Purpose of Life is A Life of Purpose

Purpose is much deeper and more subtle that goals and objectives look minnows. Goals make us anxious and create stress. On the other hand, purpose leads to inspired and cheerful action. Purpose makes us get up in the morning. It is all encompassing as it has enthusiasm and empathy for all. Purpose in life is a perennial source of exuberance, bliss and joy. Goals on the other hand, lead to selfish, braggadocios and grumpy. They make us hedonist and Narcissists. Purpose makes us humble and goals make us arrogant and haughty. Whilst pursuing goals we become melancholy and saturnine. On the other hand, being on purpose leads to ecstasy, euphoria and exhilaration.  Goals make us social recluse. We may get all the worldly riches but lose our conscience. We have no qualms of conscience. We have legions of examples in human history on how Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, Idi Amin, Joseph Stalin et al pursuing their individual goals committed genocide killing and maiming millions. On the other hand, people like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi lived and acted for a purpose larger than their individual lives. All the carnage, devastation, mayhem and bloodshed are due to people pursuing their goals which benefit themselves only. Pursuit of goals make us cantankerous, dull and drab. Purpose keeps us lively and exhilarating. If each one of us resorts to purpose rather than goals the world would be a wonderful place. Goals usually pits us against others. There are fraying of tempers and throw of tantrums. Goals make us a serious player without enjoying the game. On the other hand, purpose keeps us enthusiastic, cheerful and excited. Purpose serves the larger good. When on purpose we enjoy the journey as well rather than becoming dull and drab whilst pursuing goals. Purpose attracts the dimensions of a large swathe of people who cooperate as they also become beneficiaries. In goals most of the time they are self-serving. Goals lead to attrition of valuable resources and purpose leads to build up the momentum as it adds value to millions. Purpose leads to cooperation and goals to competition. Millions are in the cul de- sac jobs going through the motions doing mundane and routine jobs. They do not put their heart and soul into their jobs. This serves no purpose. Having a purpose brings out the magic within us.

Its time we all did soul-searching and finding our true purpose. Each one of us is endowed with immense treasure trove of talents which can be explored and exploited if one has a compelling purpose. To understand the anatomy of purpose please read Ikigai which is a Japanese term for purpose. Purpose creates alignment between our thoughts, speech and action. There is no dichotomy. Such a situation creates phenomenal cosmic energy and limitless energy to carry out what we think of. Think of the purpose of founding fathers of United States of America. They were chosen ten committed patriots who signed a memorandum to seek freedom for their country from Great Britain. That is a classic case of purpose. Goals consider sectarian view as against wide gamut of purpose. The inimitable, indubitable and bold leader Dr. Nelson Mandela who was in incarceration in the solitary jail in Robbin Islands for 27 years had the sole purpose to dismantle apartheid. The success ratio of those who have purposes are far more than those who have goals. Purpose is our own goals aligned with the larger community. It benefits many. On the other hand, goals make us self-centered, self-focused and cantankerous. Purpose releases all positive enzymes like dopamine, serotonin and endocrines.  You are elevated to the levels of divinity. Goals make you feel hubris, in competition with others and cornered. Goals release negative enzymes like cortisol and adrenal. Now that we have lot of clarity about purposes and goals it is very clear that we all need to embrace purpose over goals. Goals create malice, ill health and stress. Purpose on the other hand is elixir for life and longevity. Goals are mostly left-brained activity which fails to make use of the right-brained activity like intuition, imagination, awareness, instinct, and creativity.

Murli Chari

Pune

15th October 2024