The question of purpose is the most individual of questions. Nobody can tell you what your purpose in life is. That’s up to you to decide.

This question is more general. It’s a question for all humanity. Why are we here? Why do we exist, at all? Is there a common purpose that ties us all together?

It’s a difficult question, because of how much it impacts our lives. Once you find your answer to this question, it becomes something that’s hard to ignore. It insinuates itself into the unlikeliest of moments.

Why are we here?

For me, the answer starts with another question: what is it that we, as humans, can do?

As a parent, I don’t put my kids into impossible situations. I don’t hand them a fork and a brick and ask them to write a philosophy paper. If I’m asking them to do something, it’s because I know they have the ability to accomplish that thing.

So, what can we do?

We use tools. We communicate. We have opposable thumbs. We care for our young and old. We show compassion, emotion, imagination, as well as countless other attributes.

None of those help answer our question. Not only are they not unique to humanity, but they don’t have any decision-point. They’re just parts of what we are.

Parts of what we are.

Perhaps that’s the key. Humans have one ability that is rare among the species: we can change ourselves. If we want to be good at math, we can study and get good at math. If we want to be athletic, we can exercise. We are the ultimate in flexibility.

Our history is overflowing with stories of people who decided to do something, and then turned themselves into someone capable of doing that thing.

We can do more than just change what we are, though. We can also change who we are. It’s not easy, and can take a ridiculously long time, but we, as humans, can actually change our personalities. We can choose to be brave or honest or selfish or fearful or whatever else we want.

Now, that’s an amazing thing, a thing worthy of being part of our purpose.

In fact, it’s my answer.

I believe that our purpose on this earth is to decide who we are.

I’m not talking just as individuals, either. I’m talking about as individuals, as families, as communities, as countries, as a people. We get to decide who we are.

For me, this answer is an amazing, eye-opening, world-expanding thing. I get to decide who I am. I get to work with my family to build the family that we want to have. I get to be a part of a community, to make that community something that every one of us is proud to be a part of.

As you think about what this means, though, as you let it sink in and see all its repercussions, I think you’ll also find that this answer is hard.

It’s really, really hard.