The Purpose of Life

The purpose is not so much what you do but what has been realized due to what you do. Superlative leaders don’t work for the sake of work. They work for the intent of the work, what it will achieve, and how change will result.

Purpose is, by pure etymology, the reason for which something exists. For you and me the meaning is the same—that we have a destiny. No, I’m not suggesting that we nurture delusions of grandeur. The purpose is not a Napoleonic complex. It is, however, the firmly held sense that we are going to realize something significant. What that is or how it may manifest itself is your decision and privilege.

The sense of destiny profoundly affects how you think. Purposeful people simply do not consider frivolous pursuits. Time and effort, as they understand it, are valuable resources and not to be frittered away. You won’t find purposeful leaders working to get to the weekend. They will never sigh, “Thank God it’s Friday.” For superlative leaders, Monday is the big day of the week, a new set of days in which the purpose comes closer.

Purpose feels like excitement, runs on deep reserves of energy, and exudes enthusiasm. People of purpose radiate power.

The purpose is under assault daily. Some would attack and challenge your sense of destiny. Ignore them.

The purpose is pursued ahead of you but measured behind you. You look back and count the accomplishments, recognize the mile markers you’ve passed, and understand just how much you’ve been able to do.

Purpose gets bored with the endless pursuit of entertainment. Superlative leaders feel good about what they do because the world is a better place because of what they have done. They seldom say it, but they often feel it.

The purpose of life is to be defeated by greater and greater things. There is surely nothing other than the single purpose of the present moment. A man's whole life is a succession of moment after moment. If one fully understands the present moment, there will be nothing else to do, and nothing else to pursue.

If you feel like an outcast because your purpose of life is different than others, you need to go through these quotes. They will give you the push you need to strive for what you desire.

1. “People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.” – Dalai Lama
2. “Do what you have to do until you can do what you want.” – Oprah Winfrey
3. “You can have anything you want – if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose.” – William Adams
4. “If you organize your life around your passion, you can turn your passion into your story and then turn your story into something bigger―something that matters.” – Blake Mycoskie
5. “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist.” – Oscar Wilde