Stop Searching for Purpose: How Viktor Frankl Teaches Us to Find Meaning in the Moment
Introduction
For many of us, the search for purpose can feel like a quest for something fixed—a singular life mission that will save us, motivate us, or give us a reason to get up every day. I recently found myself wrestling with the idea of purpose: Is it something I’m supposed to chase? Is there an overarching life purpose for me, or does it change moment to moment?
I realized something profound: I was waiting on purpose to save me, to give me motivation. But waiting for purpose became a crutch—an excuse to delay action. I believed that once I had found the perfect purpose, everything would fall into place. Instead, I was stuck. Reflecting on Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning helped me see that purpose is not something to chase; it’s something to create moment by moment. Frankl’s insights opened a door for me: purpose is not static, it is dynamic. Meaning isn’t about finding a single answer—it’s about responding to life as it unfolds, one moment at a time.
Let’s explore Frankl’s perspective on purpose and why it’s not something to “find” but something to live into. Along the way, I’ll share examples and analogies that helped me break free from the waiting game.
1. There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Purpose
Frankl makes it clear that there is no universal life purpose that applies to everyone. Instead, purpose is deeply personal, unique to each of us, and ever-changing.
“The meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day, and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general, but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.”
This hit me: Purpose isn’t a destination, and it’s not fixed. It’s something that shifts depending on the moment, the circumstances, and where we are in life. What feels meaningful today may evolve tomorrow.
Analogy: It’s like driving through fog at night. You might not see the whole road ahead, but you can see just far enough to take the next step—or in this case, the next action. Purpose is like that headlight: it illuminates what you can do right now.
Ask yourself:
What feels meaningful to me right now in this moment?
How can I stop chasing a singular purpose and instead tune into what life is asking of me today?
2. Purpose Comes From Responsibility
Frankl believes that life is always asking us questions. We don’t find purpose by waiting for answers; we create it by responding to life’s challenges with responsibility and intention.
“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life.”
For a long time, I thought purpose would come to me, like a sudden light bulb moment. But Frankl helped me see that life’s meaning is something you answer daily with your actions and attitudes.
Example: Imagine standing in front of a blank canvas. If you wait for inspiration to strike, the canvas remains empty. But if you pick up the brush and start painting—even if it’s messy—the act of doing creates something meaningful. Your life is the canvas, and action is the brush.
This reframes the search for purpose:
Instead of asking, “What is my purpose?”, try asking, “What is life asking of me right now?”
How can I show up fully and authentically in this moment?
3. An Overarching Purpose? It’s Up to You
Here’s where Frankl offers freedom: While he doesn’t believe in a pre-determined universal purpose, he acknowledges that each person can discover their own overarching purpose through their actions. But this purpose isn’t something you wait to find—it’s something you choose and create through life itself.
“Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life... everyone’s task is as unique as his specific opportunity to implement it.”
You can:
Choose to dedicate yourself to something greater than yourself—a cause, work, or relationships.
Recognize that life’s purpose is not static; it grows and changes as you do.
Example: A teacher might feel a sense of purpose in helping students learn. But when they retire, their purpose might shift to mentoring others, pursuing creative projects, or caring for loved ones. Purpose evolves as you evolve.
4. Meaning Changes With Life’s Circumstances
Frankl’s own life in Nazi concentration camps is the ultimate testament to his belief: Meaning shifts based on life’s circumstances. Whether it’s finding joy, enduring hardship with dignity, or serving others, your purpose is fluid.
“In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.”
For Frankl, even suffering can become purposeful when you give it meaning through your response. This made me reflect:
How can I give meaning to challenges I’m facing right now?
What purpose might emerge if I stop resisting my circumstances and instead respond with intention?
Analogy: Life is like a river, always moving and changing. When we try to cling to a rock (a fixed purpose), we resist the flow. But when we respond to the current—letting it carry us while adjusting our direction—we align with life’s natural movement.
5. The Trap of Waiting for Purpose
One of my biggest realizations is that waiting for purpose became a crutch. I was using it as an excuse not to take action, thinking, “I’ll act once I figure out my purpose.” But waiting left me stuck.
Frankl reminds us that meaning emerges through doing, not seeking.
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”
This shifted my perspective. I realized:
I don’t need to know my “big purpose” to act right now.
The small, honest actions I take today can create meaning and momentum.
Example: When I started writing down insights to share with others, I didn’t know it would give me purpose. I just started where I was—and meaning emerged through the act of doing.
Ask yourself:
What small action can I take today that feels meaningful?
How might purpose reveal itself if I stop waiting and start living?
Conclusion: Live Into Purpose, Moment by Moment
Viktor Frankl doesn’t dismiss the idea of purpose; he redefines it. Purpose is not a fixed answer you search for. Instead, it’s something you create through your actions, your responses, and your willingness to engage with life as it is.
You don’t have to be saved by a grand purpose—you can live purposefully by showing up fully in each moment. Life asks you questions every day, and your answers create meaning.
So instead of asking, “What is my life purpose?”, ask:
“What is life asking of me today?”
“How can I respond to this moment with meaning?”
When you stop waiting for purpose, you allow it to emerge naturally through how you live. Life doesn’t require you to have all the answers—just the willingness to act, one moment at a time.
