The Primary Cause – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

How questions about purpose point us toward the future

Photo by Nadir sYzYgY on Unsplash

"Men do not think they know a thing till they have grasped the ‘why’ of it (which is to grasp its primary cause)," Aristotle wrote. One of the big takeaways from a good book I’ve been reading is that every question we ask about purpose automatically places us in the future. Whenever we need an answer, say on a decision ahead of us, and we turn to purpose, the very next thought shows us the road ahead and whether it points the right way. In a plane, on a boat or behind the wheel, any change of course makes us picture that future moment: "If I do this, will I still get there?"

We aren’t always aware of why we decide what we decide. Most of the time we run on autopilot, producing all kinds of actions and results, and that is how we became who we are today. A steady flow of decisions and actions makes for a more coherent life, and as human beings we’re always thinking (even on autopilot) about what things are for, which is to say, how to steer our lives. That constant inner conversation about meaning never goes quiet. It’s there every moment, and that’s exactly why the search for our purpose deserves our attention.

Today there’s a strong push for companies to know their purpose (their why, or what they’re for), and the same goes for people. The idea is hardly new, which is why I opened with Aristotle. So why does it feel so alive and so urgent now? One reason is that purpose makes us more aware that every action has a reaction. Companies today are far more conscious of their financial, environmental and social impact. Everyone knows that what happens inside the organization has consequences. And what sets that true north? Purpose.

The same holds on a personal level. We think about the meaning of our lives and feel the need to find it, and when the light of that purpose comes through, the path brightens and our decisions get clearer. Having purpose as a lighthouse that keeps us going and always shows the way saves us all kinds of resources, especially the time each decision takes. Another big benefit is the quality of our reflection: understanding what will lead to better decisions in the future, true to that purpose, based on everything we’ve done so far and on a future we imagine in line with it.

The primary cause of any decision lies in what it is for. With that clear, and with our eyes on the future, we have every tool we need for the next step, which is action.

Warm regards,

Rodrigo Baccaro

P.S. This week’s VELA (what I was Watching, Listening to, Reading and Learning):

• Watching: An interview with Facundo Cabral. One of the best interviews I’ve ever seen. I admire both men, Bayly and Facundo Cabral, and the depth of the questions and answers is on another level.
• Reading: On Purpose. A great book, one of the good ones, and I’m grateful it found its way to me. I plan to take my time with it and enjoy it.
• Learning: El arte de prestar atención (The Art of Paying Attention). A good podcast, and this episode in particular is excellent.

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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