How to Live with Meaning and Purpose

Living Life with Meaning and Purpose

Do you ever wonder about the meaning of life? Do you believe you have a specific purpose here on Earth? These questions have both intrigued and plagued humanity for thousands of years.

Mainstream society would have us go through our entire lives without ever asking questions like “Who am I really?” or “Why am I here?” Instead, we’re often encouraged by our families, schools, and cultures to follow the program that’s been laid out for us. One such program common in the West is the “go to school, get a good job, save for retirement, and then enjoy your remaining years” formula for life. We are told that happiness and success come from this formula. We see others’ achievements and try to emulate them. At every turn we’re encouraged to do more, have more, acquire more.

It’s often not until we reach our 40s or 50s that we realize happiness and fulfillment did not come from the job or the spouse or the material possessions. We begin to question the purpose of it all. That’s the essence of a midlife crisis. It’s an accumulation of frustration and disappointment that makes us realize (or remember) that there must be more to life than this. 

“There are no accidents… there is only some purpose that we haven’t yet understood.”
– Deepak Chopra

Even the midlife crisis is no accident. It is a wake-up call from our soul.

“Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny – he has something to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidently – you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The whole intends to do something through you.”
– Osho

We are more than what we’ve been taught to believe.

Who are we really? We are spiritual beings having a human experience. We are not simply a body, a biological machine, or a mind. As part of our spiritual beingness, we have a body and we have a mind. We need to use them both as tools for our soul’s unique expression.

Why are we here? We are here to consciously create our reality. To evolve and expand to the next grandest version of ourselves. We are here to create and experience who we choose to be.

“The soul has come to the body, and the body to life, for the purpose of evolution. You are evolving, you are becoming. And you are using your relationship with everything to decide what you are becoming. This is the job you came here to do. This is the joy of creating Self. Of knowing Self. Of becoming, consciously, what you wish to be.”
– Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations with God Book One

Meaning doesn’t come from the occupation or the task. Meaning doesn’t come from doing. It comes from who you are being. Who do you choose to be regardless of what you do? 

“There is no greater career than being a fully alive, fully present and fully loving human being.”
– Marianne Williamson

What makes you excited to be alive? What lights you up? What gifts do you have to share with the world? Those things are part of your purpose. 

“Our purpose is hidden in our joy, our inspiration, our excitement. As we act on what shows up in our life, our purpose shows up.”
– James King

You can learn more about living consciously with meaning and purpose with several resources from Humanity’s Team. 

Divining Your Destiny is a free online video program with spiritual teachers Michael Beckwith and Neale Donald Walsch. In it, you’ll develop the confidence and courage to find and follow your life’s true calling. 

Humanity Stream+ members can also access the 16-module Discover Your Soul’s Purpose Masterclass that includes two recorded mentoring sessions with Neale Donald Walsch and Michael Beckwith.