Have you ever wondered what the purpose of life is? In the grand scheme of things or for your own life? Maybe not vocalised it per se, but quietly asked yourself, is that all there is to life?
Have you ever felt a sense of void? Like something is missing or not fulfilling?
Like you reached a goal only to realise it wasn’t quite what you had expected it to feel like? Do you remember the feeling of indifference to have achieved it?
Almost as if you’re ungrateful. Or the guilt of not feeling happier?
Can you remember the urgency of moving on to the next thing before you were even done with the first? Like landing your dream job before your graduation was over?
Or jumping into a new relationship right after a breakup, without taking the time to heal and reflect on what you truly want?
This is the never-ending hamster wheel that many of us can relate to — constantly looking to fill the time and space that don’t mount up to anything.
Perhaps that’s what you thought was expected of you by your family or your social circle. Maybe it was how you were brought up to believe you needed to be or achieve.
Regardless of how that happened, here you are. Living a life that you created. And it’s not fulfilling.
Dissatisfaction, frustration or the feeling of never getting “there” are some of the feelings you’re left with.
Trying to make things work when they are not meant to be is like walking uphill – a constant struggle.
To be clear, lacking purpose is not the same as not doing something meaningful. It’s meaningful to earn a living to provide for your family.
It’s meaningful to be there for your friends and family and to support them mentally, physically and emotionally. It’s meaningful to support the local community, give charity or volunteer.
A purpose is just a part of the broader sense of meaning. We can live a meaningful life but lack a purpose.
So what is the purpose of life?
The purpose of life is a conscious endeavour and not a random wish or a shallow goal. It’s not defined by comparing yourself to others. The answer to your calling is not hidden in someone else’s life.
As Henry David Thoreau said:
Consciously striving towards your purpose is what makes you passionate about life. That’s when no obstacle feels too big.
You don’t mind the striving or putting in the work. That’s when you feel joy from even the small step forward.
So how do you determine your purpose?
The first step to determining your purpose is to get to know yourself. To look inside. In other words, you are your purpose.
Living your purpose without knowing yourself is like trying to navigate a maze in the dark – you’ll feel lost and unsure of which way to go.
The question this begs is how to get to know oneself. There are several ways.
Look out for the next article where I will offer some ways to get you started.
And if you’re ready to kick start your journey to finding your purpose, don’t hesitate to reach out.