The My Purpose Is Exercise
Turn an abstract search for meaning into one working sentence
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 94%
The My Purpose Is Exercise makes the broad question of life purpose concrete. A person writes the three-word prompt and completes it, then spends ten to thirty minutes examining why that answer matters. The first completion may be superficial or inherited, so the person keeps refining until it expresses a reason they genuinely want to continue working toward. The purpose can centre on family, service, society, or the self; the framework does not prescribe its content. Its output is a usable sentence rather than a philosophical essay. That sentence can then test everyday commitments: activities that support it deserve attention, while activities that consistently conflict with it merit reconsideration.
Origin
Friedman connects this writing exercise to his interpretation of ikigai as a purpose-driven reason to get up and continue each day.
Core principles
- 01Purpose explains why daily effort matters
- 02A sentence forces vague meaning into words
- 03Reflection should go deeper than the first easy answer
- 04Purpose can serve self, family, or society
- 05A working answer can guide ordinary choices
How to run it
- 1
Write the prompt
Put 'my purpose is' on paper or in a blank note. Leave enough space to answer without worrying about polish.
Pro tip Paper can reduce the temptation to edit too quickly.
- 2
Complete it immediately
Write the first honest ending that comes to mind. Treat it as raw material rather than a final declaration.
Watch out Do not choose an answer only because it sounds impressive.
- 3
Interrogate the answer
Spend ten to thirty minutes asking why it matters and whose expectations it reflects. Look for the personal reason beneath the first phrase.
Pro tip Repeat 'why does that matter to me?' several times.
- 4
Refine the sentence
Rewrite the answer in plain language that feels specific enough to guide a choice. Keep it as a working statement that can evolve.
Watch out Do not mistake revision for failure; clarity can change with experience.
- 5
Test a commitment
Compare one current activity with the purpose statement. Decide whether to continue, change, or reduce that activity based on alignment.
Pro tip Begin with a reversible weekly choice.
In the wild
A professional first writes that their purpose is to become successful. After repeatedly asking why, they discover that success matters because they want to make complicated financial choices understandable for ordinary families. They rewrite the sentence around that service and use it to assess two possible projects.
→ An abstract ambition becomes a practical decision filter.
Common mistakes
Stopping at the first answer
The immediate completion may reflect status or convention rather than a personally grounded reason.
Treating it as immutable
A purpose statement is a working guide and can be refined as circumstances and understanding change.
Is it for you?
Best for
People reconsidering their direction, motivation, career, or daily priorities.
Not ideal for
People expecting a permanent life answer from a single brief reflection.
From the transcript
“grab a piece of paper grab a phone and just type in these three words my purpose is and then fill in the blank”
“if you actually spend like 10 minutes 15 minutes 30 minutes actually thinking about like why are you here like why what do you do…”
From the episode
Zack Friedman: The Lemonade Life
Zack Friedman