Why are we so obsessed with having purpose?
Sorry I hope you won't take this as being impertinent, but a moment of reflection if I may share.
Why I post what I do: If you have been following my posts, you may know that I am genuinely concerned about the nature of the human mind, that is, every single human being on the planet has the same challenges, psychologically. And, I'm also concerned that this mindset, which has been carrying us for thousands of years continues to direct the world. With over 8 billion people, many of us are trapped in a world that is self-destructing. So what I do is to help those whom are interested to get off the ship of suffering, confusion, conflict in this world through writing, posts, podcasts, blogging, books (coming soon), and giving talks.
Purpose?: Why so much focus on having purpose in life? Everywhere we go, someone is always telling us that purpose is what "gets you out of bed" every morning. Is it? When I mentioned "what I do" above, it is not stemming from purpose but a kind of passion. Action based on purpose requires a center, and ago to motivate and drive it. And the action I take has been totally unplanned, open, free-falling. It's whatever flows at the time. It could be singing, it could be writing, it could be playing an instrument, it could be sitting together with you via zoom or in person talking about how to get off that "ship". I don’t know how long it will last, how long I will live, what I will do next. Life unplanned and unscripted has been a blessing in disguise - it’s only the ego that tries to have you believe it’s capable of controlling life, of having direction, of needing purpose.
So, what happens when.... the "idea" of purpose is swept away? That is, when you are caught-up in needing to know “who” you are and “what” your purpose is - when this idea has fizzled (and you will spend a life-time looking for it because life demands change and you are changing). You may "think" life has no meaning. Of course that’s exactly what the ego will try to convince you to believe - after all, doesn’t having no purpose render the ego useless? What will happen with no purpose? You won’t just sit still all day - life demands action, doesn't it? You still need to “do” things to survive in this world - you can't just say I'm doing nothing because I have no purpose.
Life comes to you when you are silent, not "chattering" in your head about chasing some idea, some goals, having tasks all day, thinking about dinner, work, etc. Silent here doesn’t mean forcing or controlling your mind to sit still with the “purpose” of being silent. Then we are caught-up in that trap again. The ego feeds on purpose and direction, and convincing you it’s in control. Silent might mean being totally aware of all the chattering and the chaos it causes. It requires energy to question every thing the mind holds in it’s library of resources - beliefs, dogmas, traditions, habits, and even prejudices. When you have stopped asking your mind all the questions, there is a silence which comes with a tremendous energy that cannot be explained! An unknown energy of life with passion, joy, unexplainable freedom. But now that I mentioned it, will you go off and start looking for this energy? Then folks, it’s purpose again and you stay stuck on that ship.
Love and light,
GC