How to Stay Disciplined When Your Purpose Feels Unclear

Using principles to guide choices when purpose isn’t enough

This is a paid companion for What Is Your Purpose? — Issue #9: Fritz Coetzee

We usually expect clarity to just appear out of nowhere. That’s not a flaw; it’s human. At some point, all of us have waited for that moment when everything suddenly makes sense, and part of it comes from our craving for order. We live in a world of entropy, a world of chaos. And when that chaos is loudest inside our own heads, the desire for clarity only grows stronger.

When thoughts pile up, when we don’t know where to begin, when we’re acting but can’t quite tell if we’re moving in the right direction, we reach for that sense of direction that can keep us steady. But when we don’t yet have the language or the tools to frame what we’re searching for, we get stuck.

I’ve been there. I know you’ve been there too.

That’s where purpose comes in. Building it, discovering it, or rediscovering it gives us a compass. And the markings on that compass are our principles. The lines that guide us when clarity wavers. Purpose tells us where we’re going, but principles help us keep moving when the way forward isn’t obvious.

In this companion, we’re going to put into practice our talk about the role of principles, how they bring purpose, and how that clarity helps us choose alignment over impulse. The aim here is practical: improving our comeback speed. That’s the foundation of what we mean by discipline.

With clarity, returning gets easier. We’re not stuck guessing; we’re realigning with what already matters, our values, our principles. And the more we practice it, the faster we come back each time.

Let’s dive in.

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⚡ Recap: Discipline Through Principles

Sometimes purpose feels clear. Other times, it drifts. What carries you through those gaps isn’t force; it’s principles.

The decisions you make when no one’s watching. That line you won’t cross, even if it costs you comfort. This is where discipline lives when clarity falters: in choosing alignment over impulse, again and again.

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🛠 Application: Returning to Principles

You won’t always feel purposeful. You’ll face days where the weight of routine blurs why you’re here. On those days, fear of drifting might push you to fill the space with motion; any motion. That’s when principles matter most: