“…There would be blood on my hands, if it didn’t shake the world that I was here. It’s not some self-love mantra. I just think we’re not created in vain. So get into your lane…”. These are the lyrics to the refrain of beautiful and talented local Jazz musician Zoe Modiga’s song “Shake the World”. Seemingly in agreement with the notion that I have heard presented which says that an equally great offence is committed when one fails to live out that purpose for which they were created while they are alive, as is the case with other Biblical offences.
The reality, however is that a significant number of people, were they to be questioned on their awareness or fulfillment of their life’s purpose, would probably either be certain that they are not, or not be certain at all what it is. And yet a great number still discover their “calling”, some from a very young age, and intentionally align their life’s activities with this purpose. Famous author and speaker Simon Sinek, whose material speaks a lot to finding one’s “why”, in one of his talks gives a very real illustration on the lack of purpose exhibited by many organisations. In reviewing the financial performance, it is often planned to improve upon the current, but without having an answer to the question “To what end?”. It is like trying to steer a ship to no specific destination.
Could it be that while we all at some stage in our lives question the significance of our lives, something intrinsic to mankind, only the brave few actually seek it out, and the braver few follow through and intentionally live it out? Will Smith in an interview talks about how all the best things in life are sitting on the other side of fear. In this statement, I believe so much can be deduced from it that often does not come through in teachings. Simon Sinek’s story is an inspiring one in that when he accepted that while he was superficially living a good life, but internally battling a lack of desire to do the work he was doing, he was brave enough to do something about it. This self-actualisation is evident when one watches, listens to or reads his material.
In saying that certain things are intrinsic or inherent to mankind means that it is how we are made. It therefore follows that, while we all share common characteristics as a people, specific rhyme and reason is always applied to how each one of us has been tailored-made, such that the value each of us can bring to life is uniquely ours.
The caveat in all of this I believe is the source who builds each and every individual according the chosen specification. Surely only the Creator would know best what makes the creation tick, thrive and ultimately achieve full potential and success, as was intended in the forming of the creation? Our fear in entrusting ourselves full to the Creator then inhibits us from following the prescribed way.
How then do we find and subsequently live with purpose? Adam Liepzig says that Amazon lists 151 928 books that refer to how one can learn their life purpose. He says you could discover your purpose through asking yourself a series of questions which ultimately help you discover what people would come to you for, and how you would change their life.
It is also said that getting closer to our purpose involves us reading more books. In doing this, our whole frame of reference is widened, and we are better able to see how we can contribute value.
Quite fitting it is that there is no one route to discovering one’s purpose, in no specific time frame, and not even a predefined point in one’s life when this happens. Important to note, however, is that in a lot of the prescriptions I have come across on discovering one’s life purpose, a common thread is that what we bring should be of benefit to not only ourselves but more importantly others. As the saying goes, no man is an island. So it is perhaps not enough when seeking one’s purpose to stop at how what we enjoy doing can be of benefit to just ourselves.
Life as we know it now, is very much telling of our proximity to end times. Put differently, we know not how much time we have left to live. Similar to our intrinsic tendency to question the reason for our being I believe is our inherent desire to make a positive difference in society. At the risk of repeating myself, it cannot be stressed enough the recognition of the source of all our answers. I leave you with the words of Simon Sinek, “We must find a purpose or cause to pursue otherwise all we have left are our imperfections to focus on.”