What Is The Purpose Of Life ? Peace ?
Hello friends, thanks for joining me. Today I am going to share 3 steps with you to help you successfully navigate discovering your true purpose in life. So let’s dive right in and begin the first step toward your amazing journey!
Jeremiah 32:19
19 Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.
Society today seems to have lost sight of the purpose of life amidst the distractions and fast-paced nature of our modern world. We see this with the recent trends in attitudes toward work with different groups like the sigma grindset, the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement, and the anti-work crowd which are all trends that have gained popularity in recent years. The sigma grindset emphasizes the value of hard work and avoiding conformity to societal norms. They believe in maximizing personal potential, constantly challenging themselves, and pursuing unconventional paths to success. Instead of conforming to a traditional career trajectory, they seek to carve their own path and find innovative ways to thrive both professionally and personally. We often hear these individuals talking about a continual need to grow a side hustle as an indication of success. FIRE is a movement that encourages individuals to save aggressively and pursue early retirement by focusing on financial independence. These individuals believe that by prioritizing financial stability and finding joy in simple living, they can liberate themselves from the constraints of the traditional workforce. In other words, work as hard as you can, be as frugal as you can, and retire somewhere between 45 and 50, so you can begin to enjoy life in your later years. On the other hand, the anti-work movement critiques the traditional notion of work and seeks to challenge the status quo. Advocates of this movement often highlight the flaws of the capitalist system and argue for a reevaluation of our relationship with labor. They emphasize the importance of leisure, self-care, and finding alternative forms of fulfillment outside of traditional employment. While each of these concepts carries its own unique perspective, they all ultimately fall short in providing a holistic approach to a meaningful and fulfilling life. In essence, these ideologies overlook the significance of finding purpose, meaning, and balance in one's life, ultimately failing to address the deeper human need for connection and purposeful work. The common thread each of these groups seems to contain is a lack of purpose. In other words, they don’t know the reason they’ve been put on earth, and the question remains: Why is this ?
To answer this question would entail a proper understanding of purpose. A sense of purpose is not found in the achievements or accolades thrust upon us by society. Nor is it derived from the expectations of others or the pursuit of external validation. Instead, it emanates from the depths of one's being, resonating with core values, passions, and aspirations. It arises from a profound connection with our inner selves, embracing our unique gifts, talents, and yearnings. And so another question remains: How and when did we as a society lose our sense of purpose?
Over the past 20-30 years, what appears to have contributed significantly to a sense of losing purpose in our lives is the advancement of technology. The rapid progress in technology has undoubtedly changed the way we live, work, and connect with others. While it has opened up incredible opportunities for communication, convenience, and efficiency, it has also brought along its own set of challenges. The constant connectivity and exposure to the virtual world have unfortunately contributed to an externalization of our awareness. This external sense of gratification has seemingly led to a silence of our internal voice. In other words, we have gone from paying attention to our internal states to an almost perpetual external awareness. And why you may ask is this important ? Our inner voice is a powerful and essential tool that provides us with guidance, introspection, and self-awareness and is considered paramount to those of faith. It serves as our compass, offering insights into our thoughts, emotions, and intuition. This inner voice acts as a gentle reminder, nudging us towards choices that align with our values and beliefs. It also serves as a protector, alerting us to potential dangers or warning signs. Through introspection, our internal voice allows us to delve deeper into our emotions, fears, and desires, fostering a greater understanding of ourselves. A good analogy of an absent inner voice would be comparable to a rudderless ship in the ocean of life. And unfortunately, our culture of instant (external) gratification that technology perpetuates has led to a loss of patience and perseverance in pursuing long-term goals leaving each of us with a feeling of disconnection and isolation from genuine relationships and meaningful activities. The world has become more individualistic, materialistic, and focused on external success, often neglecting introspection, spirituality, and relationships. Moreover, these societal changes, economic pressures, and shifting values have also played a significant role in our search for purpose and meaning.
Consequently, the end result of these factors is a shutdown of our internal awareness and we become numb. Research has shown that viewing social media and/or playing video games will suppress our limbic system (which is the emotional circuit of our brain) which suppresses our internal signals. We have literally lost touch with our inner voice. Numbness, both emotionally and physically, can manifest in various ways, leaving individuals searching for ways to feel something, anything at all. This leads to a pursuit of dopamine which is an unconscious response and becomes a prevalent coping mechanism. Historically, individuals might have engaged in behaviors that provide an immediate dopamine boost, such as excessive consumption of food, alcohol, or even drugs. Now, however, we have a more efficient and convenient method, social media. Using social media can easily become a quick path to seeking dopamine hits. The constant scrolling, checking for notifications, and seeking validation through likes and comments can trigger a dopamine rush, providing a temporary boost in mood, externally. Oddly enough, when the temporary “dopamine rush” subsides, numbness sets in further suppressing our internal, emotional compass and the resultant experience is boredom and lethargy. This is important in that boredom is a normal emotional state in which the body seeks stimulation to relieve itself. Boredom has often been the catalyst that drives us to seek instant gratification in the form of dopamine hits. So essentially, when we become bored we frequently suppress our inner voice and our bodies naturally reflex to the learned response of seeking out external stimulation to relieve the boredom.
So some of you may be asking, what’s the solution ? How do we learn how to deal more effectively with boredom and our search for purpose? Here are three basic steps one can implement to begin to regain our inner voice.
When you feel yourself becoming bored, recognize that boredom is a signal from our minds that we are in need of stimulation or engagement. Cultivate a sense of mindfulness and develop a greater appreciation for the present moment. Practice intentionality and sit with your thoughts and allow yourself to consider them for at least 5 minutes. After some time, you will begin to notice your thoughts slowing down. Try to focus on one predominate thought at a time.
Overcoming boredom spiritually requires intentionality and a desire for deeper connection with God. As you are sitting and allowing yourself to engage with feelings of boredom, attempt to cultivate a consistent and meaningful prayer life. Engaging in regular conversations with God through prayer can ignite our spirit and infuse our days with purpose. Additionally, if you have a favorite scripture, meditate on God's Word and open yourself up to receiving divine wisdom, insight, and guidance, which can combat the mundane emptiness that boredom brings.
Throughout your day you will encounter many things, such as boredom. In the spirit of intentionality, breaking free from overuse of digital devices is possible in order to regain control of your digital habits. Set boundaries by designating specific times and places for phone use. Create phone-free or digital free zones, such as the bedroom or during mealtimes. Learn to not pick up you phone or other digital device first thing in the morning as this, from a conditioning standpoint, could set the tone for your entire day. Engaging in alternative activities, such as exercise, hobbies, or spending quality time with loved ones or friends can help divert your attention away from your phone or other digital devices.
Our inner voice is an essential aspect of our being, providing guidance and insight in various areas of our lives, including our faith. As believers, our inner voice serves as a conduit for God to speak to us, offering spiritual wisdom, discernment, and encouragement. It is through this inner voice that we are reminded of God's promises, guided towards His will, and become aware of our shortcomings. In times of doubt or confusion, our inner voice whispers words of comfort and assurance, reminding us of the faithfulness and goodness of our Heavenly Father. It offers solace during challenging seasons, nudging us to seek God's presence and find strength in Him. Our inner voice acts as a compass, directing us towards a deeper relationship with God and a life characterized by faith and obedience.
As we regain our inner voice, then and only then, we not only begin to recognize, but actually hear our inner voice again. And herein lies an important answer to the question of purpose. Life becomes not about finding “the” purpose but finding ”your” individual purpose that God has for you.
Prayerful Thought: In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will Ephesians 1:11
“The purpose of life, is a life with purpose. Look back with gratitude and forward with purpose !”
“May the peace and grace of the Lord always be with you” - Dr Lee