In this interview segment, Joseph asks how the ancient reminder of mortality—Memento Mori—can influence everyday purpose. Scott Perry answers that recognizing our inevitable death makes life’s meaning something we must actively forge between birth and death. He frames this awareness as a responsibility that compels us to manage our limited time, attention, and energy with intentional agency. Perry stresses cultivating presence and mindfulness in all activities, from mundane chores to parenting, and aligning them with personal passion. He then introduces a practical framework used at Creative On Purpose: a three‑circle Venn diagram that intersects (1) core values and guiding principles, (2) innate and developed talents/skills, and (3) a sense of belonging with like‑minded people. By clarifying these three domains, individuals can bring intention and integrity to their actions, thereby cultivating a deeper sense of purpose in daily life.
Chapters
How does Memento Mori— remember that you will die— how does that play a part in us following our purpose on a daily life, even if we're just washing the dishes or cleaning up after the kids? How can that play a part in how we live our life?
Yeah, well, that's, you know, it's, it's the central question. Um, you've just arrived at it, you know, if if the only thing that you're truly entitled to in this world, once you enter it, is that you will die, then the only meaning that your life has is the meaning that you forge in that journey from womb to tomb. And that means, you know, that's the call, that's your, you know, when you recognize that, it becomes your responsibility. Because again, we're not going to get a lot of help from most of our traditional institutions, educational and occupational. And so, I think it has a lot to do, Joseph, with paying attention. You have, because your time on earth is finite, you have a limited amount of time. You have a limited amount of attention, and you have a limited amount of energy. And You are actually in control. That it's your— you have agency over where you spend your time, who you spend your time with, how you spend your time, and what you spend your time on. And you have that same power over your attention and your energy. So why not cultivate more presence and mindfulness in your life around what you, who you associate with and who you don't associate with, what you do do and what you don't do. And again, bringing that purpose and passion into every single activity will help sharpen the focus and help you find your purpose. And I'll just throw in one other thing that we use at Creative On Purpose that Meredith has probably seen, the Venn diagram. The, the per— the, the process that we use to kind of fast-track us to getting to a starting point is we, we work people through a values exercise because we think that who you really are is based on your core values, guiding principles, your vision for the world, uh, that you want to co-create, what your core talents and skills are, hard skills and soft skills, and those things that you were born with a, you know, specific— with kind of an instinct and an intuition for. And then where you belong. And you belong with people who share your values and need your talents to enhance their lives. And if you dial in those three things and think of it as a three-piece Venn diagram, you're going to arrive at a place where you can start to really bring that level of intention and integrity to everything you do. And that will help you cultivate more purpose in your life.
