By Chuck Gallozzi
The purpose of
life is a life of purpose
(Robert Byrne)
"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 fulfilment
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 potential unfold, 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."
Chuck Gallozzi is a
prolific writer on Personal Development. You can contact him at gallozzi@interlog.net.
You can read other articles by him at Personal
Development.Com
