We explain what purposes are and how they differ from objectives. Also, what are personal and life purposes.
What is a purpose?
With the word purpose we generally refer to the meaning or the intention with which we perform some taskthat is, the purpose with which we undertake an action, whether it is work, research, a new routine or life itself. In the latter case, the purpose of existence, that is, why we are in the world, is one of the oldest and most difficult to answer philosophical questions and questions that exist.
This word comes from Latin propositumformed by the voices pro (“forward”) and I will put (“put”), so it can be understood as that which is put ahead, that is, figuratively, that which is planned for the future. It is common for us to use it as a synonym for objective, purpose or intention, and in the latter it allows us to say that something was done with full awareness and motivation, that is, it was planned, it was done on purpose.
In fact, it is common to speak in situations of amendment, personal improvement or moral questioning of the purpose with which someone did something, or even of the future purposes that they set, as we do at the end of each year with “new year's resolutions.” ”, which are the commitments to ourselves that we are willing to undertake and fulfill.
Difference between purposes and objectives
Although these two terms can be used synonymously, it is also possible to understand them as different concepts. In general, We call objectives the goals that we have set beforehand, and that are concrete, measurable and achievable.so that we can adapt our methodology to achieve them.
While By purposes we usually refer to the same thing, but emphasizing the intentionthat is, in subjective planning, given that a purpose may be unattainable, it may be fictional or abstract. Thus, we turn a purpose into an objective when we undertake the concrete actions that will take us towards the goal.
Personal purposes
When we talk about personal purposes, we mean the future plans that we make or that we dream ofand that generally have to do with the people we want to be, that is, with an idea of personal improvement, commitment to oneself and, sometimes, self-help.
Personal purposes are individual, they concern each person, since They depend on the commitment with which the person assumes them.. Examples could be quitting smoking, losing weight, changing jobs, finishing that novel we are writing, or simply being friendlier with our coworkers.
Life purpose
On the other hand, when we talk about life purposes, we are referring to something much more serious and grandiose: the main role that we will play throughout our existenceif that exists. That is to say, each person's life purpose is what they will dedicate themselves to and which will give meaning to their transit on Earth, and whose importance is defined by each person's subjectivity.
Thus, for many people a purpose in life may be to help others, protect the defenseless, make a lot of money or accumulate as many experiences as possible. Whatever it is, It is an abstract goal that will guide our steps and our vital decisions..
If, on the other hand, we talk about the purpose of life, assuming that life has some kind of general purpose or objective, we are referring to the difficult answer to that question that we have all asked ourselves: “why are we here?” ” or better: “why are we here?”
To think about the purpose of life is to think that there is a central objective towards which human existence aims, but that it is hidden and we must somehow find it, since without it existing is meaningless. Unlike personal purposes or life purposes, life purpose is linked to the ideas of God or divine planning that guides the events that occur.
“On purpose”
Doing something on purpose or doing something deliberately means that you do it with full intention.with awareness of its consequences, that is, intentionally. It can also be used to say that we are referring to something previously mentioned in passing. It is a very commonly used adverbial phrase, in sentences like:
- “On purpose of the weather, we will have heavy rain this Saturday” (as a synonym for “in relation to”).
- “I'm sure you did. on purpose” (as a synonym for “intentionally”).
Continue with: Life project
References
- “Purpose” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “Etymology of purpose” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
- “On purpose” in Wikilengua.
- “What is a life purpose?” (video) at Continental University.
- “What is the difference between purpose and objective?” at Psinergia Coaching.
