All
too often what holds us back from experiencing happiness is that we lack
purpose. Without purpose, though, anything we do and everything we encounter
will feel meaningless. It’s a quick route to depression, anger and trouble.
We
need purpose in life to guide and excite us. If our purpose is to provide for
our family, getting up early on a cold morning to go to work so there’s money
to pay for food and a roof over your children’s heads is not only easier, it’s
looked forward to. When troubled times come, a purpose gives us the strength to
persevere.
Many
people will tell you what your purpose is in life – to serve God, to help
others, to serve country, to pursue the truth, and so on. They may be right.
For such people, at the very least, what they profess is their purpose works
for them. It may not be right for you, though…and you are the only one who can
determine your purpose.
Finding
purpose is easier than you might think. Begin by making a list of the people
you admire (e.g., Mother Theresa, Peyton Manning, and your teacher Mr. Johnson)
and list at least one character trait about them that causes you to regard them
so highly (e.g. selfless=Mother Theresa, cool under pressure=Peyton Manning,
caring=your teacher). Next, make a list of things you feel passionate about
(e.g. sports, traveling, cancer-stricken sister). Then compare the lists. Is
there something that you feel passionate about in which you can strive to
uphold a character trait of one of the people you admire (e.g. a selfless person
might become a coach; a caring person might become nurse who takes care of the
ill)? You now have a purpose (to be a coach who selflessly mentors children so
they can avoid a life of poverty or crime; to be a medical professional who
ensures the ill do need needlessly suffer and are healed).
