On higher purposes and all that.
Why exactly are human beings so obsessed with the idea of a higher purpose? Read any work of fiction, watch any movie, open any history book, and you are bound to encounter a protagonist or hero who sets out to do something difficult in place of taking the easy route. They likely did this because it was their “destiny”, “duty” “calling” “purpose” or “identity”.
I mean, what do Don Quixote, Achilles, Luke Skywalker, Joan of Arc, and Anne Sullivan all have in common? They all rose to challenges that they could probably have avoided. Instead of comfort, they chose discomfort.
What I can’t figure out is why human beings actually have this drive to find a higher purpose through difficult challenges in the first place. That is, from an evolutionary perspective, why wouldn’t we simply seek nothing but pleasure and comfort? Of course, human beings have to be capable of problem solving when it comes to surviving and thriving. It makes sense that we would be driven to overcome obstacles in our way that prevent us from being comfortable. But why in the world do we feel such a powerful desire to overcome obstacles even after we have found comfort and pleasure in our lives? A person makes himself or herself less likely to produce offspring if he or she is foregoing comfort and security to take on challenging tasks.
While I do not have the answer, it seems undeniable that there is something innately human about seeking a higher purpose in life beyond comfort. People find this in religion, money, fame, business, family, charity, athletics, mentorship, learning, and adventure. Or if you are Don Quijote, you might go on a heroic quest to prove your knighthood. Whatever.
Maybe seeking higher purpose and continuing to challenge ourselves instead of remaining comfortable actually does pay off in the long run from an evolutionary perspective. Or maybe humans developed such a powerful drive to overcome challenges that living in comfort is unfulfilling, in which case what was once an advantageous trait is now one that makes us less fit for survival and reproduction. Maybe this part of ourselves defies scientific explanation entirely and we ought to stop wondering about its source.
In any case, as I write this blog post, I wonder what my higher purpose ought to be. I certainly need one, but I can tell you that I have no clue what it should be. Should I write a book, start a business, sail the seven seas, or help the poor? No idea. But I am pretty sure that this feeling is never going to leave me, so I had better figure something out…