Forget Purpose: Let’s Make Our 8-Year-Old Selves Giddy and Our 80-Year-Old Selves Grin with Pride

Forget Purpose: Let’s Make Our 8-Year-Old Selves Giddy and Our 80-Year-Old Selves Grin with Pride

Are you tired of social media feeds bombarded with preachy posts about “finding your purpose”? I bet you are. It’s time we changed the narrative. Instead of obsessing over a grandiose sense of purpose, why not focus on living a life brimming with love, leading with vibrant joy, and crafting a legacy that your 8-year-old self would jump for joy over and your 80-year-old self would applaud?

1. Purpose? Let’s Talk Reality: Social media has become a megaphone for the purpose-driven life, but let’s be honest: it often feels like a lofty ideal that’s just out of reach. Life isn’t a blockbuster movie with a clear narrative arc; it’s more like a series of unscripted scenes filled with laughter, mishaps, and impromptu dance breaks. Let’s drop the pressure to define our entire existence with a single hashtag or catchphrase.
2. Rediscovering Childhood Wonders: Think back to your childhood—those carefree days filled with simple pleasures. Maybe it was chasing fireflies, constructing epic sandcastles, or doodling in the margins of your notebooks. These are the sparks of pure joy that often get lost in adulthood. It’s time to reconnect with these passions. Why? Because they’re the purest expressions of who we are.
3. Leadership with a Twist of Lemon: Forget the stiff suits and formal titles. True leadership is about influence—yes, even the influence you wield over your social media circles. It’s about turning your everyday interactions into opportunities for positivity and support. Imagine leading a meeting that feels like a reunion of friends or turning a community project into a block party. Leadership can and should be joyful and life-affirming.
4. Crafting a Legacy Worth Tweeting About: Fast forward to the future: What stories do you want to look back on? Not just the promotions and accolades, but the real, human moments. The time you helped a neighbour in need or the afternoon you spent teaching your niece to ride a bike. Those memories are the milestones of a truly meaningful life.
5. Practical Magic for Everyday Living: How do we turn these ideas into action? Start by keeping a journal—not just for to-dos, but for “ta-das.” Celebrate small victories like you would big achievements. Set goals based on personal growth—think character, not career ladders. Engage in activities that light up your childhood self’s eyes—be it painting, writing poetry, or playing baseball.
6. Social Media as a Tool for Good: Finally, let’s rethink how we use social media. Instead of comparing and despairing, let’s use it to share stories of real-life leadership, joy, and community. Post that picture of your Saturday morning beach clean-up, or tweet about the stranger who helped you change a tire. Let’s start a movement of positivity that reflects the depth and diversity of real life.

Enough with the endless pursuit of a singular purpose. Let’s fill our days with meaningful actions that speak to our souls. Let’s use our leadership to spread joy and our platforms to share stories that inspire. By living a life that honours both our past and future selves, the purpose will find us—in the laughter, the love, and the legacy we build.

I’m throwing down the gauntlet: share a story, a picture, or even a thought about a moment that made you feel alive, connected, or just plain happy. Let’s flood social media with our truths, our joys, and our unscripted moments of brilliance.