"We need someone with the boldness or a pioneer, the resourcefulness of an inventor, and the faith of a sword swallower."
Early Peace Corps advertisement, but now it's for us all, for the whole world.
We are at a time in our evolution like no other. Our basic foundations are deteriorating, including democracy, religion, education, resilience, rationality, sense of common-unity, and our basic Earth life support systems. This is happening with our largest population ever, and completely overshadowed by the existential threat of climate change. These problems are entangled and synergistic. We cannot address any one alone.
This sounds hopeless. However, we agree with Jacques Cousteau who said "If we were logical, the future would be bleak indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope, and we can work.”
If we are going to avoid the most drastic forecasts of climate change we must wean ourselves from fossil fuels in the next two decades. Think what that means. For our entire history as Homo sapiens we have burned something to get all the energy we use, other than that from our own bodies, our draft animals, and some wind and water power. In twenty years we have to revise an energy base that we've used for 300,000 years! Our most basic activities must be reinvented -- agriculture, housing, and transportation. And these changes will trigger changes in virtually all other parts of our lives.
There's a world of work to be done, folks!
In times like this it may seem impossible to find a meaningful purpose in life. But we suggest it's just the opposite. There's a huge amount to be done that is vitally important, such as:
Prophets, teachers, story tellers who help people find their way.
Farmers who produce food locally and sustainably and teach others.
Anything and everything related to non-fossil fuel energy and electricity.
Engineers and entrepreneurs who develop efficient transportation and housing.
Digital creatives who revolutionize education and create common-unities.
Politicians and other leaders with the vision and grace to lead effectively and democratically.
Faith leaders who "hold the light" in times of darkness.
And untold numbers of things we can't imagine now.
“... even if the future were determined, its complexity would be beyond our capacity to articulate it. We will find our way only with a deep and prolonged process of groping – considering with care a great variety of interpretations, weighing evidence from a spectrum of perspectives, attending with great patience to the inchoate, barely discernible glimmers that visit us in our more contemplative moments. Out of this welter will slowly emerge our way to the star.” (Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry, The Universe Story, 58).
Do you know what your purpose is? If you’re eager to find it, here are three actions you can take right now to move forward:
Seek out new experiences and reach beyond yourself. It’s important to cultivate your passions and seek out experiences that can reveal how your interests can contribute to others’ lives in ways that are personally meaningful. Ask yourself: Who or what inspires me to get out of my comfort zone and connect with the world beyond me? What is a simple first step I can take right now to start exploring socially useful career opportunities?
Reflect on your experiences. Experience is essential, but it is not enough. You reflect on your experiences and find meaning in them. Some reflection questions you can ask yourself include: How did this experience shape who I am? How did it impact my values and worldviews? Your answers will help you gain insight into the aspects of the experiences you’ve most enjoyed, derived meaning from, and want to continue pursuing.
Discuss your life goals and gather feedback. Once you’ve done some personal self-reflection, it’s important to discuss your aspirations with your peers (not just with a therapist, coach, or counsellor). These conversations can give you diverse perspectives and help see your goals in a new light. You might share with your friend: “I have been thinking about what I want from life lately and would love to share some of my ideas with someone. Do you have time to talk? I would enjoy learning about your life goals as well.”