Why The Need for Purpose Can Be a Liability

"When I gave up all hope of accomplishment, and embraced hopelessness, it was then that I finally learned how to live." -- Mr. John Duran

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Why The Need for Purpose Can Be a Liability

To avoid fallacious generalizations, we must begin with a fundamental premise: humanity is divided in its relationship with meaning. Many require a defined purpose to justify their existence in their own eyes, while others do not actively ruminate on it. Those in the former category—those tethered to the pursuit of meaning—often function poorly when faced with a lack of purpose for extended periods. For such individuals, a lack of purposefulness is a direct conduit to existential despair.

It is easy to quietly admire those who simply live life day-to-day without utilizing intense philosophical inquiry as a means to survive. They are admirable solely because they do not face the burden of the "each new day" problem: the daily psychological demand to justify one's own continued existence.

The Shield of External Duty

Not everyone delves deeply into their role in the world, whether that role is "destined" or self-assigned. Consider the function of parenthood.

Those who have children often require less internal contemplation regarding their purpose because their purpose is externalized: they have lives to care for. By giving birth to children, they simultaneously give birth to a built-in meaning for their own lives. For many, this bond transcends the typical parent-child dynamic; it acts as a permanent existential shield.

This reciprocal bond provides an undeniable sense of utility, making it far more difficult for individuals to question their own worth. Knowing that they are loved, needed, and relied upon acts as a powerful motivator to continue living, even during the most challenging eras of their lives.

The Liability of Dependency

However, for those whose purpose is tied to a specific craft, vocation, or intellectual output, this dependency becomes a profound liability.

Why is such a dependency dangerous? It is a liability because it represents a critical structural weakness. If one’s entire justification for living is tethered to a specific ability—such as writing or creating—what happens when that ability is compromised by physical fatigue, illness, or circumstantial ruin?

When the vehicle for a person's purpose is removed, they are left with terrifying options: to live a life of idleness accompanied by crushing guilt, or to succumb to the despair of feeling entirely useless. Thus, the very drive that provides immense joy and productivity also holds the potential to become the source of immense suffering. If you cannot access your purpose, you are forced to compromise your life, or worse, contemplate taking your own life.

A life without purpose—a life of forced idleness—feels intrinsically wrong to the hyper-driven mind. Therefore, planning for the long-term fragility of our capabilities is the only logical way to reduce future regret.

The Relativity of Meaning

We often fail to recognize that for many, mere survival—living to the next paycheck or the next meal—is entirely sufficient.

Consider the hunter-gatherer communities that still exist in isolated parts of the world. When asked about the meaning of life, a tribesman might simply answer: "Meat." Who could have predicted that something as fundamental as sustenance could encapsulate an entire worldview? It demonstrates perfectly that perception and purpose are entirely subjective choices.

For the philosopher or the creator, survival is never enough. The drive moves past basic physiological needs directly toward the apex of self-actualization. For such individuals, their output matters more than their comfort. They are driven by an absolute need to contribute meaningfully to society. It is only through relevance—by becoming an integral part of a greater context—that one transcends their default, insignificant self.

The Choice of Dissatisfaction

Through the mercilessness of meritocracy, true relevance can be achieved. It can be cultivated to such a degree that your importance, and the recognition of your work, outlives you entirely.

To prove one's relevance is to be driven by an endless desire for self-actualization. To choose this path is to intentionally remain unsatisfied by choice. It means sacrificing the peaceful, uneventful comfort of a simple life in order to produce enduring value for the world.

It is a demanding trade-off, but for the reader who benefits from the fruits of this labor, and for the creator who secures their legacy, it is a perfectly fair deal.