Most of us are not even sure where we are heading in our lives. In fact, it is a constant struggle for almost each of us trying to figure out “What exactly do I want to do with my life?”
The truth is we all want to do something important in our lives, but then what exactly is that ‘something important’ is a bit hazy for most of us. After thinking through, it all boils down to making the best use of time that we have in our lives.
To help clarify the doubts, there are a few questions we can ask ourselves, which can define the purpose of our lives a bit more clearly.
- Can we handle the tough times?
Some of us want to make it big in our lives, but that requires navigating through the tough times, which most of us are uncomfortable with. But then things are not rosy all the times, there is some sort of cost or sacrifice associated with each and everything important that we want to do. For e.g. If we want to be a successful entrepreneur, but we can’t handle failures, then our goal itself is a big question-mark for us. If we want to make it big, we need to be comfortable with the ups and downs that come with it.
- What is that the child in us wants us to do?
We all loved to do something when we were kids. But somehow have lost touch with all that may be because of social pressures or professional obligations. This essentially means we are not doing what we wanted to do with the innocence we had earlier. To me, that is an important aspect of enjoyment in life. For e.g. it wasn’t until recently that I rediscovered how much I loved writing. And I started this blog — something I did in my early teens, because I enjoyed it.
- What is our real passion?
One might say I love anchoring the shows, which even I used to do not so long ago. But the real passion is not that, it is actually the improvement behind it, being good at connecting with others and may be making them laugh or just entertaining them. The anchoring itself is just one aspect, but i can easily live without it since it’s the improvement behind it that matters to me.
So we all need to find our passion. It might be anything, but we need to really look at the cognitive principles behind those activities; because if we do so, we can easily apply the underlying concepts elsewhere.
- Is our embarrassment holding us down?
Great things are, by their very nature, unique and unconventional. Therefore, to achieve them, we might have to go against the herd mentality. But most of us feel scared of being singled-out and may be afraid of losing some friends. Unfortunately, sometimes we can only make headway towards the wishes we have by treading the lonely path. It might be embarrassing and scary, but then that is the only way.
- If we knew we are going to die one year from today, what would we do and how we want to be remembered?
Most of us are so afraid of thinking about death that it freaks us out. But that is the only certain thing in our lives. In fact, thinking about our own death surprisingly has a lot of practical advantages. One of those advantages is that it forces us to zero in on what’s actually important in our lives and what’s just frivolous and distracting. Think about if you had only one year to live, what you would like to achieve and many things will automatically fall in place.
We can add a few more such questions to the list, but ultimately the goal is to be clear on these points ourselves. Once we do that, we are going to come out of the haze we find difficult to cross. That’s what will lead us to our purpose in life.
What you have written is very true.
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It sure is, and we need to give it a thought.
Thanks, Suchetana.
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You welcome:)
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The thing is, can we change it?
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Sorry Nisha, is your question about destiny?
Because my point is our Purpose, which is what we love and would like to do in life, and is very well in our control.
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Great!
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Well written! Earning a honest living and getting a peaceful sleep is perhaps the highest purpose of life:)
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Very rightly summed-up Sir. Thanks for the contribution.
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Nice write-up Alok…..I agree with your words, especially the last paragraph… 🙂
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Glad to know this, Maniparna. Thanks
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Its a nice write up Alok. As the saying goes ‘Life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backwards’. So planning backwards is an approach recommended by many, as it helps us to figure out what exactly we want from life and live with that purpose in mind.
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It’s a good and apt contribution from you. One must definitely reflect on what has gone through and learn from it.
Thanks a lot.
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Oh wow! I can totally relate to this. Thanks for the post. It’s really really really good. I’m going to reblogg this right away 😄😄
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Thank you so much, Shivi.
I am pretty pleased 🙂
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Reblogged this on The random rants ! and commented:
A MUST READ!! ✨
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Wonderful post, and the question you pose: “What is that the child in us wants us to do?” is the brilliant one we need to ask ourselves daily. Such a great read.
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Thank you so much for your inputs. Welcome here 😊
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Well written. I think if I can answer the question why am I here on this planet then I’ve got it 🙂
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Correct, that question is the crux.
Thank you.
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Good post Alok. Sometimes, pausing and re-discovering self is important and will guide us in the future. Asking ourselves difficult questions is a good idea.
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Life is uncertain, so we need to give it a thought as to what we want out of it. And difficulties define us, so we should accept them and face them head-on.
Thank you.
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I second your thought Alok. Till now I haven’t considered to convert my passion into profession.
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You should think about and work on it ASAP. Time is running out always…
Good luck and hope you give good news soon.
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Great post.Very often we fail to decide what to do with our lives–specially when we are multi-talented.Your pointers can show the path ahead.
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Thank you, Indu.
Glad that this post can guide a few of us.
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Thank you. These are excellent questions that we need to ask ourselves in order to move forward in our lives. Well written words. In love and light Cheryle
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Thank you very much 🙂
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A real intriguing post, real dose of introspection. I loved those 5 punches, Awesome!
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Very pleased to know your thoughts on this.
Thank you 😀
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Thought-provoking and helpful. Thank you.
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You’re most welcome. Thanks for coming by.
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Good post Alok, that’s a good question-What is our purpose in life-It needs some thinking.
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Right, hopefully we all can give it a bit of time and be on a fruitful journey in life.
Thanks Sadhna.
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Lovely blog. Congrats.
…………
Science Fiction: Matter of Pride!
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Thank you 🙂
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Death is the only thing certain. Living is too right?
Speaking of improvement as you pointed, well nothing is easy, everything and anything needs efforts and contant work upon it, be it progress or relationships. I think that would be the fundamental purpose? 🙂
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Well, not everybody gets to live…think about an unborn who doesn’t get to see the world sometimes.
Yes, everything important requires an effort, some sort of sacrifice as I mentioned.
Thanks so much for a generous comment 😊
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Thoughtful article, interesting points! Handling tough time can be challenging but then it’s the real test…
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It sure is a tough fight, but worth getting into.
Thank you Tarang.
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You know Alok? In case I die tomorrow or one year from now, I have no regrets. I have written my heart out for my son and he can read it ( if he chooses to) even after I am gone. Am sure, he would understand that he had a loving and caring dad.
You are true, that most of us are not aware, where we are heading towards to. Only we introspect and ask those questions to ourselves and if we try jotting it down, it becomes crystal clear.
The questions which you have framed above are very correct and I fully vouch for it.
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I am sure you are a great dad and writing is a great asset to leave behind. Wish many out there can understand and work out a plan for themselves.
Thanks yaar.
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An eye opener post Alok, well my purpose in life is to make most of this gift and regarding the last question I would want to live it so well any day i can get up and say am happy to go even today 🙂
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Well, this is generic statements…what exactly makes you happy? That’s what you should be doing…we all need to be clear on that. Else it is still hazy 😀
Hope you are getting my point?
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Hi Alok. I have blundeted through life. The only constant writing down my thoughts dreams and imagination molding them into my form of poetry. Thank you for liking my poem Clear E.V.P! Best Wishes. The Foureyed Poet.
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You seem to be doing what you love, that’s what we all need clarity on.
You’re welcome and it was great reading your poem.
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I totally agree with your points. The ultimate purpose in our life is finding happiness and these will help us to find that 🙂
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Correct…thanks for the inputs, Saurabh 😊
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Hey Alok
Nice one really liked the way you have written about finding purpose which will lead towards happiness in our life.
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Thank you…and welcome here 😊
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Astute post with very important questions… sometimes we think we want something, but we really aren’t prepared or even interested to handle what comes with it. I can say I had to answer every one of those questions to myself on my path to get me where I want to be. It takes some owrk and soul searching, but it’s definitely worth it!
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Good that you’ve been cognizant of and working on these questions all along…so you are well on your way to realizing your purpose in life 🙂
Thank you for inputs.
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a meaningful inquiry
moment by moment 🙂
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It has to be for us to lead a purposeful life 🙂
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Wonderful article, Alok. Many important questions here and yes stereotypes and unrealistic expectations are some aspects which need to be looked at.
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Absolutely!
When we reflect within ourselves as to what exactly we want, only then we can achieve them!
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A great read Alok..You spoke my mind out!!
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Thank you very much…i am glad!
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