiring actions that contribute positively to others and society. At Many Roads, the focus is on cultivating noble or at least neutral purposes that empower teenagers to make meaningful contributions in their lives and communities. This approach resonates with the ideals of Helen Keller and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who championed purpose as a profound force for meaningful and morally grounded contributions to the world. 

For teenagers, the journey to discovering purpose often begins with visualizing their “future selves” — a metacognitive process that involves envisioning their potential and aligning current actions with future aspirations. This process serves as a bridge between who they are and who they want to become.

The Science of Purpose 

The impact of purpose is profound and has been empirically demonstrated across populations, age ranges, and geographies. Behavioral psychology research consistently links a sense of purpose to improved life satisfaction, wellbeing, mental health, academic engagement, and even resilience in the face of challenges. 

Purpose and wellbeing

Purpose is associated with numerous positive psychology outcomes, including happiness, resilience, subjective wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, positive affect, and life satisfaction (Bronk, 2012). It is also linked to optimism, hope, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Moreover, studies into ikigai highlight its association with longevity across cultures, genders, and age groups (Schippers & Zeigler, 2019). 

Conversely, a lack of purpose is associated with psychological suffering. Individuals without a clear sense of purpose are more likely to experience depression, loneliness, boredom, and anxiety (Adolescent Moral Development Lab et al., 2018).  

Furthermore, purpose influences decision-making. Individuals with a sense of purpose are more likely to make health-affirming choices, enjoy better mental health, and maintain a balanced outlook, creating a positive ripple effect on those around them. Finally, developing a noble purpose has been identified as a cornerstone of human flourishing and thriving — Aristotle’s vision of eudaimonia rings true even today.  

Purpose and academics

Studies show that purpose enhances academic performance. A purpose intervention demonstrated improvement in self-regulation, grade point averages, and how long students were willing to study for tests and complete homework. Adolescents with a sense of purpose also find schoolwork more meaningful and perform better academically.

Teens and purpose

For teens, purpose serves as a wellspring of optimism, hope, and life satisfaction (Adolescent Moral Development Lab et al., 2018). Interestingly, research indicates that simply searching for purpose correlates with greater life satisfaction in adolescence and early adulthood.

Purpose exploration empowers teens by fostering agency (Ratner el al., 2023), enabling them to capitalize on life experiences and develop valuable qualities. Teens with a sense of purpose report higher levels of positive affect on a day-to-day basis, underscoring the immediate benefits of cultivating a meaningful life.

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Supporting teens in finding purpose

Erik Erikson, the renowned psychoanalyst, identified adolescence as a critical period for identity formation. He emphasized that during these years, teens work to develop a sense of self and identity within their social and cultural environments. This view has been reinforced by empirical studies, which show that a stable and strong sense of identity correlates with better mental health in adolescents (Ragelienė, 2016).

Before turning to evidence-backed ways to find purpose, we can reflect on the enduring wisdom of the Austrian poet, Rainer Maria Rilke. In his Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke offered profound guidance to his protégé, Franz Xaver Kappus, encouraging him to embrace uncertainty and approach life’s challenges with curiosity and patience:

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

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Rilke’s words eloquently capture the essence of purpose as a journey rather than a fixed destination — a process of exploration, growth, and discovery. Yet, this journey is not meant to be navigated alone. Just as Rilke’s mentorship guided his protégé through life’s uncertainties, teens today also benefit greatly from the presence of mentors, parents, and educators who can provide structure and support. These trusted guides can help young people navigate their "questions" and gradually uncover their answers, transforming uncertainty into a source of growth and resilience.

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For those seeking more tangible paths to uncover their purpose, structured approaches offer a guiding framework. While finding purpose often requires introspection and exploration — and some may never fully achieve it (Schippers, 2017) — approaches like Life Crafting provide valuable tools for guiding teens through the process. Developed by Michaela Schippers and Niklas Zeigler from Erasmus University Rotterdam, Life Crafting has been shown to enhance mental health and offer a systematic way for students to discover their purpose, set goals, and create actionable plans.

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The Life Crafting process involves four key stages:

1. Discovering values and passions.

2. Reflecting on one’s ideal life.

3. Setting specific goal attainment and ‘if-then’ plans.

4. Publicly committing to the goal(s).

Research demonstrates that interventions aimed at uncovering purpose are particularly effective when implemented during adolescence or as part of educational curriculums (Schippers & Zeigler, 2019). The teenage years, therefore, present an optimal window for parents, educators, and mentors to utilize tools like Life Crafting. By introducing structured guidance during this formative stage, we can help teens build a strong foundation for a life of meaning and fulfillment.

Conclusion: Living the Questions

Finding purpose is a journey, not a destination. As Rainer Maria Rilke beautifully expressed, we should learn to 'live the questions' and trust that, with time and guidance, the answers will unfold. By helping teens explore their purpose through a structured approach, we give them the tools to navigate life’s challenges and embrace a future of meaning and fulfilment.

As Pablo Picasso wisely said, “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” This sentiment encapsulates the essence of purpose — it's not only about self-discovery but about sharing our gifts with the world, making a meaningful impact, and enriching the lives of others.

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References ​​​

Adolescent Moral Development Lab, Claremont Graduate University, Prosocial Consulting, & John Templeton Foundation. (2018). The psychology of purpose. https://www.templeton.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Psychology-of-Purpose.pdf

Bronk, K. C. & Ball State University. (2012). A grounded theory of the development of noble youth. Journal of Adolescent Research (Vol. 27, Issue 1, pp. 78–109). https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558411412958

Kim, E. S., Chen, Y., Nakamura, J. S., Ryff, C. D., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2021). Sense of purpose in life and subsequent physical, behavioral, and psychosocial health: An outcome-wide approach. American Journal of Health Promotion, 36(1), 137–147. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171211038545

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Ragelienė, T. (2016). Links of Adolescents Identity Development and Relationship with Peers: A Systematic Literature Review. PubMed, 25(2), 97–105. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27274745

Ratner, K., Li, Q., Zhu, G., Estevez, M., & Burrow, A. L. (2023). Daily adolescent purposefulness, daily subjective well-being, and individual differences in autistic traits. Journal of Happiness Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-023-00625-7

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Schippers, M. C. (2017). IKIGAI: reflection on life goals optimizes performance and happiness. ERIM inaugural address series research in management. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/1765/100484 (Accessed Jan 5, 2025).

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Schippers, M. C., & Ziegler, N. (2019). Life Crafting as a way to find purpose and meaning in life. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02778