The long term objective is not the same as the purpose. There’s never an end to it. But having a strong sense of purpose isn’t enough to keep you going. Because of this, your mission should ideally mesh with your passions and areas of interest. This concept of “following your joy” is called “ikigai” in Japanese. In the West, ikegai has gained popularity recently as a means of assisting people in discovering their ideal vocations and career pathways. Finding the intersection between what you are good at and what the world needs and what you love is the idea, and the world will pay for it. You combine practical considerations with your passion to create your sense of purpose. If fortune favors you, your career may have led you to discover your ikigai. For instance, a doctor should ideally feel that their role is to aid the ill or to lessen suffering. Others find it more difficult to relate their work’s meaning to their own sense of purpose. We frequently let go of the idealistic version of ourselves that longs to discover a sense of meaning and purpose in life due to work, family obligations, and social expectations. We think that in order for meaning and purpose to coexist with pragmatic reasons, we must make this trade-off. However, that is not useful. To keep going over the long term, you need a feeling of purpose.
