Viktor Frankl—the Austrian neurologist, psychologist, and philosopher—devoted his life to helping people successfully navigate their time in mortality. With benefit of his perspective as a Holocaust survivor, Frankl inspired millions. One of his memorable quotes is worth citing here: “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.”
Meaning. Purpose. Arguably the keys to a happy and productive life.
Jordan Grumet expands on the subject in his new book The Purpose Code: How to Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave a Lasting Legacy.
Trained as a medical doctor, Grumet specialized in internal medicine. That path led him to focus on providing compassionate care for the terminally ill in hospice. In that work, he naturally spends a lot of time with people who are examining their lives with a rearview mirror.
Dr. Grumet’s book focuses not on people who are at the end of their lives, but rather on people who still have years remaining and want to make the most of them.
He cites research showing that 91% of people are struggling with “purpose anxiety,” a condition that stems from the struggle to define purpose. “This is often linked to fear, frustration, and depression,” he says. “A common sign is believing there’s only one true purpose and fearing missing it. Others experience ‘purpose nihilism,’ deciding purpose doesn’t exist. Subtler signs include frequent job changes in search of fulfillment or impostor syndrome in chosen paths.”
Grumet says purpose is less about something that’s found and more about something that’s created.
“‘Finding purpose’ suggests passivity,” he says. “Purpose begins with inklings—things that excite or intrigue us—and it’s up to us to shape it.”
Julia Child—the famed chef, author, and television personality—is an example someone who found purpose. She didn’t stumble upon purpose; she pursued her passion step by step, overcoming challenges.
Grumet says Julia Child’s journey highlights two key aspects of purpose. “First, she experienced a moment of discovery when she tasted French cuisine for the first time. It lit her up, becoming what I call a ‘purpose anchor.’ She didn’t burden this joy with external goals; she immersed herself in the process. Second, she acted on it. Despite setbacks like failing her first test at Le Cordon Bleu, she kept going because she loved it too much to stop. Her passion for French cooking became a lifelong pursuit.”
Chasing a dream often comes with risk. So what role does courage play in the creation of purpose?
“The world often imposes plans on us,” Grumet says. “Influencers sell goal-driven versions of purpose, and loved ones project their unfulfilled dreams. True purpose, however, is often small, personal, and doesn’t fit societal norms. For me, leaving medicine to write and podcast was terrifying. Courage allowed me to take that leap, face the unknown, and find authentic purpose—despite the fear of disappointing others.”
Grumet talks about “the art of subtraction” and its role in helping people gain clarity about purpose.
“Many people struggle to identify clear purpose anchors in their live,” he says. “One effective way to gain clarity is by using the art of subtraction at work. I encourage people to take a step back and list all of their job roles and responsibilities. Then, eliminate the tasks that don’t feel joyful or meaningful. Even if only one or two activities remain, these can serve as powerful anchors around which to build a life of purpose. When I applied this to my own work as a doctor, I discovered that hospice care still brought me immense fulfillment. It became a strong purpose anchor for me moving forward.”
Grumet cites research showing that positive social relationships are the only strong predictor of overall happiness. So, why do so many people seem to miss what seems to be the obvious value of community and connection?
“Society sells us a bill of goods, promoting grandiose versions of purpose that many of us don’t have the agency to achieve,” he says. “The American Dream narrative, for instance, often centers on wealth and material success. While these goals may be difficult to attain, they are at least concrete and measurable. Social connection, on the other hand, is far harder to define and measure, yet it’s essential to our happiness. Unfortunately, in American culture, we don’t celebrate or prioritize the value of genuine social bonds in the same way.”
Grumet says storytelling (personal narrative) can help people gain clarity regarding their possibilities.
“Happiness requires both meaning and purpose,” he says.” Purpose involves present actions, while meaning comes from understanding our past. Often, our personal stories feel incomplete, prompting us to chase purpose. But rewriting our narrative is key.”
He illustrates with his own personal experience.
“When my father passed away, I was only seven and I decided that the way to make up for this tragedy was to become a doctor, just like him. Achieving that lofty goal, however, didn’t solve my inner struggles. My father was still gone, and being a doctor didn’t change that. What I had to do was rewrite the story I told myself about my past. I realized my father’s death had nothing to do with me, and I didn’t need to prove my worthiness. This realization freed me to pursue purpose in a much more authentic way, without the need to prove anything to anyone.”
For people who claim they don’t have time to pursue (or even identify) their dreams, Grumet offers this advice:
“The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regularly reports on the American Time Survey, which shows that on average, Americans have around five hours of leisure time per day,” he says. “This holds true across various socioeconomic groups. A lot of this time is spent on activities that don’t feel particularly purposeful, like watching television.”
Grumet encourages people to let go of the idea of “pursuing their dreams” as a grand, all-encompassing goal. Instead, he advises, people should “focus on the small activities that bring them joy, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day. That’s a great starting point, and it can gradually lead to greater clarity and fulfillment.”