Purpose – Unlocking Your Powerful Inner Genius.
As we grow older, many of us lose touch with the dreams and passions that once defined our childhood. Society, expectations, and the complexities of life push us toward practicality, often silencing that inner voice that knew exactly what made us come alive.
In The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy, and Human Nature, Robert Greene emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with what he calls our “impulse voices.” This concept is beautifully illustrated in the law for January 3, titled The Voice.
The Essence of the Law of finding Purpose
Greene writes:
“You had those impulse voices too. You hated this kind of activity and you loved that other one. You didn’t like math but you were drawn to words. You were exhilarated by certain kinds of books and fell promptly asleep with other kinds.”
In this law, Greene highlights a universal experience: as children, we instinctively knew what we loved. It wasn’t influenced by societal norms, the expectations of our parents, or the pressures of making a living. Instead, it came from deep within — a primal attraction toward certain activities or subjects that resonated with our true nature.
Why Do We Lose Touch with Our Inner Voice?
As we grow up, the natural inclinations of childhood tend to fade. Greene explains that we start listening more to external voices — what our parents or peers expect from us, or the pressure to conform to societal standards. Over time, this causes a disconnection from the very force that once guided us with clarity.
For example, you might have loved drawing or storytelling as a child, but somewhere along the way, you chose a career based on stability or societal approval rather than passion. This disconnection, Greene argues, is often the root of dissatisfaction or unhappiness in adulthood.
Rediscovering the Voice through Examples
- Marie Curie — Greene provides an inspiring example of Marie Curie, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist. As a young girl, Curie was fascinated by laboratory instruments in her father’s study. This childhood obsession with scientific tools reconnected with her years later when she entered a laboratory as an adult, leading her to discover radium. Curie’s success wasn’t just built on talent but on her ability to tap back into the impulses that fascinated her as a child.
- Robert Greene’s Own Story — Greene himself reflects on his love for words, which he first discovered in childhood. He recalls being “entranced” when his fourth-grade teacher presented the class with the word “carpenter” and asked them to create other words using its letters. The sheer magic of wordplay sparked something deep within him. Though he ventured down other career paths before becoming a writer, Greene’s reconnection with his love of words was a pivotal moment in his life.
How can we Implement this law?
Reconnecting with your inner voice doesn’t have to be a grand or dramatic journey. It’s about tuning in to the subtle signs, remembering the activities that once made you feel alive, and finding ways to bring them back into your life.
Here’s how you can implement this law in your daily life:
- Identify Childhood Obsessions: Take time to reflect on what captivated you as a child. Was it drawing, building things, writing, or exploring the outdoors? These passions are often windows into your true self. Make a list of activities you once loved but may have neglected over the years.
- Start Small: Once you’ve identified those early passions, experiment with bringing them back into your routine. If you loved painting, set aside an hour a week to paint. If storytelling excited you, start journaling again or writing short stories. The goal is to reintroduce these activities gradually into your life without the pressure of monetizing or mastering them immediately.
- Observe Your Emotions: As Greene emphasizes, the activities that resonated with you in childhood often evoke a strong emotional response. Pay attention to how these activities make you feel now.
Do you feel a sense of joy, excitement, or deep satisfaction? Use these feelings as a guide to determine which activities are worth pursuing further. - Cultivate the Impulse Voices in Your Work: You don’t need to abandon your current job or responsibilities to reconnect with your inner voice. Instead, find ways to integrate what excites you into your daily work. For example, if you loved solving puzzles as a child, focus on tasks at work that require problem-solving or creativity. If you enjoyed writing, volunteer to take on projects that involve content creation or storytelling.
Overcoming Challenges
It’s natural to feel resistance when trying to reconnect with your inner voice, especially if you’ve been out of touch with it for a long time. You might think, “I’m too old to start this,” or “This isn’t practical.”
Greene addresses these concerns:
“These inclinations can only be your own, reflections of your unique chemistry.”
The voice you’re trying to reconnect with is unique to you and is a powerful tool for personal fulfillment.
Don’t let external judgments, self-doubt, or fear of failure block your path.
Remember, success comes not from the immediate rewards but from the joy and satisfaction of pursuing what you truly love.
Finally — Trust the Power of Your Inner Voice
Implementing The Voice in your life means trusting that what once captivated you still holds value.
As Greene writes, “Do something today that you used to love doing as a kid.”
By following this advice, you not only rediscover a forgotten part of yourself but also open the door to greater fulfillment and purpose in life. Whether it’s painting, playing an instrument, or solving complex problems, these activities are more than just hobbies — they’re reflections of your unique potential.
Reconnecting with your inner voice isn’t a one-time task; it’s a continual process of listening, observing, and acting on what feels authentic. Over time, as you integrate these impulses back into your life, you’ll find greater clarity about your direction and purpose, just as Marie Curie did when she rediscovered her childhood fascination with science and Robert Greene did.
In the words of Abraham Maslow, quoted in The Daily Laws:
“The way to recover the meaning of life and the worthwhileness of life is to recover the power of experience, to have impulse voices from within, and to be able to hear these impulse voices from within.”
Reclaiming this inner voice is the first step toward mastery and living a life aligned with who you truly are.
