Purpose is important. Critically important. It gives us focus and direction, without which we’re left to be knocked around by all the world’s social forces that want us to get on their specific path. And if we don’t get on-board, we’re left to languish in isolation.

A lot of human activity is based around providing value to other people. Our incentive structures are built that way. If you’re providing a lot of value to people, you’re more likely to be rewarded. If you’re not providing value for anyone, society (and life) is likely to punish you. And providing value for others is where many find purpose, making it both externally and internally rewarding.

Where many get stopped up, however, is where to apply themselves in order to be able to find purpose and provide value. As a result, many either attempt to shoehorn themselves into an acceptable position, providing some value but ultimately not finding purpose, or check out entirely, becoming NEETs and resolving to spend their time indulging in this or that, wherever their whims take them.

For those who are able to find the place where their specific skills are needed, however, providing value and finding purpose comes easy.