own sake, there’s also merit in the belief that we’re doing something for the “greater good.” That’s what a sense of purpose delivers. We believe that what we’re doing has a positive effect on more than just our personal lives—it’s also contributing to the general goodwill of the planet, helping somebody other than ourselves, or restoring a sense of higher meaning in our lives. We’re driven by purpose because, well, deep down inside, none of us really want to be jerks. We want to believe that we’re “good” people, that we’re responding to the highest calls of nature and society. We want to
...more

