The Purpose Paradox: Are We Living It or Creating It?

What is purpose?It’s a word that often stirs confusion—or even anxiety—as we question our role in this physical world. We strive to align our actions with some grand “purpose,” rather than simply letting purpose emerge from what we do. We bend our broader goals to fit a narrative of meaning. But what does “purpose” really mean?

From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep, every action seems to have a reason. We eat to fuel our cells, we sleep to heal, we brush to maintain hygiene. Even in the world of science, research is justified by its purpose—grants are awarded not just for curiosity, but for usefulness. We live in a purpose-driven society, where even thoughts are filtered through the lens of “what’s the point?”

And yet, nature exists without needing a reason—it just is. Humans, on the other hand, have elevated purpose to the point of obsession, assigning meaning to everything from mundane routines to fleeting emotions. So the question arises: Is this obsession with purpose truly worth it?

From a scientific lens, purpose arises through observation, experience, and inquiry: Why? How? What? From a spiritual viewpoint, life is about witnessing truth and embracing the experience itself. Could it be that our true purpose is simply to seek truth? Or is purpose not something we invent—but something that’s inherently woven into the fabric of existence?