Noble Purpose: The Joy of Living a Meaningful Life

Book Description

This book describes the personal and spiritual benefits of living life in a

way that matters, with an awareness that one’s life can reflect a sense of

higher purpose no matter what the circumstances. The book draws upon

religious, philosophical, and literary writings to show how humans in many

cultures and historical epochs have pursued noble purposes by answering

God’s call as each hears it.

Noble purpose can be pursued both in heroic acts and in everyday behavior.

The book shows how ordinary people-teachers, business professionals,

parents, citizens-can ennoble what they do by being mindful of its deepest

meaning. It also points out that humility is a necessary virtue for those

who pursue a noble purpose. Great heroes are bold, courageous, and sometimes

audacious in their determination to succeed; but they are also humble in

their awareness of their own limitations. Moreover, a person must never

violate basic moral laws while pursuing a noble purpose-the means must be as

moral as the ends.

Purpose brings coherence and satisfaction to people’s lives, producing joy

in good times and resilience in hard times. It also presents a paradox: hard

work in service of noble purpose that transcends personal gain is a surer

path to happiness than the self-indulgent pursuit of happiness for its own

sake. The closer we come to God’s purpose for us, the more satisfied our

lives become.

From the inspiration and examples conveyed in this book, we learn that all

individuals have the capacity to discover their own God-given abilities, to

learn the world’s need for the services they can provide, and to experience

joy in serving society and God in their special ways. As theologian

Frederick Buechner writes, “The place God calls you to is the place where

your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

About the Author

William Damon is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, the director of

the Stanford Center on Adolescence, and a professor of education at Stanford

University. Before coming to Stanford in 1997, Damon was a professor of

education and university professor at Brown University, where he continues

to hold an appointment as an adjunct professor of human development. Damon

received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in

developmental psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. He is

the author or editor of numerous books including The Moral Child, Greater

Expectations, and The Handbook of Child Psychology. He is married and has

three children.

– William Damon