The Origin - Why am I here?

A Childhood Dream

There is a feeling I believe we have all experienced at some point in life. It is that quiet feeling that makes you wonder about your uniqueness as an individual. I do not think most people start adult life wanting to simply blend into the crowd. Deep down, many of us look for different ways to live a life that feels set apart, a life that carries meaning, stands out in some way, and maybe even inspires others. In simple terms, we all want to make a difference. Every person I have met, as clearly as I can remember, has had some kind of dream. A feeling that they were called to do more than their present circumstance. Even as children, many of us had an innate desire to live a purpose-filled life. Sometimes, we simply called it a dream. Do you remember what you said you wanted to be in the future when you were a child? Back when you felt free to dream without walls?

For many of us, that feels like an eternity ago, if we even remember it at all. And for many reasons, some within our control and others that seemed to come out of nowhere, we lost sight of what that dream was. Today, if you dare to speak it out loud, either you or the dream may be labeled as unrealistic, childish, not serious enough, not ambitious enough, not monetizable, too audacious for your location, beyond your capacity, or simply a waste of time. The list could go on. And if you hear that long enough, dreaming itself starts to feel like a dare, a dare to visualize impossibilities as possibilities. Am I saying what you dreamt of as a child was your purpose? No, I am not. I am using the dream because, for many of us, that was one of the earliest moments we felt there was something connected to who we were and what we were meant to do with our lives while here on earth.

Do you remember what you said you wanted to be in the future when you were a child? Back when you felt free to dream without walls? For many of us, that feels like an eternity ago, if we even remember it at all. And for many reasons, some within our control and others that seemed to come out of nowhere, we lost sight of what that dream was. Today, if you dare to speak it out loud, either you or the dream may be labeled as unrealistic, childish, not serious enough, not ambitious enough, not monetizable, too audacious for your location, beyond your capacity, or simply a waste of time. The list could go on. And if you hear that long enough, dreaming itself starts to feel like a dare, a dare to visualize impossibilities as possibilities. Am I saying what you dreamt of as a child was your purpose? No, I am not. I am using the dream because, for many of us, that was one of the earliest moments we felt there was something connected to who we were and what we were meant to do with our lives while here on earth.

Today, as adults, we often think about purpose when we feel like we are doing so much and yet even with that, we lack true satisfaction. We think about purpose when we are trying to choose a path into the next phase of life. We think about purpose when we face a challenge that refuses to move out of the way, and in frustration, we wonder if this is what life will be like until the end. We think about purpose when regret visits, and we ask whether things could have been different. Purpose shouldn't be stumbled on by mistake or by luck. Even man-made products don't stumble on their purpose. Imagine if you bought a car in a state of it figuring out its purpose by trial and error. Would you trust that you'd make it back home, in one piece, at the end of the day?😄 If the products we create have a reason for their existence before their usefulness, how much more, a human being? The most dangerous individuals in the world are those who exists without knowing their purpose, because those are definite tragedies waiting to unfold. The most powerful individuals in the world are those who exists with knowing their purpose, because they cannot be steered off their rightful path.

Movement Without Direction is not Progress

Understanding our individual purpose as early as can be is very important. As we age, the more unclear it is to us, the more rocky the road ahead becomes. Like a rocking horse, we can pour so much effort and time into something we believe is movement, just to realize it never moved an inch in the direction we assumed. You can ride a rocking horse with all your energy, extremely focused and sweating profusely, only to stop and realize that the horse never moved from that one spot. And the truth is, that is simply its design. Movement, but no progress. Neither forward nor backward. Just motion in the same spot. For many people, life has become like that. That rocking horse is a job they hate waking up to on Monday morning. That rocking horse is a degree they hate studying for. That rocking horse is a relationship that gives them all they want, but nothing they need. What is even more painful is that many people can spend their entire lives on that rocking horse, supported by their environment and told, “This is the path to success.” Then, at the end, all they may have to show for it is a pension and a farewell gift (a clock, a mug, or a pen), if it ended nicely. And if it did not, well, an apology would have to suffice.

The truth is, a person can be active, hardworking, talented, educated, and influential, yet still feel unsettled because the real question has not been answered: What is all this for? But even this question cannot be properly answered if the origin of purpose is unknown. Purpose simply means the reason something exists. It is the reason behind the design, the movement, and the ability. So when we ask, “Why am I here?” we are not only asking what job to do or what dream to chase. We are asking what our life is meant to serve, solve, build, restore, or contribute to.

Purpose Comes Before Capacity or Ability

If a person cannot answer “Why am I here?” , they cannot correctly answer “What am I to do?” As stated earlier, many people are doing things. They are active. But being engaged in activities does not mean a person is aligned with purpose. Society often promotes busyness over purpose. That is why many people can be successful on the outside and still feel empty within. They are equipped with skills, talent, money, career, and influence, yet lack peace of mind, inner satisfaction, joy, compassion, and real fulfillment in what they do. Some even have to buy rest because their soul cannot find it. Ability without purpose will become misdirection. Someone can be intelligent and still use that intelligence wrongly. Someone can be creative and use that creativity to mastermind something harmful. Someone can be influential and lead others down the wrong path along with themselves. So the issue is not whether a person has ability. The issue is whether that ability is connected to the right reason. Purpose gives ability direction. It helps us to stop asking only, “What am I good at?” and start asking precise questions: What problem do I keep noticing? What responsibility am I avoiding? What kind of contribution would still matter even if nobody clapped? If God is my creator then, what has He placed in me that is not only for me? I once heard someone say purpose is whatever you tell others is easy to do, but they struggle to do. I believe that can give a hint or a sense of direction, but still, that statement mainly addresses ability. If others struggle to bring order to a system, and you organize systems easily, that does not automatically mean organizing things, systems, or people is your purpose. If that were the case, someone could carefully organize a team to rob a bank, succeed at it and it would be called their purpose. This example above shows why ability cannot be the final definition of purpose. As explored in the previous thought posts: Who am I? and, Where am I from? These questions are relevant in understanding and shaping purpose with ability. Furthermore, the example above, stresses on why we cannot use the definition of purpose by fellow human beings around us as the final authority. It may sound close. It may even look ideal. But close is not correct and similarity is not precision Purpose is not something we invent just to feel important. If we believe life has an origin, then purpose is connected to that origin. A thing does not decide its purpose by popular vote. Its purpose can't also be determined by its beneficiaries. A tesla car owner cannot suddenly alter the purpose of the car, and when they try to, it will malfunction. Its purpose is tied to the mind behind its creation. So biblically, when Genesis says mankind was made in God’s image, it does not only speak to identity. It also suggests that human life was not created to exist without meaning. There was a reason before there was ability and activity.

Reflection

Purpose does not always appear as one dramatic life mission. In fact, it rarely does. Most times it becomes clearer through responsibility, service, growth, discipline, correction, and paying attention to what keeps requiring your care. It is worth remembering though that discovering your purpose is not a thing of luck. It is not "If it hits me, it hits me. If it doesn't, it doesn't". Your purpose is already within, it only requires intentional sensitivity to be pointed out clearly. Purpose should not be treated like pressure. It is not about rushing to “find your calling” so you can look successful. It is about becoming honest enough to ask whether your life is being directed by meaning or just pushed around by several voices around you. The funny thing is, just as you would not trust a car that is still figuring out its purpose, no matter how useful it seems, the people who define your purpose will be the first to let you go. It may feel nice when they place those definitions on you, but deep down, they know they would not trust you with anything delicate, because your definition comes from them. If they change that definition tomorrow, your purpose changes too. So it then becomes a question of who really holds the reins over your life. They know that one day, it might no longer be them, and that could become a problem. So how can they fully trust you if that is a possibility? How can anyone trust you, if you get your purpose from the world?

I know that sometimes parents, relatives, counsellors, and friends with good intentions may try to tell you who you are or who you are meant to be. Many times, they do this out of genuine love, but they are not your Creator. You may not be able to control their intentions or how they choose to express that love, but you can control how you receive it. You should not shut it out because wisdom is found in multiple counsels, however, their advice should remain a guide in discovering purpose, not become the final truth of your purpose. So frequently, ask yourself: what is the reason my life was given, and what should it be directed toward? Drafted by Princess Faith Odo, refined with AI.

Read next

• THE ORIGIN - WHERE AM I FROM?
• The Origin - Who Am I?
• The Root of Identity