purpose

What’s next? Is that question bothering more people these days? Does the pandemic and lockdown have anything to do with it? Traditional office work provided social connection, shared goals of a community and friendships. Since the lockdown, social connection moved online and the work was reduced to its bare essentials - accomplishing well defined goals. When stripped to bare bones, are we now seeing work for what it was? Are we searching for more meaning and purpose now? I think we all have lot of time on our hands to explore this question, in isolation and without distractions. I feel not finding satisfactory answers could lead people to take more chances, atleast to break out and see what else is possible.

Beyond questioning the fundamental meaning of work, there are other side effects too. With no chance to just bump into someone, unless we express multi fold compared to earlier, it might be difficult to understand others and to be understood. “Serendipitous conversations” and “watercooler moments” were phrases heard recently. People who were expressive in person are reduced to sterilized, measured, careful statements in chat, email or phone. Phone conversations are for a specific need. Agenda-less discussions about anything under the sun, aided by a coffee, are missing. It is just like the saying that long distance relationships are doomed to fail. Only remedy in these times seems to be to try harder to reach out more without a specific purpose, say more than usual, be vulnerable and share first.

Group of people could slowly drift apart – the strong ties of shared goal, common purpose, feeling of going on an adventurous journey together is coming apart. Unless we continuously refine the purpose, repeat it and reassure, there may not be anything in common to fight for.

I hope the end result, when we come out of this pandemic, will be good for all. Ties that could not hold might be broken for the sake of new beginnings. I hope more people will find new answers to the meaning of life (or work) too.

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1. I had come across this towards the beginning of this crisis – “In a crisis - an opportunity for a more meaningful life”. Was reminded of this due to another conversation today.