A dream without a plan is just a wish
- dawnjchurch
- Jan 15, 2024
- 4 min read
Positive Psychology talks about Purpose as being actionable and derived from Meaning. I think of Meaning as the sense of understanding why we are here, and Purpose as how we uniquely contribute to bringing that meaning to life.
Simple. But, “yes, and” - this is such a tricky thing. Often people talk about Purpose as being something that is innate, something like, “It’s the reason why I am here.” It’s just something that is within us, and according to everyone else, all we really have to do is discover it. But on the flip side, it’s something super elusive, and almost mystical, that almost all of us struggle to find… And according to Positive Psychology, it stems from the Meaning of Life, which humanity has been attempting to define for millenia.
I’m sorry, that’s a lot of pressure.
But I have a thought: I want to invite you to just try subbing out “purpose” and “meaning” with “the impact I want to have.” For now.
Purpose is just Intentional Impact with a Plan of Action
While I do think it’s true that everyone has something specific and unique in them that only they can offer to their world - brass tax, our simple existence impacts the world around us.
Impact is the product of our unique, individual presence and our actions - whether we consciously choose how we show up or really think about our actions or not.
I think impact can be interchangeable with Purpose, with the exception that I think impact is a little bit more of an accessible concept to most people, and, here’s the important bit, I think Purpose includes some degree of intentional choice. In fact, I'd say Purpose is the impact you intentionally choose to create with your own unique presence and skills.
Purpose is a combination of your unique traits and how you choose to exercise them to create the impact you want to have on the world through your actions. Purpose is who you are at your deepest core and what you do. It is the impact that only you can create through the combination of your simple presence, how you decide to express your unique gifts, and the actions you take to use those gifts to create an outcome in the world that you find meaningful.
In this way, there may (honestly) be more pressure, or relief, depending on how you relate to choice and responsibility, but instead of Purpose being something that is predetermined and hidden within you "somewhere," it’s now in your hands to decide. And, I think, it’s simply - what is the impact you want to have on the world, and how do you make that happen?
“A Dream without a Plan is just a Wish”
I was at some sort of event several years ago, and there was a woman offering slips of paper with inspirational messages she had handwritten on them. I pulled this message, and it stayed on my nightstand for a couple years. Knowing me, it’s around here somewhere. But, I think this message is really relevant to Purpose.
I do genuinely appreciate Positive Psychology's definition of Purpose - that it is actionable and derived from Meaning. That "actionable" piece really changed things for me. Purpose is chosen impact with directionality. Aka, a plan of action. We may wish to have a positive impact, but until we decide to do something about it and make and follow through on a real plan of action, our impact will remain as just the happenstance of our lives. It may be positive, negative, or neutral, but it won't be Purposeful.
Purpose Evolves
Purpose requires that you, as an individual, create and follow through on a plan for how you will make your dream for the impact that you want to have a reality. But, if that stresses you out, remember this:
What your Purpose is right now, doesn't have to be the end all be all of your life. That Purpose can (and should) change and evolve over time with you, as you change and evolve over time too.
Maybe today, your Purpose is simply to heal some past pain so that you can be your best self and impact the world in a way that you don’t yet understand (hello 2021 me). Maybe it’s to raise some stellar kids, so they can impact the world in a way that you’ll never even know. Maybe it's to survive, so that you can one day thrive and share your story. Or, maybe you’re the answer to the change we all know we need now, and you somehow find the way to eradicate racial injustice. Whatever it is, big or small, personal or global, life-long or day-by-day, to be more than just a wish, your Purpose requires your whole unique self, and then, you actually have to do the work.
And hey, if you do have a strong sense of Meaning in Life, definitely let Meaning be what guides and drives your action. Your Purpose will feel more rooted in something bigger than yourself if you do.
Do you Wish or do you Dream?
The Impact of a Life on-Purpose
As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, I want to invite you to consider the impact that you want to have - And, how you’re going to make that a reality. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream - not just a wish. He didn’t just wander through the world with a wish that he could change it - he knew his unique gifts, he made a plan, and he did the work. He very much lived life on-Purpose.
Whether you dream of impact that radiates out across the world, or your focus is on your own self improvement, a dream, your Purpose, requires that you actually do something - even if that is just to cultivate your wholeness so that you radiate joy, a safe space, inspiration, or hope. So today, don’t just wish. Dream. Choose the impact you want to have. Make a plan. And take action to create impact by living your life on-your-Purpose.
PS. The original, pre-inspirational cut paper message version of this quote is likely "A Goal without a plan is just a Wish." by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. That's also a great message, but I kept it as "dream" in honor of the woman who inspired me and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..