Does Life Have A Purpose?
Mentor Speaks
What is the purpose of life?
Is there a purpose at all to life? Have you been searching for your life's purpose? Have you been suffering this question and the related ones?
How can I know the purpose of my life? Is there a method, a discipline, an exercise, a process, meditation, or something?
Well, there is an enormous amount of information, knowledge, guidance, practices available on this subject. And I tried many of them.
While many of them are well-meaning, interesting reads, useful in some ways, and seem all along to be leading you someplace. Someplace good, to the promised land. But do they lead you to the answer?
These, at least most, are not trash. No, not even wrong, fraudulent or evil. But they certainly won't get you to the promised land. They did not do that for me; and that I know.
After days, months or years of following, falling, failing, and not to forget suffering during this process you will finally give up on 'hope' which has been your primary fuel all this while.
You will eventually realize that you have been running around in circles. But this realization will dawn upon you only after recovering from the disappointment, loss of faith, invalidation, and even insults and rebuke from family and/or friends. All this is never going to be easy.
Many people never get over the trauma of having failed, the guilt of having wasted their time (usually the best years of life), money, relationships, etc.
Most of these cynics are already in a deep state of apathy, totally depleted, robbed, used or outraged. They may be knowledgeable but cannot inspire. In fact, they will go any length to discourage or even prevent (if they can) others from such pursuits.
I suffered all of this and more…
There is no dearth of philosophies, sermons and scriptural quotations (gospels) which explain, defend, justify their version of life’s purpose. But the suffering is there and needs solutions, not solace.
I was fortunate or blessed (if you like) that I got off the negative emotions and picked up the next trail each time!
Given below are some popular answers I found on the internet.
- Your life purpose consists of the central motivating aims of your life—the reasons you get up in the morning!
- Knowing your purpose can guide life decisions, influence behaviour, shape goals, offer a sense of direction and create meaning.
- For some people, the purpose is connected to vocation—meaningful, satisfying work.
- For others, their purpose lies in their responsibilities to their family or friends.
- Others seek meaning through spirituality or religious beliefs.
- Some people may find their purpose clearly expressed in all these aspects of life.
- Your life purpose is your contribution.
- The equation for purpose is G + P + V = P. (gifts + passions + values = purpose - Richard Leider.
- The purpose of life is to be happy! “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” – Denis Waitley.
- The purpose of life is not Happiness. but useful-ness!
- The purpose of life is to leave a legacy. “All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only imagine.” – Jim Rohn.
- The purpose of life is to love others. “Not only do self-love and love of others go hand in hand but ultimately they are indistinguishable.” – M. Scott Peck
- The purpose of life is to create your own meaning. “Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” – Joseph Campbell.
- The purpose of life is to make a positive difference“Aim to make a difference in someone’s life every single day, including your own.” Dow Zantamata.
- The purpose of life is to have a variety of experiences. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do.” – Mark Twain.
- The purpose of life is to find something important enough to justify suffering. “If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be meaning in suffering.” – Viktor Frankl
An inexhaustible amount of information is available on the internet alone through websites, blogs, courses, psychics, cults, and religious institutions offering their aid or solutions.
I have nothing against any of them but they did not work for me.
And then there are cults and religious institutions that don't just help you to find the purpose of your life but give you one instead!
Beware!!
My Story…
Hi! My name is Sundar Gopalakrishnan and I am happy to share my journey with you.
