the search for purpose
Assignment written for The London School of Journalism
Photo credit to www.austria.info
Your alarm goes off. You wake up, and groggily drag yourself out of bed. You go to work in a job you dislike. You return home, mindlessly watch TV, then go to bed. You repeat this every day. This sounds intolerable, yet it’s the status quo for many people in the modern UK environment. However, we are seeing a quiet revolution of individuals who reject this banal existence, in the search of a more purpose driven life. This shift in perception could have significant benefits for both individuals and the wider collective, positively reframing how we as humans feel, and relate to one another.
A life’s purpose can be defined as an ultimate motivating factor, and something which gives us a sense of meaning and fulfilment. Creating a purposeful life is an ideal rooted in many religions and philosophies, yet it has been forgotten in contemporary Britain. A recent wellbeing study by the Office of National Statistics, determined that just 24.2% of adults reported high levels of life satisfaction, and only 31.7% felt that what they do in life feels worthwhile. These disheartening figures show that dissatisfaction is prevalent, but how did this happen?
Within our capitalist society, we have been taught that work is our greatest love. Yet, whilst consumerism and hustle culture is celebrated, workers are being exploited. More so, as capitalism dominates, so does inequality throughout society. Championed by the boomer generation, capitalism favours the individual, whilst promoting a lack of authenticity. Meaning, you can be successful if you are creating capital, whether you believe in the root cause or not.
The Covid-19 pandemic was a key turning point when many individuals reflected upon their lives and reconsidered what was truly important to them. Furthermore, UK government data shows that around 1 in 5 adults experienced some form of depression in the first 3 months of 2021 - over double pre-pandemic figures. This significant decline in mental health also encouraged people to look for ways of improving their lives.
Enter, the search for purpose. Many individuals realised that their current lifestyles were unsustainable. A rejection of capitalist ideals, alongside the rise of Generation Z has seen a substantial perspective shift. Gen Z’s lives have been defined by social media, the climate crisis, sustainability and the mental health epidemic, to name a few issues. Described as ‘socially progressive dreamers’ (Mckinsey, 2023), Gen Z are pioneering the movement from a consumerist society, to one with ethical values. They believe building community will make us collectively stronger, but require individuals to be their authentic selves to do so.
Authenticity encourages individuals to focus on their true vocation, or, purpose. For example, Yvon Chouinard, the founder of the brand Patagonia, is an avid mountain climber with a calling to combat climate change. Beginning the company to help fellow climbers, he used the profits to aid environmental groups and later donated the company ownership to a climate change trust. Or Dame Anita Roddick, The Body Shop founder, who redefined the beauty industry with ethical and natural products, that are sustainably sourced. A true activist and feminist, she used the brand to help communities throughout the world, alongside empowering women.
These are global scale examples, however purpose can be found much closer to home. Tom Backhouse, CampWild founder, discovered camping as a form of therapy after a traumatic experience. He started the UK company to share his experience, in the hope that it may help others too. But a purpose does not need to be this grandiose. It may simply be a hobby, or form of creativity, or the relationships you nurture. Ultimately, it’s whatever brings joy and meaning to your life. It has also been proven to have substantial health benefits, from lowering mortality rates and chronic issues, to improving mental health.
Moving towards a purpose driven society could be the dynamic we need to embrace, to break down the inequalities and outdated structures that frame our lifestyles and mentalities. A more conscious society, focused on joy, self-care and giving to others, rather than profit, consumerism and taking beyond our means, can only be a benefit to us all. But the key question to now ask yourself, is what is your purpose?