Purpose

Purpose, What is It, and Why is It So Important to Live a Happy and Fulfilled Life

Purpose is the anchor that keeps us steady during life's storms. It's the guiding light that illuminates our path, even when the road ahead seems dark. Purpose is the reason we get out of bed in the morning and the reason we persevere through challenges. It's the driving force behind our relationships and the reason we strive for our goals.

Without purpose, we might feel adrift, lonely, and depressed. Purpose gives birth to joy, love, and a sense of belonging.

The meaning of life is different from purpose, but they are closely connected. Everyone's meaning of life is unique. For me, the meaning of life was to be a good family member and to have fulfilling relationships.

My purpose, however, was to raise my son and help him become an independent individual. This gave my life a sense of direction. My job, while not my dream, provided the means to support my son and give him the tools he needed to live a happy and well-adjusted life. It also gave me the emotional space to teach him the values and skills he needed to succeed.

I made choices as a parent that weren't always easy, but my purpose was to see my son happy. It's easier to do what we don't want to do when there's a strong purpose guiding our decisions. Purpose is a powerful ally.

What Happens When Your Purpose Suddenly Disappears?

Losing one's purpose can be frightening and confusing. When we lose our purpose, we lose our drive and our desire to do anything. Purpose is the anchor that keeps us grounded. Without it, we feel adrift. We may not even realize how much purpose drives us until it's gone. Then we begin the journey to understand what our purpose was and why it's so important.

When we first experience the loss of purpose, we often feel grief. Grief is a process, and acknowledging and navigating it are the first steps. The process may include depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and apathy. The depth of the grief will depend on the significance of the lost purpose. For example, retiring without a plan can lead to loneliness and low-grade depression.

Noticing the change and accepting that things will be different can be helpful. Letting go of one purpose and searching for a new one can be invigorating and energizing. Looking back at the things that used to bring us joy before we became so focused on our jobs can be a good starting point. There's often something waiting to be rediscovered.

I have experienced great loss, and with it, I lost my sense of purpose. Fortunately, I was able to find a new, deeply meaningful purpose in my life. Becoming a registered counselor was a lifelong ambition. Using the knowledge and skills I gained through training, I have repurposed my purpose. Everything I learned before has come to fruition in my current work.

I believe that if we stay the course and actively wait, life will always present us with what we need. Life is never boring, and it takes resilience and endurance to navigate the tough times. But I believe it's always worth it. And I also know that life without purpose is long and hard...