To Find Joy, Find your Purpose!

By -


Why are you here? Where do we really go from here? These were questions that troubled me after a funeral I attended shortly after I turned 16. It was then I realized that finding our purpose in life is the most important thing there is. Truly, without answering those important questions, life is a rut and is quite meaningless.

More and more, this life feels like a game, albeit a rush game. You have 80, 70, 60 years or less to live and in that time you need to fathom the answers to the big questions.

I realized that the ‘game’ – life involves 3 main components:

·        Find your purpose;

·        Fulfill your purpose, and;

·        Find joy for yourself & others while discovering and fulfilling your purpose

Your purpose will not come to you in a document, neat and tidy; you will need to piece it together like a jigsaw puzzle from the different sources that nature will avail you; some information are readily available and for others, you will have to solve some puzzles to find their keys.

When we get formed, some of the information we need to find our purpose is inbuilt in us – inherited from our parents and their parents, down their genealogy. This information comes in the form of your abilities and interests. Others are inborn desires like the one for everlasting life, happiness, to serve, to love and be loved, for justice and belongingness. You will also be empowered with curiosity, adventure, and the desire to ask questions and get satisfying answers.

When you land here through birth the next clues are found in the environment. You will meet people who have been on the journey and who can guide you. There are books, religious creeds, and philosophies that will help you on your way. Caution is required as many false flags and destructive teachings can lead you away from your purpose but rest assured that what you have is sufficient to help you find your purpose if you are honest and humble. So the simple task is: find your purpose, live it and be a source of joy to yourself and others despite all the wahala you will face. Can you do it? Can you manage the adventure? Can you?

‘The test of any philosophy or religious creed is the number of things it can explain (satisfactorily)’ – a quote I wrote in my diary as a young man searching for his purpose. I was concerned about the following questions: Why am I here? What is the evidence that supports Creation or Evolution? Are there Aliens? Why do we die? What happens when we die? If there is a Creator or Universal Intelligence, has ‘he’ lost control? Is ‘he’ conscious? Is ‘he’ caring? Is ‘he’ knowable? Why do we suffer? Is there ‘intelligence’ higher than humans in the Universe? The answers in the Bible proved to be the most satisfying.


Unfortunately, no one will teach you this as plainly as this, so we wobble and grope in darkness.  I do not think this very important matter was raised even once in the many years I attended school from Primary to Graduate School. We are taught how to make a living, how society expects us to live, and sometimes how to find a mate, pay taxes, shop, and all of that, but no one tells us ‘your number one reason for being on earth is to find out why you are here, what your purpose is; it is sad indeed that no one tells us that! (That we are here by design is beyond question. Your ultimate quest in life should be to find out the Intelligence responsible for your existence and that of the Universe. There is a universal purpose and nestled within that you must find out your own purpose - why you are here, why have you been summoned as it were).

The fulfilment of your purpose should bring joy to you, the people around you, and the world at large. The fulfilment of your purpose should make the world a better place. You see one thing about the purpose you have? You alone are the best person in the whole wide world and among all the possible potentials in your father’s loins to fulfil it. That’s how unique you are! That’s life. It’s a great and wonderful thing!

So why are you here? What are you doing here? Can you find out? The answers are within your grasp. Look inward & out with honesty.

Postscript: Your purpose must be tied to something greater than you. For some people, it is faith in God or service to humanity or both. The purpose must then include a path for full self-development and full human potential for your and others’ benefit, peace, and happiness. Develop a purpose statement around these and decide on goals and strategic objectives; develop strategies to reach your goals & you will find the greatest joy in living a purposeful life.

Image credit: https://www.consciouslifestylemag.com/


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rediscovering the Power of Circles for Growth, Friendship and Purpose

By -
Image
 Have you experienced the power of people working together? “Where two or three are gathered in my name ...”—do you remember that promise? It promises that the greatest power in the universe will be available to them. That is an example of the kind of power that comes when people work together. What troubles and burdens one person is usually not much for 2 people to handle and could even be a joyful challenge to 3 or more people when they share the burden. One of life’s greatest joys is friendship. If you find people who share your values and vision and are willing to work with you, then you are blessed beyond measure. There is enormous power and accomplishment when 2 or more people work together toward a goal with a sense of dedication and commitment. If their purpose is pure, that is, it benefits them and other people and does not harm the world, then you can be sure that unimaginable success is assured. With such unity, nothing is impossible! Working together is pure joy as the ...
Read more

Emotions: The Human Superpower We Often Overlook

By -
Image
Emotions - Our Human Super Power! "An emotional response is wrong." "Don't be emotional." Often, when we need to make decisions we say these to ourselves or hear other people say them or some other versions of them.  Emotions are frequently vilified, dismissed as irrational, and relegated to the background in favour of logic and reason. These phrases are thrown around so often that many have come to believe emotions are a flaw—something to suppress, control, or ignore. But have you ever stopped to ask: What is wrong with emotions and emotional responses? Emotions are one of the most defining aspects of being human. Yet, they have been treated as weaknesses, and pushed to the background. People are told to rely only on reason, as if emotions have no value in decision-making. But here’s the truth: both reason and emotions are processed in the brain. Our memories are tied to emotions, stored in every part of our being. So the typical ‘heart refers to emotions’ a...
Read more

Lovers of Pleasure or Lovers of God? A Sobering Self-Check

By -
Image
'...lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God....' Verse 4 (1 Timothy 3:1–5) I grew up hearing this scripture regularly read at home, in Christian meetings, and in the ministry. The message was 'God's Kingdom is near’, and this scripture was cited as evidence that we are living in the last days. I came to understand that "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" were people who had no place in God’s Kingdom—gluttons destined to perish with this old system. Naturally, I have always thought, "That’s not me. That’s the unbelievers. Bad, despicable people. I remember how they are depicted in the book ‘You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth.’  ‘Nde Aworome!’ I could never be counted among them." Tufiakwa! But this morning, as the scripture came to mind again, I reflected on the angels in Noah’s day. They left their proper place to pursue selfish pleasure. Na them! This is a true example of what it means to love pleasure more than God. Plea...
Read more