Purpose

Sometimes life presents you an opportunity to meet a bunch of people for a purpose which draws you all together. On the other hand, life can also expose you to an unexpected rendez-vous with people who are both like minded and different to you, and who you never meet again.

But the purpose lives on.

If this past weekend has taught me anything, it is that purpose is something we are all looking for. Whether you are politician with the objective of winning a seat, or a school teacher with the optimism and patience made for teaching, or an activist with a desire to take a stand, everyone's life is imbued with the desire to live out purpose, and that is why not having one is so damn hard.

While spending my weekend with people on a different side of politics to myself, I was seeking to challenge myself in a foreign context, in order to try and work out my own purpose. Over the weekend at PowerUp, GetUp's first national conference, it soon became apparent that Australians are desperate for a collective purpose more than ever before. I am not alone in this.

Purpose is usually an abstract question we ask ourselves when we are having a mini-(or major!) existential crisis, however, in the case of Australia's natural environment, economic inequality and divisive political arena, it is clear that for millions of Australians, the existentialist crisis is real and a collective sense of purpose is more imperative than ever.

In fact, the purpose for thousands of Australians is so clear now that after two days of realising each others common humanity and shared values, no one can dispute the vision of behind PowerUp! and its big purpose. A purpose that has engaged thousands of Australian's commitment to a better future, where a more just Australia is central to the vision of a better future for future Australians.

With the potency of that comes with a collective vision, it seems that purpose is much more simpler a concept when experienced collaboratively, than alone. Further, when we band together and acknowledge our values out aloud and unashamedly, purpose comes alive, not for one, but many.

This simple feeling begins small and evolves when we are connected to an idea or process that comes naturally to us, and which is shared by others, enabling the goodness in all of us to erupt in a frenzy of empowerment, change and meaning.

This past weekend I have spent my time seeing life from the perspective of people of whom I otherwise have little understanding. During my time with the political left, it became clear that I have been wearing my rose coloured glasses the wrong way around, and that there are people who want to embrace their purpose, all around me. And that instead of being different to them, I am my own person in unison with them.

And that has made my purpose all the more clear.