The Anxiety of Purpose
November 2025
Author: Amanda Reynolds, Chair of the Save the Six Bells Campaign Group
It’s a crisp Saturday morning and I’m walking the dog along the beautiful Welsh Coastal Path in Peterstone. The air is fresh, the sky wide and soft, and the sound of the tide carries a kind of calm I rarely allow myself. Yet, as I walk, my mind races ahead - meticulously planning the day and the weekend hour by hour. Work tasks, family logistics, the Halloween coffee morning, planning for the Six Bells… every moment accounted for.
And then I catch myself and think - why do we do this to ourselves?
I have a great job and I work with brilliant, driven teams. It’s demanding, yes, but it’s rewarding too. At home, I have a teenager whose lively social life and endless activities make for a schedule all of their own. And then there’s my role as Chair of Save the Six Bells - a project that means a great deal to me. Meetings most evenings, events to plan, funding to chase, and a steady stream of messages that never quite stop.
So why, even in the stillness of the coast, do I feel that familiar sense of urgency? That low hum of anxiety beneath all the purpose?
I’ve come to think that sometimes, anxiety isn’t the opposite of meaning - it’s proof of it.
When we care deeply about what we’re doing - about our work, our families, our communities - it’s almost impossible not to feel a sense of responsibility pressing at us. We want to do well. We want to do right. We want to make it matter. That desire to contribute, to make things better, can tip into anxiety not because we’re weak, but because we’re invested.
And maybe that’s not always a bad thing.
A little anxiety can be a sign of engagement - that we’re alert, thoughtful, and connected to what’s important. It can sharpen us, make us more empathetic, more attentive. The danger is when that energy stops being motivating and starts being depleting - when our sense of purpose begins to feel like a burden rather than a source of pride.
That’s the balance I think so many of us are trying to find - especially those of us drawn to community or purpose-driven work. We want to give, but we also need to breathe. We want to make a difference, but we also need to protect the quiet spaces that refill us.
So this morning, as the wind picks up along the estuary and the dog tugs eagerly at the lead, I decide to give myself permission - not to plan every hour, but to simply walk. To let the anxiety of purpose soften into the calm of presence.
Because the truth is, that drive - that relentless motivation to deliver for others, to contribute, to keep showing up is part of who I am. It’s part of what makes our community campaigns thrive and what fuels the work we do. But it doesn’t have to come at the cost of peace.
Perhaps the goal isn’t to eliminate the anxiety that comes with caring deeply but to understand it. To let it exist, gently, as proof that we’re human and that what we’re doing matters.
And as I turn back toward the village, the path opening into a view of the Six Bells standing steadfast in the distance, I remind myself that purpose and peace aren’t enemies - they’re partners. The trick is learning how to let them walk alongside each other.
If you’ve ever felt that same mix of drive and overwhelm, especially when you’re giving your time and energy to a cause you believe in - you’re not alone. The Six Bells campaign is powered by volunteers and supporters who care deeply about community life in Peterstone and beyond. Thank you for walking this path with us.
Here's How YOU Can Help Our Campaign
❤️ Like and comment on our social media posts to help increase our reach
📢 Share our website, profile and posts with your network on social media
👉 Follow us on social media and get involved today!
🙌 Donate to our cause or buy shares
Find Us At:
Website: www.savethesixbells.org
GoFundMe: gofund.me/93cce644
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SixBellsHub
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/save-the-six-bells
Instagram: www.instagram.com/savethesix