When Purpose and Intention Align

When purpose and intention mingle in life and work, they spark new possibilities, transform our awareness, and provide profound clarity.

This article introduces a transformative concept, a new word or framework that describes when purpose and intention align. The one new word and framework is “Purpuscual”. It’s a powerful tool that inspires and motivates you to align your purpose and intention.

Why language and this new word matter

Language shapes our experience and lets us understand what we want to communicate.

Perhaps you remember or regularly experience a sudden clarity that boosts your awareness, providing clarity, insights, and excitement. A moment where it all comes together when you experience serendipity and feel the interconnectedness and the relationship of things, that you find answers for the issues you are puzzled about.

These moments, whether small or profound, awaken a sense of aligned purpose where intention, vision, and action briefly feel as one. They bring clarity, excitement, a deep understanding of joy, and a peaceful mind.

Perhaps you’re used to such moments as they come naturally or still try to reach for the first but struggle to express precisely what it is or what you’re looking for.

Either way, you have wanted to relive such moments or capture their essence while missing the words to explain them to others. When we finally find the right words, we often feel a sense of relief as we can now articulate what we know or strive for but cannot name.

How we describe purpose and intention

Although the definitions of Purpose and Intention are objectively short. When we describe their functions, it becomes more complex.

The purpose is, by many, described in various definitions, commonly from a personal viewpoint as the “Why am I here?” and “What drives me?” Some use “the reason for being, the big picture that guides my life.” or “what makes me feel alive and connected”.

De definitions of intention given by people and dictionaries are primarily described as “A Focused Mindset” or “A conscious Commitment to Action.”

The many ways we describe purpose and intention show the phenomena’ complexity.

Alignment

When purpose and intention align, a transformative force is unleashed, both personally and collectively. This is what people describe as the unfolding of a powerful encounter:

Clarity and direction

We no longer feel scattered or uncertain.

Decisions become more apparent because they align with our deeper “why.”

We experience a sense of flow—knowing exactly where we are heading and what to do next.

Increased energy and motivation

We feel naturally inspired instead of forcing ourselves to take action.

Challenges become easier to navigate because our energy is directed toward something meaningful.

Resonance and Attraction

Like-minded people, opportunities, and resources start to show up.

We create a magnetic effect, drawing in what supports our path.

Collaboration becomes effortless as we easily connect with others who, surprisingly, share a similar vision.

Satisfaction and Fulfillment

We experience joy in the process.

It feels enriching, even in difficult times.

Instead of chasing external validation, we feel internally aligned.

Exponential Impact

When aligned purpose and intention move together, you create real change.

Our work and efforts ripple outward, influencing others. Alignment leads to transformational results in business, relationships, or social movements.

Perspectives on purpose and intention

The challenge of balancing purpose and intention has been explored for centuries in philosophy, sciences, and religion regarding how we engage with the living world.

More than 2,500 years ago, Laozi’s Tao Te Ching introduced the idea of effortless action, known as Wu Wei. Rather than forcing direction, Wu Wei emphasises moving with the natural rhythms of life. It is not passivity but the ability to act at the right moment, in the right way, without excess struggle. In a business or leadership context, this means recognising when to push forward and when to step back, when to adapt and when to hold steady.

Building on this, modern systems thinkers Fritjof Capra and Pier Luigi Luisi describe life as an interwoven network rather than a rigid structure. Their book Systems View of Life challenges the notion that purpose is a fixed endpoint, instead showing how it emerges through relationships and interactions. The most effective leaders and decision-makers work within this understanding, knowing that long-term vision must remain flexible, evolving as new insights arise. They suggest that intention should be rooted in an awareness of these connections, guiding actions harmonious with the broader ecological and social networks.

Giles Hutchins and Laura Storm, regenerative leadership experts, expand this perspective into the business world. The contrasts mechanistic, control-driven strategies with the ability to lead adaptively. In outdated models, purpose is seen as something to be achieved through strict planning and execution. They underscore the importance of embedding a sense of purpose and conscious intention in life and work practices, ensuring that actions contribute positively to all involved.

Laura Storm further emphasises that transformation is not just external but must also be deeply internal. Many organisations focus on external action without cultivating inner alignment, leading to burnout or disconnecting from their work’s more profound meaning. Change happens when inner clarity and outward movement reinforce each other, creating a state where purpose is an ongoing experience.

Simon Sinek and Brené Brown underscore the profound importance of understanding and integrating purpose and intention into our personal and professional lives. They advocate for the alignment of purpose and intention, as it fosters authentic and effective leadership.

In closing

The Purpuscual concept aligns with the philosophies of Laozi, Giles Hutchins, Laura Storm, Simon Sinek, and Brené Brown by emphasising the interplay between purpose and intention. It integrates ancient wisdom, systems thinking, regenerative leadership, and modern leadership and personal growth approaches. Inspired by Laozi’s Wu Wei, Purpuscual thinking embraces effortless action, where purpose and intention align organically rather than through rigid control. Instead of forcing direction, it fosters clarity and adaptability, allowing individuals and organisations to move with life’s natural rhythms, making decisions with confidence and ease. This approach is reinforced by Fritjof Capra’s systems thinking, which challenges the idea of a fixed, predefined purpose and shows how purpose emerges through relationships, interactions, and continuous evolution. Rather than being a static goal, purpose unfolds dynamically, refining itself through intention-driven action.

This perspective is further expanded in Hutchins and Storm’s regenerative leadership model, which contrasts traditional, control-driven leadership with an adaptive, life-affirming approach. Their insights emphasise that inner clarity must be matched by external action, a core idea in Purpuscual thinking. Misalignment between the two leads to burnout, stagnation, or disconnection, while alignment fosters sustainable, meaningful impact. This is echoed in Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why,” which underscores the importance of leading from a clear purpose.

However, Purpuscual thinking furthers this by emphasising the fluid relationship between purpose and intention over time. Brené Brown’s work on authenticity and wholehearted living also resonates with Purpuscual thinking, particularly in how vulnerability, presence, and trust in life’s unfolding allow individuals to live with more significant alignment and impact.

Purpuscual describes a state of being where purpose and intention merge seamlessly, shaping decisions, actions, and experiences in a deeply fulfilling way. It is not about chasing an external goal but about engaging fully in the present, adapting with awareness, and allowing meaning to emerge naturally. This approach creates magnetic resonance, where individuals naturally attract opportunities, like-minded people, and meaningful experiences.

Unlike approaches that focus on external validation or rigid goals, Purpuscual living allows change to unfold organically, creating long-term impact from a place of deep internal alignment. It moves beyond traditional success metrics and instead fosters a harmonious balance between purposeful vision and intentional action. To live Purpuscually is to trust in the continuous evolution of one’s purpose, respond with clarity and adaptability, and engage with life fully and authentically.

This new word, Purpuscual, articulates an experience many have felt but struggled to name: that decisive moment when purpose and intention become one, shaping life and leadership in the most meaningful and impactful way.

Andric van Es

Sources

Laozi:

• The Tao Te Ching (4th century BC)
  

One of the most influential philosophical and spiritual texts in history.

Fritjof Capra:

• The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision (2014)

Co-authored with Pier Luigi Luisi, this book presents a comprehensive framework integrating biological, cognitive, social, and ecological dimensions of life. It explores how understanding these interconnected systems can inform purposeful and intentional living.

• The Hidden Connections: A Science for Sustainable Living (2002)

In this work, Capra extends systems thinking to the social domain, discussing how recognizing the interconnectedness of life can lead to more intentional actions that promote sustainability and social well-being.

Brené Brown:

• Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone (2017)

Brown explores the human desire for belonging and the courage required to stand alone. She discusses how aligning one’s actions with personal values and purpose fosters genuine connections and intentional living.

Giles Hutchins and Laura Storm:

• Regenerative Leadership: The DNA of Life-affirming 21st Century Organizations (2019)

This collaborative work offers a comprehensive framework for creating regenerative, life-affirming businesses. Drawing inspiration from various fields, the authors provide practical tools and insights for leaders aiming to align their organizational purpose with intentional practices that benefit society and the environment.

Simon Sinek:

• Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

This foundational book introduces the concept of the ‘Golden Circle,’ emphasizing the importance of identifying your core purpose (‘Why’) to inspire and lead effectively