Our Purpose in Life

It is natural for people to think about their purpose in life. As human beings, we want to have a sense of meaning or importance in life, and we enjoy knowing that we have made a difference in the world. For many people, their sense of purpose is derived through family relationships, employment-related accomplishments, or volunteer activities.

Family relationships cultivate a sense of purpose in people by providing a means by which people can love and feel loved. For instance, a parent’s purpose is to successfully guide a child through his or her formative years to adulthood, a journey which is filled with meaning, accomplishments, and daily responsibilities. When two people marry, their purpose in life expands to include caring for their spouse and abiding by their wedding vows. As parents age, their children often assume the role of caretakers and assume responsibilities for their well-being, thus creating a different purpose in life.

In addition to relationships with loved ones, employment-related accomplishments can also contribute to a person’s sense of purpose in life. For many people, this sense of purpose begins to develop during youth as a child enjoys a sense of fulfillment by mastering tasks as a student in school. This desire to excel, compete, and achieve frequently persists into adulthood, where it manifests itself in the employment arena. People who are successful in the workplace typically approach their daily work activities with a clearly defined purpose to produce high quality results while at work.

Volunteerism represents another means through which people develop a sense of purpose. Many people instinctively want to make a difference in the lives of others, and volunteer activities serve as key opportunities for individuals to positively influence another person’s life. Popular volunteer activities include helping others learn through tutoring, offering to help at a local hospital or medical center, or donating money and time to a charitable organization. Through volunteering time and resources, people become important, useful, and honorable members of the community.

Whether it is through meeting the needs of their families, employment, or a volunteer organization, people have many opportunities to focus on their purpose in life. By making a difference in the world through our work or relationships, our lives have meaning and a sense of fulfillment.