The Search for Life Purpose
Life March 6th, 2009
Image by orvaratli via Flickr
Jay over at InnerNoodle has a great perspective and discussion on the search for Life Purpose and how it’s not as difficult as it’s often made. He elaborates on his journey in this and I figured I’d prefer to write a bit more then a short comment on the subject and here’s the result.
Searching for Purpose
I definitely agree with many of Jay’s points. I feel too many people spend (should I dare say waste) time searching for what they wish to find as a life purpose and they ignore for years some obvious known life purpose at that time. Some people spend years of their lives searching for a life purpose.
I think they find many things that could be purposeful along this path, but they either refuse to accept it or simply want to find something that attracts them more. Often people are so connected with their material world, the same notions bleed into their soul searching so the status and glamor of their purpose is highly important to them. This ultimately leaves them searching, taking little action and ultimately feeling lost and inadequate from not being connected to something with meaning in their lives.
Living Your Purpose
The point that people are always searching for something that has some, “cool factor” is a massive roadblock to people taking action and simply living what they know best at that time. If you were asked, “What is your purpose?” and you have no response, I can assure you that is because you are thinking you have no response because you’ve trained yourself to wait for a purpose that you want. Well, what if you purpose is something that you don’t know yet, or really don’t want? Is that still a purpose? Do you decide your own purpose or is it something you find by searching? Is it something that is revealed through experience, through others, through God? How do you live your purpose if you don’t fully know what it is.
My suggestion is this. Instead of thinking that you don’t know your purpose, break the habit and develop a new belief that you will only find your true purpose by taking action on what you feel could be your purpose at this point in your life. Act on what you feel, don’t analyze it too much or criticize it, just explore. Stop and let yourself examine those feelings and desires.
- What are your strongest desires or feelings in your life right now?
- What action can you take right now to explore that further?
- With what you know right now, is it possible that this feeling ties to a purpose in your life?
- Would it hurt anyone to follow your gut with this and see where it leads?
- If this is your purpose, could you live it more fully right now?
This type of questioning can help you to explore new areas in safety by using just the imagination at first. Visualizing yourself take on new actions and living in a way driven more by purpose can enable you to avoid the seeking and start living for what you know at this point in time. It helps you open your mind to new possibilities of purpose and to discover new and more defined purpose than what you currently know. Getting out of that trap of trying to find a perfect, well defined purpose by living with what you know right now, will give you far more opportunities to know your life purpose, but to actually live it!
Purpose Does Change
I also believe you don’t have ONE set life purpose, your life purpose changes as does your life. No life is static, nor is any purpose. If you actually do something for what you feel in your gut at any point in your life instead of just thinking, dreaming, and hoping to discover something greater, then your life purpose will change as you do. It is something that grows with you and it is something you discover along your journey of life.
Purpose is connected deeply with your spiritual centers and most people seek out purpose to a point where they can find a morally accepted purpose. To me, this is driven entirely by your connection to God and your faith in that allows you to experience the joy of purpose, with hope for returns outside the worldly temporary things so many cherish in life. This is exactly why I think so many people struggle to find a purpose, they don’t have the faith or spiritual beliefs that let them connect to a moral purpose, separately from the material temptations.
So, I encourage you to let your heart and mind wander. If you follow your heart, believe in your ability to find happiness in purpose and accept the journey of discovery, it will lead directly to the purpose you have been seeking. Just make sure you get your mind out of your own way!
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Mike King
March 6th, 2009 at 7:48 AM
Hi Mike, this is an interesting topic for further discussion. Your article has made me think a lot.
It has occurred in my mind, can dreams be the same with a life purpose?
Does a life purpose need to be relevant with God?
What about the ones who don’t believe in God but have a life purpose?
March 6th, 2009 at 5:26 PM
@Arswino – I’m glad to spark more questions. That is what Jay did with his article, so I had to keep it going. Perhaps you have more questions or thoughts to write an article on and keep this going around as well.
I think different people will find life purpose in different ways and so God will not always be a part of that. Personally, I believe God plays in a role in that whether you know it or not and that life purpose should be a moral one. Morality is based on God so how then could a life purpose not be as well?
What do you think?
March 6th, 2009 at 8:31 PM
Interesting article. I like the idea of trying out what you think might be your purpose.
Your comment that “Morality is based on God” is your perspective and certainly not universally agreed upon. I don’t agree. Your writing is very good.
March 7th, 2009 at 7:46 AM
Thanks Stephan. I appreciate the feedback and happy to see you willing to voice your beliefs as well. That’s the best part of blogging, to discuss, challenge each other and discover more about our own beliefs and search for them through others! So thanks for doing that yourself!
Yes, I think if people would live in a way that aligns whatever they think their purpose to be and actually do things that live that purpose, then they will discover true purpose much sooner. This lets it shift as you learn from these actions and the meaning of what you are doing to be revealed without all the time spent thinking without action. The end result, fast track plan to know your purpose…
As for Godly morality, I certainly know some will disagree on this point, but I can only ask where you think lasting morality comes from if not from God? Many systems that have seemed to develop moral or ethic rights without any knowledge of God have not lasted the test of time, Godly ones have. There is an inherent instinct in all human beings right from birth (even when no Godly influence seems to exists) to develop some aspect of moral right and wrong. This comes from how we are created and obviously without believing we are created by a universal moral power, then it’s impossible to believe our judgment could come from such a being either.
March 7th, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Interesting article. My life purpose is to make the world better than when I entered. I have a strong desire to help people. Without getting into great detail, I want to maintain a positive attitude and treat everyone as if they are my best friend, be happy, never stop learning, and achieve financial independence.
Great post Mike!
March 8th, 2009 at 3:23 AM
Hi Mike.
Totally agree with you and with Jay’s article. The strongest point in this “life purpose search” analyze you made here is what you wrote in the last paragraph. Purpose does change with your life. You’re on a journey, you’re not staying. Everything moves and you’re moving too.
One of my deepest beliefs is that happiness is a process not a goal.
March 8th, 2009 at 10:44 PM
I agree with Mike on Godly morality. If we do not base our moral values on what has been prescribed by God, then we all will have different moral boundaries. To some, for instance, homosexuality will be fine and not for others. And these boundaries will change over time as well. What may be immoral today may become acceptable after a few years. Haven’t we all seen this happen?
So, where do we draw the line? This line or moral boundaries can be very different and changing — unless they are based on what’s prescribed by God.
-Khalid
March 9th, 2009 at 6:17 AM
@HIB – Thanks for sharing that. I have a similar journey to follow and have seen how living by serving others in some way is really the easier path to happiness, which is a wonderful way to live life!
@Dragos – So true how you develop and change your purpose as you progress through life. Some call it success as well, but the same applies to success, it is not an event or a goal, it is a process.
March 10th, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Great post. I agree wholeheartedly with the idea that you can change your beliefs to help you become who you want and go where you want. There’s a book out there that’s on my reading list that sounds like it might support this–The Biology of Belief. Belief literally changes you physically. Huge stuff!
March 17th, 2009 at 8:26 PM
So sorry I missed this Mike! I love your post and I appreciate the shout out!
March 17th, 2009 at 11:32 PM
No problem Jay, I love getting comments spread out over time actually as it jumps me (and others hopefully) back to previous content more often to refresh it and remind again the same things. Anyway, glad you caught up and found it here, I appreciate the original article that inspired this one and it’s always great to point readers to others’ great blogs!
March 29th, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I enjoyed your perspective about life purpose changing as you grow. It makes total sense. Life is all about exploring, growing, and somehow/someway making a positive contribution to others.