Authentic purpose: the spiritual infrastructure of life

Abstract

Purpose is an intention and a cognitive sense of one’s life. As an intention, purpose is the quality of being determined to do or achieve something, which resides in all forms of life in the universe. For humans, however, the valence and likelihood of enactment of the intention of purpose is capricious, as is the resulting sense of purpose in life. When absent or low, a sense of purpose places individuals at risk for psychopathologies; when present in sufficient levels, a sense of purpose buffers against adversity and enhances life chances. Unfortunately, studies show that key measures of “authentic purpose”, which are a psychological purpose in life (i.e. direction and goals) and social contribution (i.e. has something of value to give to society), are at their zenith in young adulthood and decline steadily throughout the lifespan. In addition to reviewing the religious and social scientific literature on the nature, function, and age trajectories of purpose in adult life, this article explores why this important infrastructure of life does not increase or remain constant throughout adulthood. To that end, this article reviews whether and how the modern university is, or is not, sustaining or promoting purpose in life in students in preparation for their occupancy and custodianship of important social roles throughout adulthood. Particular attention is then focused on how purpose in life does and does not emerge in work-life and occupations in adulthood. Literature is reviewed on the nature of work in terms of “callings”, “careers”, and “jobs”, the prevalence of callings in the workplace, and the consequences of callings in work and life.

Keywords:

• purpose in life
• callings
• vocation
• subjective well-being
• social contribution

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by membership in the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Successful Midlife Development (Director, Dr. Orville Gilbert Brim). The author also wishes to acknowledge the support from membership in the interdisciplinary project on The pursuit of happiness: scientific, theological, and interdisciplinary perspectives on the love of God, neighbor, and self, established by the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University and supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.

Notes

1. The data were collected between 1984 and 1987 from congregations in South Bend and Lafayette Indiana.