Your Prime Directive

We are entitled to, and require, multiple life purposes of our own choosing in order to live a full, rich life.

First, we need them because we do not want to fall into the trap of supposing that life has just one purpose, a single purpose that we are supposed to seek out and pine over. Second, we need them because that is the truth, that many things are important to us and that many things rise to the exalted level of life purpose choice. The idea of “one life purpose” does not capture life’s reality!

Maybe inner peacefulness matters to you. As does your career. As does activism. As do your intimate relationships. As does creating. As does being good to yourself. As does your health. As does travel. As does using your mind. As does healing from past trauma. Maybe there are three or four others as well. These may all be important to you. Isn’t that how life really is? Full of purposes, not purpose?

At the same time, while we can and do have many life purposes, we can encapsulate something about the tone or essence of all those many life purposes into a simple life purpose statement that we craft. Not only can we do this, it’s really important that we actually do it. That life purpose statement or prime directive both anchors us and buoys us up.

My personal life purpose statement is “Do the next right thing.” I think that might do a nice job for you, too, as a way of holding the “essence” of your multiple life purposes. What might your life purpose statement be? Try out several—the one that you love the most and that resonates the most for you may be your sixth attempt or your twelfth attempt and not your first. Spend a little real time on this!

A life purpose statement of this sort becomes our prime directive. When we get stuck not knowing what to do next or why to do anything, we return to our prime directive and use it as an affirmation, a morale boost, and a compass point.

Are you maybe down? Then the next right thing might be to try something that you know has a decent chance of improving your mood. Maybe it’s a stroll in nature, playing with your child, or making a pot of soup. Simple things—but easy enough to pass up, without that prime directive reminding you that there is always some next right thing to try.

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Your prime directive is not “the purpose of life.” It’s just a really useful reminder that you have a rich variety of life purposes available to you, that each of those life purposes would love some attention, and that you are destined to be and designed to be a master juggler who can keep your eye on many important things at once.

Want more details on how to put these ideas into practice? Take a look at my most recent book Choose Your Life Purposes. That might be your next right thing to do <smile>.

Go on a Journey Towards Personal Growth and Unlock Your Life’s Purpose

Unravel the myth of a singular life purpose ingrained in religious teachings and societal notions

Liberate yourself from the “life purpose trap.” Leading life coach, regular contributor to Psychology Today, and renowned author Eric Maisel presents a contemporary philosophy that challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding how to live.

Discover the transformative philosophy of Choose Your Life Purposes. Explore the step-by-step process to identify your core values, unlocking what truly matters to you. This groundbreaking book empowers you to embrace multiple life purposes, fostering personal growth and awareness. No longer confined to endless seeking, you’ll learn to live life now, irrespective of circumstances.

How to live your best life. Explore the art of crafting life purpose statements, mantras, and icons to reinforce your choices. Make living with purpose a daily practice, transforming your life into a purpose-filled journey. Say goodbye to fruitless searches for meaning and embark on a personal growth revolution.

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