Finding Meaning
Each man must look to himself to teach him the meaning of life. It is not something to be discovered. It is something molded. Antoine de Saint-Exupery
In our COVID-19, challenging world, many today are looking for purpose, something to latch on to, something that makes sense with what they’re doing in their daily lives, at home and in the work place.
But here’s the thing. Inherently, there is no purpose in our lives – we have to find it ourselves.
Very few of us are Mozarts. We’ve got to become explorers if we are to find our individual answers. Finding your purpose is not usually a one-off event. It’s a process of trial and error, a deeply personal inquiry that leads to a continual search until you find it, however long it may take. Everyone goes at their own speed. The timeline varies by individual.
But it’s important because meaning or purpose gives you courage. It fires up your imagination and fosters the energy you need to “get out there” every morning. To be the the best version of yourself you can be.
Regardless of what triggers the inquiry or wherever you happen to be on your journey, something happens to awaken your consciousness to the fact you realize that you are all caught up in a life that is no longer yours.
For any number of reasons, you find your experience, education and observation have started to converge, and life is suddenly coming together in a manner it never had before. You sense the need to take a fresh look at your life, to take stock about what you’re doing and who you are.
There’s no simple answer to this search. I wish I could say there is, but there isn’t.
It all starts with listening. In her book, In America, Susan Sontag wrote that “Each of us carries a room within ourselves, waiting to be furnished and peopled and, if you listen closely, you may need to silence everything in your own room, you can hear the sounds of that other room inside your head.
Seeking silence involves finding a place and time where you be quiet for a period of time and have a honest talk with your soul…. and ask yourself a number of serious questions: Start with these:
- Am I being honest with myself about the direction of my life?
- Am I proud of myself?
- What value am I bringing – to my relationships, my work, and any other areas where I need to show up and contribute?
- Am I living up to my full potential or sitting on my laurels?
- Is what I’m doing right now moving me away from or towards my highest aspirations?
These are serious questions. Answering them will take an enormous amount of self-reflection, reading, thinking, journaling, watching videos, attending seminars, speaking with close friends, being willing to put down your old stories and look at life with fresh eyes, seeking professional help if need be. Whatever it takes…. however long it takes.
Connecting with yourself takes hard work, patience, humility and an unending belief in yourself.
No one but you can answer them, but over time, you’ll arrive at something that just feels right. When you find it, grab it! Run with it!
Finding meaning, living on purpose is a game changer. It isn’t for everybody but you’re not everybody. Keep believing in yourself. Trust yourself. Undoubtedly there will be some trying days. And it won’t always be easy, (nobody ever promised that) but when you do you’ll never look back and you’ll set yourself free.
Stay safe. Stay strong. Stay connected.
See you again soon.
Comments are disabled for this post.