Is There A Purpose In Life That One Should Live For?

By Leslie Ball


As a human being, it is inevitable that one would ponder over their very existence. Often, this pondering and musing takes the shape of a serious dilemma. It could be so deep and serious that it could rob one of their peace of mind and give sleepless nights. Searching the answers to questions such as is there a purpose in life, becomes essential to proceed living.

For some people, these questions get answered by the path of religion, science, politics or any other that they have chosen to embark. Almost imbibing a way of life via this path, many find the meaning to their existence within the teachings or methods of this path.

If one follows a religion or a spiritual guru, the belief system found on this premise can give one a certain outlook to life. If such a person ever gets lost for meaning, they search the teachings and beliefs of this religion or spiritual path and often find what they are looking for.

If one believes in a certain scientific theory or system, it can lead to the providing of answers too. Most of the methods adopted in life will be found to be in accordance with this belief, and the person will tend to seek solutions to daily dilemmas also within this belief system

Not everyone on this earth, however, is fortunate to have a cause or following they can connect with. Not everyone has something to hold on to for searching meanings and looking for answers. A lot of mortals simply spend their life lost and aimless, only because they could not find a road they could travel, a mantra they could live by, or a calling that could define their beings.

There are also many who spend substantial amount of time pondering over this very question. They wonder why they are on this earth. They wonder what the meaning of their life is. They may even wonder if it is worth living any more if they have not found their purpose.

This is the time to stop and ask yourself if there is any point in creating such a predicament for yourself. Living with such doubts and miserable thoughts is actually what weighs one don, rather than the misery itself. So, better sense lies in seeking the answers within oneself, and finding the path by looking inward.

A case in pint could be that of an atheist and dreamer who may be a music artist or architect by profession. This person may not have found his calling via his profession, nor any chosen path to traverse life. He may, on the other hand, have found that the essence of his living lies in working toward literacy of underprivileged children. He may spend his weekends and hours after work teaching slum dwelling kids in his vicinity. That may be the purpose in his life.

Let us take yet another example of a botany student who has little professional training, yet devotes her life in research pertaining to a unique species of plant, or one that the general world of botany does not consider worth much. This person may revel in her own little findings and work. This could be the purpose of her life.

So we see that finding purpose in life is not something that comes from external force. Nor does it get created automatically. Purpose has to be worked upon, it has to be found within.




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