What are your feelings about purpose?
I recently went to see Elizabeth Gilbert speak, and she talked about something that really struck me—purpose anxiety.
Society would have us believe that we’re here for one grand, singular purpose. That we must find it, live it, and make sure we don’t waste it. And honestly? That’s a lot of pressure. No wonder so many people feel stuck, searching, or like they’re somehow failing at life.
Instead of chasing a life of purpose, Liz suggested something different—a life of presence. And it got me thinking.
What If Presence Is the Purpose?
Who really knows why we’re here? What is the purpose of all this—of being human, of life itself? It’s the kind of question that could send me down a rabbit hole for days, but let’s be honest—we’re probably not getting a definitive answer anytime soon.
So if we don’t know the grand purpose of life, then maybe our job isn’t to find some singular reason for being, but instead, to choose how we live.
And looking around, I see a lot of people not really living.
Yes, they’re physically here, going about their days, ticking off tasks, showing up. But are they present? Are they truly here, in their lives?
Most people spend their time either:
• Ruminating over the past, replaying moments that can’t be changed.
• Worrying about the future, fixating on everything that could go wrong.
And amongst all that, how much time is actually spent living in the only time that exists—the present moment?
Even when we think we’re being present, we’re often just reacting—getting triggered by something in our environment. And those reactions? They’re usually tied to the past, to something unresolved within us.
Why Is It So Hard to Be Present?
I love the idea of a life of presence because it means we’re actually living. Mindfully. Intentionally. But the truth is, presence isn’t always comfortable.
Our modern world doesn’t help—constant notifications, endless scrolling, and the noise of social media keep us distracted. But beyond that, what really stops us from being present are the unresolved parts of us:
• The parts that don’t feel safe slowing down and being here, now.
• The parts that believe if they’re not worrying about the future, something bad will happen.
• The parts that carry old wounds and pull us back into the past.
A Small Step Toward Presence
So how do we begin to live more fully here, now?
One small step is to notice.
Next time you catch yourself in an anxious spiral about the future or rehashing something from the past, pause. Ask yourself:
👉 Where am I right now?
👉 What do I see, hear, feel in this moment?
👉 What part of me is pulling me away from now?
With curiosity, not judgment.
Because the more we bring awareness to these moments, the more choice we have. And with choice comes freedom.
Maybe, just maybe, a life of presence is a life of purpose.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
