Finding Your Purpose in Research: Why It Matters More Than You Think

I still remember one of the first postgraduate students I coached—let’s call her Lerato.

She came to our first session teary-eyed, clutching a well-worn notebook. She had just received feedback on her proposal draft and was questioning everything. “I’m not even sure I care about this topic anymore,” she confessed. “I feel like I’m going through the motions—reading, writing, revising—but none of it feels like it means anything.”

Her words weren’t unusual. They echoed what I’d heard from many postgraduates over the years. They arrive with a fire in their belly—a powerful “why” behind their research—and somewhere between institutional hoops and personal exhaustion, that fire flickers or burns out entirely.

This blog is for students like Lerato. For students like you.
For anyone who feels stuck in their research and wonders:
“Why am I doing this?”

The hidden cost of disconnecting from your purpose

It often starts quietly. A few missed writing sessions. A growing list of unread articles. Doubts creep in when the work feels heavy and your progress feels invisible.

You haven’t failed. You’ve just lost touch with your purpose.

The academic system—built on deadlines, metrics, and performance—doesn’t always leave space for introspection. But without a meaningful connection to your work, even the most carefully planned research can start to feel lifeless.

And I say this not just as a coach, but as someone who’s lived it.

My own moment of wondering: “Why am I doing this?”

There was a season in my own PhD where I nearly walked away. I was caught in a complicated supervision dynamic—one of those emotionally disorienting phases where feedback felt more confusing than constructive, and meetings left me second-guessing everything I thought I knew.

I remember one particularly low point, sitting at my kitchen table at 10 p.m., staring at a blank screen, thinking:
"Why am I putting myself through this? What’s the point?"

The research felt distant. The spark was gone. I couldn’t remember what had once made this topic feel alive.

Looking back, I can see that it wasn’t the complexity of the research itself that pushed me to the edge—it was the disconnection from my purpose and identity as a researcher. I had become so focused on meeting expectations and avoiding critique that I had silenced the part of me most invested in the work.

What helped me reconnect wasn’t a breakthrough article or a perfectly structured outline. It was remembering who I was before the confusion set in.

I was someone who deeply believed in empowering others through research.

Someone who found joy in making the complex feel clear and valuable.

Someone whose academic journey had always been grounded in care and curiosity.

Reclaiming that perspective didn’t fix everything overnight, but it gave me a way forward—a thread to hold onto.

And it’s that same thread I helped my students and clients find today.

Why purpose matters more than productivity

Research shows that students with strong intrinsic motivation—those who see personal meaning in their work—are likelier to persist, grow, and flourish (Deci & Ryan, 2000; McAlpine, 2012). Purpose doesn’t just keep you writing—it helps you write with clarity and conviction.

🌱 Purpose fuels resilience

When your work reflects your values or goals, setbacks feel less like personal failures and more like part of the journey. You can recover faster from criticism or confusion because you know why you’re showing up.

🎯 Purpose brings clarity

In moments of indecision, purpose can guide your next step. It sharpens your focus, simplifies your priorities, and helps you see the bigger picture.

🔥 Purpose reignites motivation

You don’t need endless motivation—you need meaningful reasons to return to the work. Purpose is what makes the effort worth it, even on days when inspiration is nowhere to be found.

Three questions to help you reconnect with your purpose

These coaching questions are ones I’ve used again and again—with my clients and with myself. They’re gentle, grounding, and surprisingly powerful.

1. Why did I choose this topic in the first place?

Return to the beginning. What was it about this topic that first sparked your interest? Was it a personal experience, a professional frustration, a story that stayed with you?

When you’ve been swimming in feedback, formatting, and theoretical frameworks, it’s easy to lose sight of what drew you in.

📝 Try this: Write a paragraph titled “Why I started.” Don’t edit. Just remember.

2. Who might benefit from this research?

Your research doesn’t only exist for your examiners. Someone, somewhere, could benefit from what you’re learning—from your findings, your questions, or even your methodology.

Shifting your focus to the impact your work might have on policy, practice, or people can reframe your thesis as a gift.

📝 Try this: Name three people or groups who might benefit from your research. Then imagine writing to them.

3. What value or strength of mine is reflected in this research?

This is where positive psychology meets academic reflection.

Ask yourself: What do I bring to this work that is distinctly mine? Maybe it’s a love of learning, a desire for justice, deep empathy, or the ability to connect ideas.

When you recognise your strengths, you stop seeing your work as a battle and start seeing it as a reflection of your purpose.

📝 Try this: Complete the sentence: “A strength I bring to this research is…” and write about how it’s helped you along the way.

You are allowed to realign

If your reasons have changed, that’s okay. One of my favourite sayings is: You are not a tree; you are allowed to move!

You can find a new one if you no longer connect with your original motivation. Purpose isn’t static—it evolves as we grow. But it still matters.

Realigning with your purpose doesn’t mean starting over. It means starting again, from a place that feels honest.

Final thoughts

So many students come to me worried that they’ve “fallen behind” or “lost their passion.” But the truth is, feeling lost isn’t a sign of failure. It’s often a sign that something deeper is calling you back to yourself.

Your research matters.
Your voice matters.
And your purpose is worth remembering.

 Want to reconnect with your purpose in a guided, supportive space?

I offer one-on-one coaching for postgraduate students who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward. Together, we rebuild from a place of clarity and strength.

📞 Book a Discovery Call
📘 Explore Strengths-Based Academic Coaching
 

References

Cotterall, S. (2013). More than just a brain: emotions and the doctoral experience. Higher Education Research & Development, 32(2),174–187.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The "what" and "why" of goal pursuits: human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4),227–268.

McAlpine, L. (2012). Identity-trajectories: Doctoral journeys from past to present to future. Australian Universities’ Review, 54(1),38–46.

Niemiec, R. M. (2013). VIA Character Strengths: Research and Practice (The First 10 Years). Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 260.

Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60(5),410–421.

Tight, M. (2021). The neoliberal academy and academic work: A critical commentary. Higher Education Quarterly, 75(2),205–212.