Why Purpose Needs to Be Reimagined
In a world that often defines purpose through productivity, status, and legacy, many of us quietly wonder: is there another way to live? This series is for those who feel the dissonance – who sense that the dominant cultural script doesn’t quite fit, and who long for a more soulful, regenerative, and relational approach to life.
This series invites a quiet but radical inquiry: what if many of the ideas that shape our lives -about success, productivity, individualism, and progress — are not as inevitable as they seem?
Each article explores a thread of the cultural story we’ve inherited and asks how we might begin to live from a deeper, more soul-aligned understanding of purpose and connection.
Together, we’ll gently unpick the threads of the prevailing paradigm – individualism, hustle, extraction – and imagine something deeper and more human in its place. Through reflection, story, and practical insight, this series invites you to explore a purpose that is lived, not chased. Rooted in presence, connection, and care, it’s a path that honours who you are and the world you’re part of.
Let’s begin.
Introduction to the series
Is life purpose really about productivity, achievement, and legacy? This article invites you to question the dominant cultural paradigm and explore a more soulful, relational, and evolving understanding of purpose. Instead of chasing a singular mission, what if purpose was something you lived into each day? This piece introduces a new series on purpose, offering fresh ways to think – and live – beyond conventional definitions.
What Is the Dominant Paradigm?
What if the world’s idea of success isn’t the only way? This article explores the deep-rooted cultural assumptions that define the dominant paradigm – from productivity and growth to individualism and disconnection from nature. By becoming aware of these invisible forces, we can begin to imagine a more soulful, connected way of living. A thoughtful invitation to question, reflect, and move toward purpose on your own terms.
The Productivity Trap
Is your self-worth tangled up with how much you achieve? In a world that glorifies hustle, many of us feel guilty for resting. This article explores the historical roots of productivity culture, its personal and societal costs, and how we can begin to reclaim a more balanced, soulful way of living – one rooted not in output, but in meaning. Let this be your invitation to step off the treadmill.
The Myth of Individualism
We’re often told that success means doing it all on our own – but what if that story is a myth? This article explores how the dominant paradigm of individualism isolates us and overlooks the power of connection. By reimagining success as something we build together, we begin to uncover a more soulful and sustainable path. A must-read if you’ve ever felt the pressure to be endlessly self-reliant.
The Extractive Mindset
What if life wasn’t something to be maximised or extracted from – but honoured, tended, and lived in relationship? This article explores the deep cultural roots of the extractive mindset, how it impacts our well-being and our world, and what it means to reclaim a regenerative way of living. A soulful invitation to rethink work, success, relationships, and time itself in alignment with deeper values and rhythms.
Rethinking Success
What if success wasn’t about hustle, status, or constant productivity? This article explores how redefining success through a soul-aligned lens can lead to greater fulfilment, deeper connection, and a more sustainable way of living. By questioning cultural conditioning and embracing inner purpose, we open the door to a richer, more meaningful life. A gentle invitation to reclaim success on your own terms.
How to Think Beyond the Dominant Paradigm
The dominant paradigm shapes how we think, live, and define success – often without our awareness. This article invites you to pause, question the assumptions you’ve inherited, and explore gentler, more soul-aligned ways of seeing the world. Drawing on diverse perspectives from Indigenous wisdom to regenerative living, it offers practical shifts you can begin today to live with greater meaning, connection, and purpose.
Living the Alternative
Living differently starts with intention. In this article, we explore how to break free from the dominant cultural paradigm by redefining success, embracing interdependence, reconnecting with nature, and nurturing inner resilience. These gentle, practical shifts can help you align your daily life with soulful values and a regenerative mindset – one conscious step at a time.
Rethinking Purpose
What if purpose wasn’t something to “find” or achieve, but something we live moment by moment? This gentle reimagining of purpose invites you to release the pressure of grand missions and fixed goals. Instead, discover how presence, connection, and everyday contribution can shape a more soulful, authentic life. A refreshing alternative to the dominant narrative of purpose as productivity and success.
Companion reviews
If you’d like to go deeper, I’ve created a companion library of book reviews that expand on the themes explored in this series. From Charles Eisenstein’s call to reimagine belonging, to Rutger Bregman’s proposals for new economic models, to Rob Hopkins’ celebration of imagination and the future, to Thomas Berry’s ecological vision, and Sarah McFarland Taylor’s examples of communities already living differently – together, these works offer rich and varied pathways beyond the dominant paradigm.