Keys to Your Purpose

If you have a hard time facing Mondays, your problem may be a lack of purpose.

Behavioral researcher John Calhoun performed an experiment with mice that was designed to study the effects of overpopulation. He set up a biosphere that was essentially a Garden of Eden for rodents. They were given everything they needed to thrive: shelter, open space to run and play, and unlimited food and water. Even their bedding was routinely changed to provide an ideal nesting environment for baby mice.

Calhoun believed that the pampered community of mice would flourish. And at first, they did. The initial handful soon became hundreds. But after a year, the population started to decline and continued to even when the population dropped to a few dozen. Months later, all the mice were dead. Despite having every comfort and facing no threats, their society crumbled.

Why? The mice had everything they needed … except purpose. Nothing was required of them. They didn’t have to find water or food sources or organize themselves to increase their odds of survival. There was nothing beyond themselves to pursue.

If you don’t know your purpose, then I encourage you to make finding your purpose your purpose. What are you good at? What are you passionate about? What do those things tell you about who you are? You were created to do things, to be things. You were created with purpose.