“The purpose of life is to live it, experience it to the fullest, reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience.” Is that the purpose of Life? For most, yes, but a few exceptions are always there. At different points in our lives, we’ve all pondered our true purpose in Life and the ways through which we can bring ourselves closer to achieving it. But the question is, did we really succeed in identifying our true purpose and thereafter achieving it? Unfortunately, most of the time, we fail at the first process itself, and thus our Life takes a different path altogether.
Moreover, at the same time, we all have preconceived notions of what our purpose ought to be. These notions might be a product of societal influence or half-baked ideas of familial expectations. Let me share an example of my Life; I wanted to do well in Cricket but was not selected to represent in the Nationals. Thus, based on my height and agility, my sports teacher put me in an unknown sport called “Kho Kho”, and I played Nationals and won Silver Medal. Then I wanted to go into Armed Forces, not that I really wanted, but peer pressure as all my schoolmates were from army backgrounds, and they all wanted to follow. So, in the ’80s, I was left with the remaining two options, namely, Medicine or Engineering, so I chose Engineering. Did I really want to become an Engineer? I don’t know. But after completing my Engineering, did I join an engineering organization to pursue my career and the purpose of my Life? The answer is NO. After that, I did my acting course, I did my part-time LLB, and simultaneously I also did my MBA. Now tell me, what was the purpose of my Life?
We’ve all grown up with the idea that the ultimate purpose of Life is to chase a high-end job and derive true happiness and satisfaction from your family. It convinces us to believe that unless these prerequisites, which are deemed aspirational by society, aren’t met, we will continue to live with a void in our lives. But what if earning a certain amount of money or attaining a prestigious position in society yet doesn’t provide us with the feeling of fulfilment and contentment? What do we do in that case?
I think I am a classic case study, I met all the possible prerequisites, but after 30 years, I am still searching for the purpose of my Life.
Often, we find ourselves trapped in a vicious cycle of needs and wants. It’s pertinent for us to learn to differentiate between the two, as the former is purely based on logic, and the latter is based on emotions. We must be discerning of the two, as both are equally important in building the foundation of our purpose in Life. Materialistic achievements do not seem gratifying in the long run, as they do not come from within but are embedded in our minds by society. It surely does not bring the fulfilment that comes with finding our sense of purpose.
Your sense of purpose is your ‘why’ that enables you to derive meaning from Life. It gives you the ability to recognize the divide between your needs and wants. Once we restore the balance between our logical and emotional states of mind, only then will we be able to find equilibrium in our personal and professional lives. When we achieve this equilibrium, we can derive the true satisfaction of finding our purpose in Life. Our purpose in Life empowers us to work against all odds and find contentment in the smallest of things. When situations turn sour, and Life seems to slip out of your control, it is your purpose that gives you a clear vision and inspires you to continue pursuing the things that truly matter to you. This is the story of my Life, and I wanted to share it with you. Do I have a purpose now? YES, I HAVE.
Working towards your purpose in Life gives you a chance to leave a trace of yourself in the world. Your achievements, no matter how big or small, are a unique part of you that speak volumes of your resilience and unwavering commitment to actualizing your dreams. Your sense of purpose guides and sustains you even when the odds are not in your favour. It gives you stability and a sense of direction essential for a meaningful life. Therefore, even if constantly examining our needs and wants might seem like a lofty endeavour, it certainly brings us closer to our true purpose in Life.
