What does it really mean to find true purpose?

There seems to be a cultural idea that one must have a purpose. When one finds their purpose, it is then said that their life now has meaning. For those of us who struggle with the idea of finding true purpose, we may feel insignificant or powerless, as if we are not fulfilling our potential. This is simply not true.

What Exactly Is Purpose?

The cultural idea of purpose has two aspects to it: performance and motive. The first aspect comes from tasks we perform and roles we play. There is usually a “doing” associated with it.

When we attach the second aspect, motive, we are essentially assigning a reason behind what we do, which often aligns with our beliefs, values, goals, and enjoyment. This reason can be selected consciously or unconsciously. Thus, by assigning meaning to a task, we now have “purpose”.

Purpose on its own, however, is hollow. By assigning arbitrary reasons to things, we end up living a conditional life. One may indulge in various activities but may never feel fully satisfied, even with having a defined sense of purpose.

Moreover, if we cannot find meaning in what we are doing we may think, “what is the point?” In other words, “why?” The mind then searches for meaning and when it cannot find it, life begins to feel empty.

What Does Finding True Purpose  Really Mean?

When we are searching for purpose, what we are really looking for is fulfillment. Many of us derive our sense of purpose from our careers, roles (like being a parent), activities we enjoy, and helping others.

We look to things, people, and even objects to give us a sense of completion. Of course, you can have goals, aspirations, roles you enjoy and have satisfying careers, but you don’t need to define yourself by these things.

Acknowledge your desire to create, contribute, and do, but do not confuse this desire with your self-worth.

All that we lust after will only provide temporary satisfaction. Purpose resulting from external conditions are not reliable or permanent, they are unstable and subject to change.

What happens if loved ones move away, you retire, or you become unable to work volunteer, and participate in activities and hobbies?

At times, you must act deliberately and take purposeful action, but do not make the mistakes of identifying with any purpose or trying to enhance your sense of self through one. For, it will only lead to dissatisfaction and unhappiness.

If our purpose is based on something that changes, does life then become meaningless? When one is truly at peace from within, they remain that way even when external circumstances change.

Their fulfillment is not dependent on anything because it is inherent in them. Everything else is just a bonus.

Finding true purpose is possible in everything we do. Another trap is thinking you need to do something grand and unique to be special and stand out. Right now, my purpose is writing this post. Once I’m done, my purpose may be to brush my teeth and head to bed.

This may seem small and insufficient but when one is fully immersed in the moment, all thoughts disappear. There is no evaluation happening and this allows us to live freely.

Mentally, it seems we are conditioned to feel that we must have a grand purpose, but it is the ego that wants a grand purpose. Let go of this idea or be bound by it. Your purpose is here and now, it is simple and perfectly okay.

Humans are the only beings capable of contemplating purpose. Everything else moves on its own according to its nature, we however, observe and then interpret the world. We are constantly assigning meaning to everything, but this is only in the human mind.

Meaning is relative, subjective, conceptual, and it is based on our opinions, beliefs, and thoughts. This is why it is important to understand your own mind, so that you will know when it is misleading you.

No other living creature on this planet is at all concerned with finding true purpose. Nature simply moves through the cycles of life and death. Water flows and while we can say how, we cannot say why or what its purpose is. It just does. Life will continue regardless of the human mind’s ability to conceptualize it.

By focusing on each moment as it comes, we give more life to what we are doing. Even small and mundane tasks can be full of beauty, for this is the power of mindfulness. Slow down the next time you wash the dishes.

Have you ever noticed the glimmer of light on the bubbles? The fragrance of the detergent? The warmth of the water on your hands? Be open to life, as it is here in this instance without defining anything.

This moment is complete and as you sit and breathe, just this is enough. The fact that you are even here on this earth is a miracle.

You are already complete. Leave behind societal ideas and expectations and live from a place of effortless being. Anything you think you need, or you believe you are lacking, is only an idea.

Within the vastness of the universe, you came into being. Your physical form, the body, allows you to move in the world and experience life through your sense perceptions.

You are alive to perceive the dance of creation and in your simplicity, this love moves you, connecting you to all forms.

The magnificence of existence is beyond comprehension and yet, in my own naturalness, I am here with all of life. I don’t exist apart from it for I am life itself. Every breath that I take I feel fulfilled in my existence, and everything that I do externally is a great privilege because I exist to do it.

With Love,

Ravelle

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