TELOS
“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.”
Robert Byrne
What is "purpose"?
Purpose is one of those words that can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, purpose is the reason that something is done or created; the reason that it exists. As a verb, purpose is one’s intention or objective.
One of the fundamental concepts in the work of the Greek philosopher Aristotle is “telos”- the inherent purpose or ultimate aim of a thing. Telos both explains why something exists and what it strives to become. Aristotle posits that whether that “thing” is a fruit, a human being, or the universe itself, it has a telos.
According to Aristotle, the telos of a human being, is "eudaimonia", which means flourishing or living well. Aristotle saw this as being achieved through the development of virtues (prudence, justice, courage, temperance, etc.) and rational activity (i.e. making wise decisions, practicing self-control, acting justly, engaging in intellectual pursuits, etc.).
Finding your telos means discovering your ultimate purpose, goal, or end in life. It's about understanding what you're uniquely designed to do and pursuing that end with passion and intention. It's living a fulfilling life aligned with your deepest values and potential.
Telos is about becoming the very best version of ourselves in all areas of our lives; it is about becoming whole.
Our purpose is our potential. It’s what we simultaneously strive to become and what we already are deep inside. It’s the unfolding of our authentic self; our best self. We have had this potential inside of us since we were born.
Some of us have had a sense of this purpose, but perhaps feel like we have always “fallen short”; that we never have been quite able (or willing) to “live up” to the potential we feel is inside of us waiting to get out.
Or perhaps, some of us did get to a place where we lived up to that potential, but it was only for a fleeting moment, where we then wandered down divergent paths that led us off course and caused us to squander that potential.
I have experienced both of those things.
But I also believe that as long as we are alive, we have the opportunity to step into our purpose. Now, the fulfillment of that purpose probably won’t look like how it would have looked had we fulfilled it twenty years ago. However, when we fulfill that purpose now, the fruits that come from may very well be be better; more real, more lived, more authentic, more valuable.
Find your telos. You have one. You always have.