There are many things to criticize in today's world. Politics, economics, sports, education. They are all terrible—or at least worse than they used to be.

Why?

In this culture exists a crisis of purpose. Most people simply drift through life—a purposeless existence.

A politician, for instance, will cackle and grovel for the next vote when her aim is a wanton power-grab. While some may consider that a purpose, it is hardly fruitful. No serious person really believes she will improve the lives of anyone.

Power may be her reason, but she exists without a motivating purpose.

As for economics, it comes down to the political class with its thumb on the scale. The purpose of economics is to understand how people interact with one another. With the sheer amount of propaganda out there, Americans are rarely able to make sound economic judgments.

Perhaps that's the purpose of the self-described elites who attempt to run the system?

The purpose of sports is now unclear—driftless, occasionally enjoyable, yet also perhaps more "popular" as a gross number. The slice of the culture that it inhabits, however is no longer vibrant. A remnant of that part, though, hangs on to something that was once incredibly meaningful to the vast percentage of Americans.

But the demographic has changed. And that's not a purpose, that's nostalgia—"remember when?"

Consider advertising. Tastes great or less filling was a debate that was once worth having during the World Series. Now it is Big Politics and Big Pharma that are the big players in between innings during the Fall Classic. The latter completely shameless in their hawking of inept vaccines and the next miracle cure for the consequences of sodomy.

The "game" has indeed changed. Not for the better.

Education? The purpose of the system—nefarious as it may be—is to create little, uncritical followers and then transform society into something completely unrecognizable by the next generation.

This is acting on grievance. Its purpose is not virtuous in any manner. These people in Big Education should be stopped, but that's not the point.

It's all so sad. These are all examples of institutional struggles with purpose. This intentional misuse of opportunity has also rubbed off on the culture at large. To wit: instead of purpose, what is now common is the hunger for power, confusion, driftlessness, and misplaced revenge for perceived grievances.

No underlying purpose, or at least very little, exists in today's culture.

At the individual level, it can be painful to discover your own purpose. With that pain often comes suffering and at the first sign of suffering, the masses usually quit, for they are unable or unwilling to encounter it.

Well, pain is a part of life. So is suffering. Both will exist regardless of what path we take. We cannot control it.

But what we can control is our attitude and our effort. Our response, in other words.

Why is it so hard for some?

A lack of clarity. Those without vision have usually not defined their mission. There is no underlying purpose in their life.

They have no reason for their suffering, even though it should be obvious to them that suffering is inevitable at some point along the line.

The champions among us alleviate their own suffering. They rely on a vision that they've carefully cultivated so that they can work through their own suffering.

Champions have a mission and purpose, but we have very few champions within our culture today.

People ask me, "how do you find your purpose?"

It is not paint-by-numbers. It won't be easy and there aren't many stories where doing it is easy.

What I can guarantee is twofold: It will be difficult and it will be worth it.

So, start.

If you've already started down the road of discovering your purpose, you may need a kick in the fanny.

You are the result of the action you take.

As always,

Brian