The Purpose of Knowing Your Purpose
How to Find the Meaning In Your Life
Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash
How many times have you felt lost and wondered why you’re here, where you’re from, and what the heck this thing we call life is all about? Welcome to humanity!
Did you know humans top the charts of all animals by abusing the gift of self-awareness? That’s one reason our dogs, cats, and pet turtles never wake up in the morning wondering why they’re here and what their day will be like. We’re the only animals searching for deeper meaning and purpose.
Life has a purpose: to teach us to love all. Our human purpose is to know who we are and get busy making this seemingly crazy place better, given our gifts, interests, and passions. We have to learn to know ourselves. Then, we have to put our gifts to work.
Life is the best teacher if we look at the extreme emotions and experiences involved. The waves of emotion we experience as humans can be severe. In surfing the highs and lows, most of us wonder about life. When we work, we look at the news or around us and wonder, “How can life be so hard? There must be a purpose in all of this.”
Feeling Lost
I remember what it felt like to sell my soul working in seemingly meaningless jobs. But now, I look back and think, “Man, that job helped me learn how not to treat people. That boss sure can be a jerk.”
It’s never fun to feel lost, especially when finding our way in life. I’m sure we all ask ourselves more than once, “What is my purpose?” It’s a question I consider crucial for living a meaningful, fulfilling life.
If you believe that you’re a spiritual being bestowed with the precious gift of life, identifying and understanding your highest purpose becomes more than a casual exercise; it’s an obligation, a moral and spiritual duty to know who you are, what you love and don’t, and to be your very best no matter how tough life gets.
Empowered by your highest purpose beyond what job makes the most sense, you become more vertically aligned with your highest power, the power most call God.
Man’s Search for Meaning
The purpose of knowing your purpose is to find deeper meaning and connection to the world around us, and while improving ourselves, improve the environment around us even if we’re still stuck driving a diesel truck.
Viktor Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and Holocaust survivor, argues the importance of purpose in his seminal work, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” He observed that those with a ‘why’ to live could bear almost any ‘how,’ emphasizing that knowing your purpose can offer you resilience and strength, even in dire circumstances.
Frankl’s observations testify to the enduring power of purpose as a force that can sustain you through challenges and offer a framework to interpret life’s difficulties. If you haven’t read Man’s Search for Meaning, it’s one of the top ten books to read at least once.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist and philosopher, once declared, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Emerson’s life and story are epic to me and millions of creative, outlying misfits. He moves us away from the modern obsession with personal happiness as the ultimate goal, urging us to find purpose through contribution and honor. The meaning isn’t just in receiving; it’s even more in giving, in contributing something unique and valuable to the world. In other words, when more of us stop being selfish jerks and learn the Golden Rule, we’ll be closer to world peace.
Chop Wood, Carry Water, and Love the Journey
So, how do you embark on the journey to discover this all-important purpose? First, focus on where you are now and be grateful for everything. You can’t get what you want until you’re thankful for your experiences. Next, practice tuning into your own heart. It might sound overly simplistic or even cliché, but often, your heart knows things that your mind has yet to understand.
The activities that fill you with joy and make your soul sing are often clues to your life’s purpose. Look for signs! They are signposts pointing you towards paths you could take, vocations you could adopt, causes you could champion. Tuning into these inner sentiments initiates self-discovery and reflection, aiding the journey of human transformation.
Not Giving a F*ck
Mark Manson, the bestselling author of “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,” brings another angle to this discussion. He asserts, “The question is not what we get out of life, but what we put into it.” Manson’s point flips the script on the belief that life is merely about accumulating experiences, possessions, or accolades. Maybe the best secret of all is giving.
Manson says a life of purpose becomes filled with meaningful actions, contributions, and relationships. When you know your purpose, you can act with clarity, which, in turn, enriches both your experiences and your contributions to the world.
My way of looking at this is to let go of control and get in the co-pilot seat with the universe and the Creator. It’s way better than being a control freak.
Kabbalah Wisdom
The wisdom of Kabbalah, an ancient spiritual philosophy, teaches that “The purpose of life is to receive the complete joy and fulfillment that God desires for us.” This perspective aligns well with the idea that understanding and living your purpose can result in a fulfilling cycle of growth and contribution.
This worldview postulates that each of us has a unique role in the grand tapestry of life. By aligning with that role, not only do we unlock our potential, but we also contribute to a higher collective purpose.
In conclusion, understanding your highest purpose is more than just a romantic aspiration; it is a roadmap for living a rich, meaningful life. If you consider yourself a spiritual being, the onus is on you to understand your unique gifts and talents.
It’s your responsibility to be grateful for these gifts by sharing them with the world, in the service of others, and for your spiritual and personal growth. Take some time, then, to pause and listen to your heart.
Tune into the activities that bring you joy the dreams that fuel your passion, and set yourself on a path that will lead to personal transformation and a more rewarding, fulfilling life.
May you enjoy the beauty of every day.
Sources:
Frankl, Viktor. “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Beacon Press, 1959. Man’s Search for Meaning
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson.” Harvard University Press, 1987. The Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson
Manson, Mark. “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life.” Harper, 2016. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Laitman, Michael. “Kabbalah for Beginners.” Laitman Kabbalah Publishers, 2007. Kabbalah for Beginners