Best Blogs About Finding Purpose

I often hear from readers about how much resonance they feel when they find the Meaning Movement. When people subscribe I send an email welcoming them and asking what they’re looking for. The responses say a lot. Here are a few recent excerpts:

• “This is a great idea!”
• “The Meaning Movement feels like an answer to prayer.”
• “This whole thing you’ve got going is awesome.”
• “I don’t normally reply to these sort of emails, but your writing has struck a chord with me.”
• “When I checked out your blog… I fell in love.”

And more.

What I’m struck by is how hungry so many of us are for meaning and how tired we are of doing work solely for the money. The manifesto covers this in brief, but there’s a hunger for work to be more than just a cog in an industrialist machine.

We want this to mean something. We want to give our lives to making an impact, to creating positive change, to doing more than just making ends meet. So many of us are on a quest to find our purpose, or find a deeper expression of it.

As much as I want to be the most novel blogger on the planet and hope my writing is fresh and new in many ways, I want to talk about others who are doing similar work. Why? Because in many ways we’re all on the same team. We’re trying to make a difference. We’re trying to sound a wake up call and start a revolution.

Or at least I am.

And these are the people who I consider to be co-conspirators in that revolution. (You may recognize some from the post about the best book on finding purpose.)

The Best Blogs About Finding Purpose

Here are the best blogs and bloggers that touch on the topic around the web. I’ll give you a few words about each, and then I’d love to hear what your favorites might be!

The Meaning Movement with Dan Cumberland

This is the blog you’re reading. I created it to help move the needle on purpose, calling, and vocation. Unlike the others on this list, The Meaning Movement is completely focused on this topic. I won’t take up more space, as the rest of what I have to share here is really fantastic, but if you haven’t subscribed or checked out the podcast, go do it! What are you waiting for?!?

Some great posts to start with are:

• The Long Guide to Finding Your Calling – This is a long post that explains the process I’ve created over the past 15+ years working on this topic. It’s long but action focused. You’ll probably want to bookmark this one.
• Best Books on Finding Purpose – This is a roundup of books on the topic of Calling and Purpose. Some great reads here to dig into!

On Being with Krista Tippett

On Being is as much a podcast as it is a blog. Maybe even more so. But I love articles they post.

On Being tries to answer the question of what it means to be human. It’s contributors are often faith based and extremely diverse. I think that’s one of the aspect of it that I appreciate the most: it’s diversity.

Some of my favorite articles are:

• Embracing All the Layers of Your Life by Parker Palmer (one of my all time favorites. Read his book if you haven’t yet!)
• The Disease of Being Busy by Omid Safi

Paul Angone at AllGroanUp.com

It’s a big shift to go from OnBeing to AllGroanUp. They are very different in almost every way. And yet I love them both.

Paul Angone writes mostly for 20-somethings, but his work extends beyond that decade. I’ve gotten to know Paul a little bit, and have been so grateful for his kindness and openness. He was gracious enough to entertain a guest post from me a while back.

Paul gives practical and down to earth advice on everything from careers to relationships. It’s good stuff— especially if you’re in your 20’s.

Some of my favorite articles are:

• The Lure of the Comfortable Job
• Why I Hope We Never Make it
• 8 Questions Every Twentysomething Should Ask About Their Career

Allison Vesterfelt at AllisonVesterfelt.com

Allison is a writer’s writer. Her work centers on helping people find their voice and become writers.

While you might think her work is not for you if you’re not a writer, I’d still encourage you to take a look at her work. Long before I wrote or had a blog, I loved to read books about writing. Books like Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird” or Steven Pressfield’s “The War of Art” made a big impact on me. Here’s why: when writers write about writing, they’re also speaking to the creative process and the work of finding your voice no matter your medium. Whether your art is done in computer code or in front of a classroom of kids— knowing what you want to say and how you want to say it is fundamental to knowing your life’s work.

And that’s what I love about Allison’s writing. She wants to help you find your voice.

Some of my favorite articles are:

• When Life Gets Hard, Have More Fun
• You Can’t Do It All

Jeff Goins at GoinsWriter.com

Jeff Goins is everyone in the online world. He seems to know everyone and everyone seems to love him. And it’s for good reason! He’s good at what he does!

Like Allison, Jeff writes about writing. But writing about writing is also writing about life, creativity, and making a life worth living.

Jeff’s most recent book “The Art of Work” is all about finding purpose in work, a theme he touches on often.

If you haven’t spent time with Jeff’s words, I’d recommend that you spend some time with them.

One of my favorite article is:

• The Secret to Effortless Writing

Therese Schwenkler at theUnlost.com

Therese writes mostly work, stickiness, and relationships. Her site is well named The Unlost as her work is about helping people find their way. Her writing is fun, funny, and at the same time cuts straight to the heart.

One my favorites is:

• Why It’s OK to be Lost And Confused

Jon Acuff at Acuff.me

When I read Jon’s work, I get the sense that he’s both an incredibly nice guy and that he really believes in his readers. It’s a good feeling. He writes about everything from leaving your job and starting your own thing, to being grateful and kind.

He’s also prolific, with a number of books under his belt.

Some of my favorite articles are:

• Why I’m doing something I don’t like doing today
• Why I can’t sleep some nights
• Good things come to those who finish

Scott and Chelsea Dinsmore at Live your Legend

Scott is another one of those bloggers who seemed to be everywhere! He wrote about connecting with people, stepping out on your own, and making a meaningful life.

Scott, unfortunately passed away in a tragic accident a few years ago. His wife Chelsea has picked up the mantle and has continued to develop the community and cause of Live Your Legend.

Seth Godin at Sethgodin.typepad.com

If you’ve been around the Meaning Movement long enough, I’m sure you’ve heard me mention Seth Godin. He blogs every single day and writes lots of books. You’ll see his name on the resource page multiple times.

He writes about a lot of things— marketing, entrepreneurship, making a difference, thoughtful engagement, etc. And he often touches on topics that connect work, purpose, and (especially) “choosing yourself” (a phrase he practically owns).

Don Miller at Storylineblog.com

Don Miller has been circling the topic of what makes life meaningful for years. His book A Million Miles in A Thousand Years had a big impact on a lot of people I know.

While I don’t follow his blog closely these days, I often stop by and see what he’s been up to. And he’s always up to something good.

Final Thoughts

I know there are more out there, but these are the bloggers that come to mind.  I’d also love to have more diversity on this list.  I’m curious who you follow in the calling/purpose/vocation/meaningful-work space?

Click here to share in the comments!