The Happiness of Pursuit: Find the Quest that will Bring Purpose to Your Life

In the ancient stories there is often a search for a mythical object (a sacred necklace, a holy grail), or a need to reclaim something that has been stolen. A “wise old man” figure who foresees tests and trials for the brave adventurer often offers guidance. The hero is joined by friends and allies, some of whom may have their own agendas.33

When I’d first gone abroad, originally on a summer trip to China, I returned with a perspective typical of the bedazzled novice traveler: “People everywhere are the same!” But as I learned with more experience, that wasn’t the case at all. Sure, the wide swath of humanity has a few things in common: No matter where you go, most parents love their c

The more you experience something outside of what you’ve known, the more open-minded you become . . . but this worldview can also be somewhat alienating, especially to people at home.

Part of it is the process of getting older, and part of it comes from the experience itself. In my case I realized that much of travel was about being open to different ways of life and changes outside my control. When I found myself getting frustrated, more often than not the problem was my own expectations.

It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over. —PAULO COELHO

The core message is that a quest can bring purpose and meaning to your life, too. Why pursue a quest? Because each of us in our lives is writing our own story, and we only have one chance to get it right.

The distinguishing marks of a passport didn’t determine my identity; my experiences and values did.

“It has become ever more clear to me that if I had spent my life avoiding any and all potential risks, I would have missed doing most of the things that have comprised the best years of my life.”

corners. Steven Pressfield, author of a dozen books, says, “The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.” So, too, for a quest. The most important thing is continuing to make progress.