The purpose of life is a life of purpose



"To me, there is only one form of human depravity - the man
without a purpose." Those are rather harsh words by Ayn Rand.
However, I can understand her point. After all, a life without
purpose is a life wasted. Kenneth Hildebrand eloquently explains
the problem: "Multitudes of people, drifting aimlessly to and fro
without a set purpose, deny themselves such fulfillment of their
capacities, and the satisfying happiness which attends it. They
are not wicked, they are only shallow. They are not mean or
vicious; they simply are empty - shake them and they would rattle
like gourds. They lack range, depth, and conviction. Without
purpose their lives ultimately wander into the morass of
dissatisfaction. As we harness our abilities to a steady purpose
and undertake the long pull toward its accomplishment, rich
compensations reward us. A sense of purpose simplifies life and
therefore concentrates our abilities; and concentration adds
power."

The purpose of life, then, is to lead a life of purpose and its
meaning is to give life meaning. But what is meant by purpose and
meaning? They simply mean the "big picture," vision, chief aim,
or core values that all other goals are subordinate to. For
example, our PURPOSE might be to leave the world a better place
than the way we found it, or to make everyone we meet happier.
Either of these purposes would be noble and achievable. How can
we help create a better world or make others happier? Wouldn't
you agree that one way is by refusing to steal, criticize,
intimidate, gossip, or argue? Another way would be to treat
others with kindness, generosity, honesty, and respect. Our goal
should be not merely to be good, but to be good for something. To
have value that we offer to the world. Our PURPOSE is the path we
follow; it's a broad paintbrush that colors all areas of our
life. When all personal goals (career, family, etc.) are aligned
with our PURPOSE, we will be authentic beings with integrity.

Despite the importance of PURPOSE, many of us are still
floundering, drifting in an unknown direction. Why's that? One
reason is fear. We're afraid to state our target because we may
miss it. To avoid failure, we avoid having a purpose. But that
strategy makes as much sense as an ostrich "hiding" from its
enemies by burying its head in the sand. If we don't stand for
something, we may fall for anything. What is the purpose of
living if we don't have something to live for?

Those who lead empty lives sometimes turn to bigotry and hatred
for solace. So we need to be careful to choose a PURPOSE that
will help us to grow, help our potentialunfold, and help us
transcend our present limitations. Our potential is staggering.
We are co-creators of the universe. God has made us partners in
creation. He created the universe. We created music. He created
the world. We created the pyramids. He created life. We created
language that allows us to reflect on life.

Considering our unique position in the universe, our PURPOSE
should be equally unique. It should be bigger than life. Since we
are only as strong as our PURPOSE, it should be courageous and
uplifting. Buddha offers some advice: "Your work is to discover
your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it."
Charles Mayes also makes a good point: "Make sure the thing
you're living for is worth dying for."

The benefits of living a life of purpose

1. Growth. The Indian philosopher, Patanjali, explains: "When you
are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project,
all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends
limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and
you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant
forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover
yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed
yourself to be."

2. Peace. We are at peace when we know our role and contribute to
life. Our contribution is a way of thanking life for life.

3. Power. Our PURPOSE will strengthen all of our other goals by
binding them with a common purpose.

4. Coping. Our PURPOSE will help us overcome challenges and bear
pain.

5. Happiness. To travel in life without direction is to be lost
and unhappy. To know where you are going is to have meaning and
happiness.

6. Self-esteem. When we have a PURPOSE, we have value. When we do
good, we feel good, and we are good.

7. Transcendence. William James explains: "The greatest use of
life is to spend it for something that will outlast it."

8. Meaning. Our PURPOSE makes us useful for others and the world,
thereby giving our life meaning.

9. Spirituality. When we are aligned with a noble PURPOSE, we are
aligned with God; when we lose sight of our purpose, we lose
sight of God.

A life of PURPOSE is not without effort. But we must ask
ourselves, "Which is the better rosebush, that with the fewest
thorns or that with the finest roses?" Toil, pain, and sweat are
the birthplace of greatness. Let's not spend time; let's use it;
use it to make a difference. If we make a difference to the
world, won't we also make a difference to ourselves? If the world
is happy that we are here, won't we feel the same way? Perhaps
this is why Zig Ziglar offers the following advice: "Don't become
a wandering generality. Be a meaningful specific."

By Chuck Gallozzi
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