When Purpose Becomes Bigger Than Motivation

Recently I found myself deeply immersed in watching podcasts featuring retired Armed forces personnel. Too engrossed in learning their backstory, their training periods, their missions and operations and their leadership skills. And every time I wonder what makes them what they are. What is the motivation and from where do they derive the strength. And every single time the story is always about showing up and doing what is required to be done whether you like it or not. Whether you are rewarded or not. So I asked myself, if there is no reward in doing what is supposed/expected to be done but heavy punishment if one fails to do so, how do people persevere and excel. What drives them to excel in every challenge thrown at them with very little reward. It has been an intriguing experience for me watching each of these personnel talk about their journey and be very proud of it.

Every time I watched it, I thought what from this podcast/life experience can I use in my everyday life. How can I bring in atleast a little bit of discipline in my life and try to excel in challenging situations. More importantly in corporate journeys, rewards and recognition is everything. During appraisals we negotiate our salary based on our performance. Everything is about what am I getting in return for the efforts that I have put at work. But when I look at the Armed Forces, it often appears to be work, work, work—without the constant expectation of recognition that we sometimes see elsewhere. What struck me repeatedly in the stories I watched was that many spoke about the mission itself as a source of meaning, not merely the recognition that might follow. It is a polar opposite mindset. And I'm trying to understand how I can bring in some sense of that in my own life. Don’t get me wrong, getting paid appropriately at work is important and fair pay should be implemented, but in other aspects of life, are we only behind getting recognition or validation for the work we do. Are we doing it with a sense of purpose or simply because we want to be recognized for that work.

What sets us and the armed forces personnel apart? The Sense of Purpose. For the Indian Armed Forces, the safety and integrity of the nation is of the paramount value. Nothing is above the Nation and what ever they do is for the Nation. This purpose is so large and so important than life that all the obstacles and challenges feel miniscule. There is no need for motivation when the purpose is so clear. And for us, we are still searching for our purpose. For some gaining Social Status is the purpose and for some material richness is the purpose. There is nothing wrong with wanting comfort, recognition, or financial security. But perhaps when these become the only reasons we move forward, we can find ourselves constantly dependent on the next reward to keep going. Seeking reward or recognition for every single task that is done, or willingness to do only if the prospect of reward or recognition is strong. This limited perception of life often comes with disappointment.

So how do we change our perception and begin to discover a purpose larger than ourselves? I believe this is the exact journey I’m on right now. Perhaps finding a larger purpose is not about suddenly discovering one grand reason for our existence. Perhaps it begins much more quietly.

Maybe it begins with expanding our world a little beyond ourselves—with asking how our work, our actions, our learning, or even our smallest efforts can contribute to something beyond our own immediate rewards.

I don't yet have all the answers. I am still exploring this question myself. But perhaps purpose does not always have to be found before we begin. Perhaps it is something that reveals itself as we continue to show up, take responsibility, serve, learn, and look beyond our own limitations.

And maybe that is where hope lies.

We don't have to know the entire purpose of our lives today. We only have to remain curious enough to keep searching, courageous enough to keep showing up, and open enough to allow our perception of life to grow.

Perhaps, somewhere along that journey, what once felt like discipline will slowly begin to feel like purpose.