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There comes a point in life when you feel like you are stuck in limbo. Things are happening in your life, you are progressing ahead like everyone else. But, something in your gut tells you there has to be more to life than a single formula. You are unsure about what you are pursuing or more importantly, why. Finding purpose and identity is a crisis some might come across in their 20s, some in their 30s or some maybe never. But let’s not be somebody who doesn’t acknowledge it and plays blind to the real questions in life.

Purpose not found

Perfect Life?

A good job, a more than decent salary, a huge apartment, an MBA or MS or any higher degree to add as a feather to our caps. These are what correspond to our idea of a perfect life. A lot of people leave finding purpose at this very stage since they have found satisfactory answers. And simplicity is satisfaction. However, we give ourselves, body and mind, to this never-ending race with a destination called ‘Success’. We start measuring our lives with that of our peers because nobody wants to be ‘left behind’. We end up losing touch with people who meant the most to us once upon a time.

Finding purpose

Money vs Life?

Before you call me unrealistic, I know. We need a job to support ourselves and the people we care about. We have to live the ‘Work hard, party hard’ life believing we are striking a balance somewhere. But maybe there is a silver lining in all this. Maybe we don’t have to keep evaluating ourselves at every turn. Nobody, I repeat, nobody is keeping scores. I tell people one thing when they have multiple things on their plate: ‘Prioritize’. A word that you will hear a lot once you are thrust into the corporate world.

Finding purpose in balance

YOU are more

But, I would like people to “prioritize’ themselves. It is crucial to place yourself above everybody else. I mean it not in a selfish way. All I want is that for once, people should put on the brakes. It is alright to slow down for a while to better understand thyself. There is one life that we have, just one. It is to be lived as if every day is an event. If we don’t give our body, mind and soul the required attention and keep going where the current takes us, then we end up being nothing but just another brick in the wall.

Finding Purpose: The big WHY

A good friend of mine once told me, our lives are basically a combination of our actions towards achieving our dreams and the consequences of it. Dreams, I like that word. Without it, we are just machines. For some it is owning an expensive car, or buying a farmhouse, becoming a scientist or a pilot, there are really no bounds. These dreams give people a purpose. And sure, there is a lot of noise and struggle before one can actually get to it. But, you have to make sure that the things that you do are on your terms.

“Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. When people can’t do something themselves, they are gonna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something. Go get it. Period.”

– Will Smith from “The Pursuit Of Happyness”

I think that is where the answer lies, between having a vision for our lives and not getting too caught up in the rat race which has no finish point. Why not be a turtle and enjoy the view?

Edited by: Priyanka Srinivas


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