BORN FOR A PURPOSE ETHOS
What is Purpose and Why Should We Care?
Have you ever given thought about your purpose and why you were born? Are you here on this earth by chance, or is there a reason for your existence?
How you answer those questions can shape your life more than you might realize — and I’ll explain why.
For the past several years, I’ve been wrestling with these questions myself, struggling to find my purpose in different areas of my own life.
I’ve struggled with my purpose in my career — wondering if I should be doing something more or something entirely different.
I’ve struggled with my spiritual habits, at times going through the motions with my Bible reading and prayers just to check a box. At other times, I became overly zealous, focusing so much on being right that I missed out on having meaningful conversations with people who thought differently from me.
I’ve struggled with my role as a husband and dad, getting too caught up in my own priorities and desires and losing sight of being truly present for those who matter most to me.
There were countless nights where I’d lie awake, restless, burdened by this nagging feeling that I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing—except I didn’t even know what that “something” was. I’ve had countless conversations with my wife, friends, mentors, pastors, and even coworkers, sharing my frustration at feeling like I was meant for more, but unsure of what that “more” actually was.
Through these struggles, I’ve realized that I’m not alone. Many of us feel stuck. We go on autopilot, pushing through our days without ever stopping to ask whether there’s more to life than a monotonous routine.
But here’s something I’ve come to realize: purpose isn’t something that just magically appears. It doesn’t suddenly hit you one day. Finding purpose and meaning requires intentionality — it’s something we have to seek out and cultivate — not just in one area — but across our lives. As one of my favorite bands, Switchfoot, puts it, “We were meant to live for so much more.” Yet, so many people live life without that clarity of purpose, struggling instead of thriving.
Why Focus on Seven Pillars?
Through my journey of wrestling with struggles, insecurities, fears and doubts, I’ve come to believe that living a purposeful life isn’t about focusing on just one area. Sure, there are seasons when we need to zero in on a specific issue — whether it’s overcoming addiction, losing weight, working on our relationships, or fixing our finances. But true, long-term growth comes from developing personal rhythms and disciplines across what I call the seven life pillars: spiritual habits, finances, relationships, fitness, diet, career, and hobbies.
Almost every part of our lives fits into one of these pillars, and the unfortunate truth is that each of us at some point in our lives will face challenges in one (or more) of these areas. When that happens, we experience the effects in our stress levels, relationships, or overall well-being. Taking an inventory of the areas of our life, and looking at them through a holistic lens will help us to create balance and resilience in our lives.
The Wisdom of Seeking Deeper Purpose
Proverbs 20:5 tells us that “the purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” This verse reminds us that there is often a deeper purpose hidden within each of us, but it takes reflection, wisdom, and sometimes the guidance of others to uncover it. Many men may not even realize the true desires and motivations buried within them, and that’s okay — life is a journey of discovery.
This idea is central to Born For a Purpose. We are complex beings, and finding our true purpose often requires more than just surface-level changes. It requires a willingness to dig deep, to be introspective, and to seek wisdom. And sometimes, it takes someone else — a friend, mentor, or guide — to help us draw out what’s hidden. This process can be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary for personal growth and fulfillment.
So, Why Did I Start Born For a Purpose?
Interestingly, this idea didn’t start out the way I’m presenting it today. It started back in 2012, when I bought the domain name www.bornforapurpose.com with the initial idea of creating a Christian version of Men’s Health. But at the time, I didn’t have the confidence to get it off the ground. Along with the busyness of life during that season, I also just wasn’t ready to put my thoughts and ideas out there, so it sat on the shelf — for 12 years. Over the course of the last decade, I have struggled to find purpose in my own life, and in early 2024, the renewed idea for Born For a Purpose came alive in a fresh way — resulting from the very struggles that I have been working through over all of these years.
See, I’m the type of person that, when I see a problem, I want to help fix it. For years, I was the one who felt like I was missing something — like I wasn’t living the life I was meant to live. I struggled with feeling aimless. In my career, yes — but also in other areas resulting from trying to overcorrect in one area, hoping that if I just focused hard enough on trying to enjoy my job or found something else to satisfy the itch, it would make everything else fall into place. But that never worked. I found that when one part of my life was off-balance, it bled into everything else, and I still felt lost.
Through these struggles, I realized I wasn’t alone. Over time, I’ve seen and heard from many others — whether directly or indirectly — who are in the same place I was. They’re wrestling with that same feeling of purposelessness. That’s when I came to the stark realization that I didn’t want to keep sitting on the sidelines, watching this happen to others without trying to do something about it.
That’s why I started Born For a Purpose — again — but with a different purpose. I want to help others to think more intentionally about their lives — because I’ve been where they are. I want to provide practical tools that help to identify blind spots, just like I had to do for myself. I want to encourage the development of healthy habits and disciplines across all areas of life, not just one or two.
Now, you might be thinking, “How can you tell me what my purpose is? Is there a universal roadmap for everyone?” The answer is no because I don’t know you and your life. But I can tell you this: if you’re not intentionally working on the different pillars in your life, sooner or later, something’s going to give. And when that happens, the cracks don’t stay isolated—they spread, and the ripple effects show up in other areas, compounding the problems.
Why Purpose Isn’t a Singular Fix
One thing we often fail to realize is that life is an interconnected system — a system where a problem in one area can create ripple effects in others. For example:
Poor financial decisions can lead to stress that bleeds into relationships, disrupts healthy eating habits, and diminishes the energy needed to pursue meaningful hobbies.
Consistently eating unhealthy food not only impacts fitness but can also strain relationships, reduce mental clarity, and even affect performance at work.
Working in a vocation that is not aligned with your talents and passions can drain your energy and enthusiasm, leading to frustration, stress, and disengagement in other areas like family, fitness, or spiritual growth.
I’m sure you can see my point through these examples, but my thesis is that when we neglect any one of the pillars — whether intentionally or unintentionally — it often creates imbalances that affect other parts of our lives. However, if we’ve built strong, intentional disciplines across all of the pillars, we’re better equipped to handle life’s challenges as they come. Alternatively, without a clear purpose driving our actions and decisions, life can easily slip into a monotonous routine, where the desire to thrive is replaced by apathy or a survival mindset.
My Goal for Born For a Purpose
My goal with Born For a Purpose is to help men see life holistically and live more purposeful, balanced lives. This isn’t another quick-fix, self-help platform. It’s about reframing how we think about purpose. It’s not just about discovering one singular purpose in life, but about cultivating intentionality in every area of our lives.
At the core of this is the belief that living a life of purpose requires intentionality, effort, accountability, and a desire to grow into the man God designed you to be. My hope is to provide content that encourages you to pursue a life filled with purpose, balance, and meaning — for the glory of your Creator and the good of those around you.
