Reality remains the ultimate reference. Purpose does not sit above Reality; it selects which possible future to pursue, which observations deserve attention, which questions deserve effort, and which capabilities should be cultivated.
Why? Which future is worth pursuing?
What enduring outcome? What must become more real?
How do we sustain the mission? Which long-running body of work?
What concrete result? What bounded work can be completed?
What is unknown? What precisely must be answered?
Did it work? What changed in observable reality?