--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When our purpose is external, we may…" description: "\"When our purpose is external, we may never find it. If we tie our purpose or meaning to our vocation, goal or an activity, we're more than likely setti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/kris-carr-7216_activity_when-our-purpose-is-external-we-may-neve_792383.jpg" --- # When our purpose is external, we may never find it. If we… ![“When our purpose is external, we may never find it. If we tie our purpose or meaning to our vocation, goal or an activity, we're more than likely setting ourselves up for suffering down the line.” quote by Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/kris-carr-7216_activity_when-our-purpose-is-external-we-may-neve_792383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/kris-carr-7216_activity_when-our-purpose-is-external-we-may-neve_792383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/kris-carr-7216_activity_when-our-purpose-is-external-we-may-neve_792383.jpg) > “When our purpose is external, we may never find it. If we tie our purpose or meaning to our vocation, goal or an activity, we're more than likely setting ourselves up for suffering down the line.” [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Linking purpose to external goals leads to suffering; internal purpose is essential. **In simple terms:** External goals can cause suffering; find inner purpose. Key Takeaway Cultivate purpose from within. Themes purpose inner fulfillment psychology Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical self-help When to use this quote - career planning - personal growth - well‑being Key Concepts existentialism self-determination Questions to Reflect On - What internal values guide your actions? - How can you separate self‑worth from external success? A Different Perspective External achievements can still bring meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down/) [External](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/external/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Likely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likely/) [Line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/line/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ourselves/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purpose External](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-external-6083143/) [Purpose Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose-meaning-265303/) [Setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting/) [Setting Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting-suffering-6083145/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Tie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tie/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Vocation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation/) [Vocation Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocation-goal-6083144/) ## Related quotes > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [A person of character seeks true happiness in living a life of purpose and meaning, placing a higher value on significance than success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/a-person-of-character-seeks-true-happiness-in-living-a-life-of/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [I have a purpose and a meaning in life, and I have to fulfill that. Being a champion is great, but more importantly than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cejudo/i-have-a-purpose-and-a-meaning-in-life-and-i-have-to-fulfill-that/) [Henry Cejudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cejudo/) > [Our lives are programmed at conception and are endowed with purpose and meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeane-dixon/our-lives-are-programmed-at-conception-and-are-endowed-with-purpose/) [Jeane Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeane-dixon/) > [“Books had shown me, however, that all people everywhere wanted their lives to have purpose and meaning. This longing was universal. 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But, in truth, life is purpose. Meaning is found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-a-fife/many-believe-that-they-must-discover-their-purpose-for-living-that/) [Dale A. Fife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-a-fife/) > [“Concrete goals give purpose and meaning to our lives and obstruct our tendency to obsess about what it making us angry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-baruch/concrete-goals-give-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives-and-obstruct-our/) [Rhoda Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-baruch/) > [The enduring attraction of war is this: Even with its destruction and carnage it can give us what we long for in life. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/the-enduring-attraction-of-war-is-this-even-with-its-destruction-and/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [“It’s not the span of time that counts, but what you do with it. While you humans have been grubbing around the galaxy, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/it-s-not-the-span-of-time-that-counts-but-what-you-do-with-it-while/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-many-people-walk-around-with-a-meaningless-life-they-seem-half/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a rare person who can pierce the veil between ordinarly life, consumed with matters of physical survival, and pursuit of the empowered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-myss/it-is-a-rare-person-who-can-pierce-the-veil-between-ordinarly-life/) [Caroline Myss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-myss/) ## More by Kris Carr > [Change is a pesky notion. For many folks, the biggest challenge in changing their eating habits isn't money, time, or education; it's reframing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/change-is-a-pesky-notion-for-many-folks-the-biggest-challenge-in/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [You don't have to become a vegan. You can become a plant-passionate, plant-inspired bean lover!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/you-don-t-have-to-become-a-vegan-you-can-become-a-plant-passionate/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [“Picture yourself when you were five. in fact, dig out a photo of little you at that time and tape it to your mirror.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/picture-yourself-when-you-were-five-in-fact-dig-out-a-photo-of-little/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [Find your bliss and your joy, know that you are a white light disco ball with no ceilings and no limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/find-your-bliss-and-your-joy-know-that-you-are-a-white-light-disco/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [I love to breathe. Oxygen is sexy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/i-love-to-breathe-oxygen-is-sexy/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [Life is a terminal condition. Were all going to die. Cancer patients just have more information, but we all, in some ways, wait for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/life-is-a-terminal-condition-were-all-going-to-die-cancer-patients/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [Cancer' is such a frightening word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/cancer-is-such-a-frightening-word/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [It’s not about finding your voice, it’s about giving yourself permission to use your voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/it-s-not-about-finding-your-voice-it-s-about-giving-yourself/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [The goal isn't to be restrictive or tight about what passes through the altar (your mouth) and into the temple (your body). It's to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/the-goal-isn-t-to-be-restrictive-or-tight-about-what-passes-through/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [Your self-worth has nothing to do with your craft or calling, and everything to do with how you treat yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/your-self-worth-has-nothing-to-do-with-your-craft-or-calling-and/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [I kind of blossomed backwards. I got cancer, fell in love and have a magical life. I never imagined it would happen that way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/i-kind-of-blossomed-backwards-i-got-cancer-fell-in-love-and-have-a/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [I was asleep at the wheel before cancer shook me awake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/i-was-asleep-at-the-wheel-before-cancer-shook-me-awake/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [Quite literally, your gut is the epicenter of your mental and physical health. If you want better immunity, efficient digestion, improved clarity and balance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/quite-literally-your-gut-is-the-epicenter-of-your-mental-and-physical/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [“The Universe Always Has Your Back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/the-universe-always-has-your-back/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [Eventually cancer becomes just another annoying thing that you deal with, you know, like cellulite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/eventually-cancer-becomes-just-another-annoying-thing-that-you-deal/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) [Explore all 93 Kris Carr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When our purpose is external, we may never find it. 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