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Finding your life's purpose
Wednesday, 10 August 2005
Many people find life a bit meaningless. They fall into a routine of living day-to-day, with little to look forward to. Each moment seems to slip by into the void, with little achieved and no feeling of moving forward.
In short, their life has no purpose.
These people realize that a purposeful life is more fulfilling. To get up every morning knowing that you have a reason to live is one of the best weapons in your arsenal against misery and depression. Yet deciding what that purpose is can be a difficult task.
Here's how to do it.
Imagine yourself sitting at home alone watching television. Suddenly, the TV starts flashing and blinking uncontrollably. Then it switches itself off altogether. There's a big flash of light, a puff of smoke, and standing in front of you is an angel.
"I have come from heaven to grant you three wishes," she says in a crystal voice. "Name any three things you desire and they will become true. No negative consequences, judgement or bad deeds shall come about as a result of these wishes. Just name them, and they will be yours."
You jump to your feet, a little shocked but not scared. The angel's so beautiful and radiant that you know she is nothing but pure goodness. You are convinced that she is a powerful and trustworthy being, who would never lie to you.
"I - I don't know what to say," you reply. "I haven't really had time to think about it."
The angel gazes down upon you with a face of pure warmth. "I understand," she says. "Make sure that you're alone in this same place exactly one week from now. I will return and that is when you can tell me your wishes. Think carefully though, as I will make this offer only once. Never again in your life will you be given this opportunity. You will not be judged on your choices or have to reveal them to anyone else. They are yours alone, private and known only to you and I."
She squints her eyes slightly and looks at you with slight disapproval. "And don't try to pull anything silly like wishing for one thousand more wishes."
With a flash of light, a puff of smoke, and a chorus of beautiful singing the angel disappears. Once again you are alone. Left to contemplate the most miraculous offering ever made.
So what would your wishes be? Remember that you don't have to decide straight away. You have an entire week, but not one second longer.
Play a game with yourself pretending that this has actually happened. Give yourself one week to come up with the answer - but no longer. That should easily be enough time.
Take a piece of paper right now and right at the top "My list of wishes". Carry that paper around with you for the next week, writing down ideas that come into your head. At the end of the week though, make sure there are only three left.
Write the final wishes down in as much detail as you can. You don't want the angel making any mistakes.
When you have your piece of paper with your final choices written on it, you've completed the mission. You've found your life's purpose.
There are many things that each of us would like to change about reality. Life can be difficult. Just keeping your head above water can be a task sometimes. That is why we work - because we are unsatisfied with the way things are.
We may be trying to change basic circumstances such as relieving our hunger, or we may be working towards lofty goals such as world peace or immortality. Whatever it is that we wish to change, there are some things that stand out for each of us individually.
When you look at your list of three wishes, you are seeing what it is about reality that you most want to change.
They may be selfish wishes or they may be selfless. They may be simple or they may be profound. It doesn't matter. They are your deepest wants and that's all that's important.
You should dedicate your life to making them come true. It may seem difficult to find a path towards that goal at this stage. I'll go into strategies for doing so in a later article.
Just know that on your piece of paper is written your life's purpose, and it's time to start taking concrete steps towards making those wishes come true.
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