Quest for Meaning and Purpose

Quest for Meaning and Purpose

5.2 The Quest for Meaning and Purpose

Getting Started
In order to have hope about the future, you have to have a purpose for why you are doing what you are doing in your life. True meaning and purpose come largely from belonging to and being part of something that is bigger than your own life or sense of self. Sounds easy enough, right? So, why do so many people seem unclear about what their life purpose is? Is it just as simple as finding a problem in the world to solve or getting behind a cause you believe in? For some, that may be all they need. But, for most people, it requires more clarity.
If you are going to choose a problem to solve or a cause to support, which one do you choose that will sustain your interest for the long term? Sometimes the world’s problems seem too big or perhaps we see ourselves as too small to make any measurable difference. Or maybe we are just overwhelmed by the events in our own life that seem to sap our motivation and energy for larger issues.

Your life purpose needs to include two crucial components: 1) it needs to fit with who you are (which includes your individual personality, energy, interests, and passion), and 2) it needs to make a positive contribution toward helping the lives of others.Sometimes we deliberately pursue a path of purpose and meaning and sometimes it comes to us. In the case of Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in California, the path to his current purpose came to him simply because he wanted to share some ideas he had. So he wrote a book. He never intended his ideas to go beyond the confines of his congregation. To his amazement, the book took off and became one of the biggest-selling books of all time. It created an enormous opportunity and many paths for additional purpose and involvement. As part of this discussion’s preparatory material, you’ll have an opportunity to hear his inspiring story. You also have the opportunity to begin thinking about your own sense of purpose and meaning and how you might also help others define their calling.
As you discuss the issue of purpose and meaning with others (this is the “M” in the PERMA model), think carefully about how your chosen area of specialization (life coaching and positive psychology) fits into a purpose statement you could create as you move forward. Don’t be afraid to have big dreams that could benefit large numbers of people. Better to have an expansive vision and narrow it down than to have no vision for the future and look back on your life or career with regrets because you didn’t take any risks.
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
• Describe how positive psychology speaks to the issues of meaning and purpose.

Background Information
Before you begin this discussion, read Chapter 5 in The Science of Virtue. Write down what you think your current purpose statement is for your life. Then watch the TED talk by Rick Warren “Living a Life of Purpose” followed by your response to the discussion questions. Then, during or after the discussion, revisit your purpose statement to see if you want to expand or revise it. In other words, were you inspired by the video and/or discussion to make changes in how you want to carve out a sense of purpose for your life?Instructions
1. Read Chapter 5, “Hope,” in your textbook, The Science of Virtue: Why Positive Psychology Matters to the Church.
2. Watch the Pastor Rick Warren video “Living a Life of Purpose” (transcript is available on a tab in the video player):
3. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion questions:
a. In your own words, summarize what you understand positive psychology to say about the importance of meaning and purpose in life.
b. Compare or contrast this with the life of purpose that Rick Warren talks about in the video. Be specific.
c. How does hope in the future relate to having meaning and purpose? Said another way: Why does a lack of hope in the future (for any number of reasons) diminish a person’s meaning and purpose?
d. On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), what number would you assign to the degree of meaning and purpose you feel in your life right now? Explain.
e. How might you apply what you have learned from these resources to finding a greater sense of purpose in your own life and to helping others find their path?

4.Your post should be between 400 and 500 words long.
f. If you use outside sources in your discussion comments, be sure to include APA-formatted, in-text citations to support your post. You may use your readings for this assignment for your citations.
4. Your postings should also:
a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking, supported by at least two academic sources.
b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.