Periods of Scale Time, Shaping Our Purpose
People often ask, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
Many of us struggle to answer. It's a question that feels distant, almost abstract, because it requires us to step outside our immediate concerns and think about the long-term.
So, how should we answer this question?
How do you approach thinking across different time scales? How can we align our thinking to reach where we want to be over:
12 months
17 seconds
23 minutes
6 years
4 decades
The scale of time itself doesn’t matter. What truly matters is having clarity of purpose, from clarity we can create goals, which form our habits. The more consistently we practice habits, the greater the compounding effect over time towards our purpose. The pursuit of purpose lets time flow, becoming a catalyst rather than a barrier.
“Compounding is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it” - Albert Einstein.
But despite understanding the importance of clarity, many of us still struggle to find it. We all know that our time on Earth is limited and scarce. Yet, we rarely pause to ask ourselves why we are here and what is our true purpose. Instead, we often focus on checking off items from our bucket list, trying to consume and achieve as much as possible within a finite time that may not even be achievable. We become deeply engrossed in creation and consumption, concentrating more on extending our time on this planet rather than understanding the meaning behind our existence.
When we reflect on the question, "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" it can trigger an existential crisis. In simple terms, it might lead to a quarter-life crisis, a mid-life crisis, a retirement crisis, or other moments of crisis that we encounter along our journey. These crises occur because we haven’t found a purpose in life that provides clarity.
When we find clarity of purpose, we can pursue our purpose throughout all stages of life. Whether it’s for 7 months, 13 years, 8 decades, or until our last breath, clarity offers direction and fulfillment. It guides our actions and decisions, providing a stable foundation amidst life's chaos.
So, how do we find that clarity of purpose?
“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what he loves.” – Blaise Pascal.
Unconscious Bucket List
When we begin to reflect on the question of purpose, after or during the existential crises, we often get distracted by what remains on our bucket list. Popularised by the 2007 film starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, the "bucket list" refers to a list of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to accomplish during their lifetime. We start to develop what could be called an "unconscious bucket list," one shaped by our external surroundings—career, family, societal/cultural norms. Through our senses—what we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste—we observe the lives of others and unconsciously strive to do the same.
These external impressions, arriving from the senses enter the subconscious mind, influencing us in ways we might not fully realise. As we sit down to reflect on what we want to accomplish, our unconscious bucket list begins to form. This list is shaped by the actions of others, as we see and hear about their extraordinary experiences, which then give us the sense that we should pursue similar goals.
This unconscious bucket list often evolves incrementally. We start with five things we want to achieve this year, and then, based on the impressions we gather throughout the year, we develop five more for the following year—and so on.
Over time, this cycle continues until we reach a point where we experience a crisis. At that moment, we realise that despite all the things we’ve checked off, we haven’t truly accomplished what we set out to achieve.
This is the breaking point, where self-reflection becomes crucial. If we don’t pause to reflect on our true purpose, we risk continuing to add items to the unconscious bucket list that bring momentary joy but don’t provide lasting peace or fulfillment.
“Life is like a sprinting river and most people get into the river without even knowing where they want to go. They started the journey without a destination” - Tony Robbins.
Finding Clarity of Purpose
To begin finding clarity of purpose, we must expand our perception of time beyond the present moment and turn inward to our inner consciousness. As we discussed in the previous article, energy is matter, and matter is energy. If we were to look deeply within ourselves, journeying back to a time before we were born—before our parents even met—we might realise that we were once energy or some other form of matter, floating somewhere in the vast expanse of the universe.
Though we are unaware of this, having lost memory of it, the principle that nothing is destroyed, only transformed, suggests that it still resides within us. We have transformed from pure energy traveling the cosmos into the material form we now occupy on Earth.
Let’s take a step back and consider the origin of all things—the Big Bang. At that moment, all the matter in the universe was a form of energy that burst into existence, including you. Since that point, approximately 13.7 billion years ago, you have journeyed through space and time to arrive here today, reading this article.
In essence, we have all journeyed through space, and along the way, we may have been other forms of energy or matter. Perhaps we have already:
Seen the beautiful oceans of space—the rivers that form galaxies, similar to those we have on Earth.
Heard the thunderous sounds of cosmic rock festivals echoing through galaxies like the ones on Earth.
Smelled the exotic fragrances of flowers on planets with ecosystems similar to our own.
Felt the solar winds that sustain life on our planet, gently flowing through the cosmos.
Tasted the fruits of a world overflowing with endless chocolates, fruits, and plants—much like Earth.
The possibilities are as infinite as the universe itself—just as infinite as the unconscious bucket list we create, influenced by the external world around us.
Conscious Bucket List
Coming back to the present moment, when we reflect on how far we've already traveled or how many items from our unconscious bucket list we have completed, we start to focus on what really matters—what life’s purpose is, until the day we all die and transform into another form of energy or matter.
The idea that we’ve traveled through space and time since the Big Bang is a humbling thought. It reminds us that our individual lives are part of something much larger. This understanding can offer profound clarity—when we realise that our purpose isn’t a fleeting goal, but a journey that connects us to the very essence of existence.
This way of thinking helps to bring clarity. By setting aside sensory distractions, we adopt the viewpoint of having already completed those bucket list items long before we were born. These insights emerge only when we sit down to reflect internally, as discussed in the previous article. By continuously asking ourselves about our purpose, we can declutter our minds from the multiple pursuits we’ve accumulated over time. Doing so consistently will eventually lead us to discover our true purpose.
Purpose becomes clear over time, especially as it aligns with your inner core values. We can either let time flow freely or allow it to become something that controls us. When we stop restricting time and think beyond our current life, tapping into our inner consciousness, we begin to discover clarity of purpose. Our true purpose becomes clear as we consciously form our habits and goals from our mind, heart and soul.
The conscious bucket list is not a list of random goals, but a carefully curated collection of aspirations driven by our inner values. It evolves as we become more in tune with our purpose, shifting from external validation to internal fulfillment.
Key attributes towards Clarity of Purpose:
Clarity of purpose is a transformative journey and understanding the key attributes that signal you are on the right path is crucial. Here are some simple markers to keep in mind to ensure you are steering in the direction towards purpose:
Clarity gives you a destination of where you want to go,
Clarity eliminates all distractions,
Clarity makes you proactive rather than being reactive.
While these attributes are universal, it's essential to remember that each person’s journey and markers of clarity will look different. Clarity is personal—it’s about finding your own method and way forward that brings you a deep sense of fulfillment. Everyone’s purpose will be unique, but the process of uncovering and living it is where true clarity lies.
Nelson Mandela: A Journey from Clarity to Purpose
Nelson Mandela, a prominent civil rights leader, spent 27 years in prison for his fight against apartheid in South Africa. During his imprisonment, Mandela faced immense hardship and uncertainty. However, he never lost sight of his purpose: to achieve equality and justice for all South Africans.
Mandela's clarity of thought and unwavering commitment to his cause guided him through those difficult years. He once said, "I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities." This clarity of purpose sustained him and inspired countless others to join the struggle for freedom.
Upon his release in 1990, Mandela continued to work tirelessly for the abolition of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic South Africa. In 1994, he became the first Black president of South Africa, a testament to his vision and perseverance. Mandela's journey shows how clarity of thought and a strong sense of purpose can lead to profound change, not only in one's life but in the lives of many others.
Even after spending 27 years imprisoned, Mandela’s purpose was inherently strong, leading to time itself being irrelevant.
“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it” - Napolean Hill.
The MinDvesting Philosophy
By focusing on our inner purpose, the journey becomes easy as you no longer seek external validation. Time is often seen as a linear path, but purpose emerges when we use time intentionally rather than letting it control us. The journey will be difficult, though closing our external senses and by keeping the cosmic period of scale time in perspective, it helps the mind to adapt and adjust as life unfolds while staying aligned with the purpose. Purpose grows over time, just like compound interest. Letting purpose nurture leads to undeniable transformation.