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Facebook // Instagram // YouTube // TiktokMy forty-nine years on this planet have led me to one conclusion:
The only path to true joy is a life of purpose.
There, now that I’ve said it out loud, let me define the terms so that we’re all on the same page.
I think of joy as the intersection between happiness, serenity, and fulfillment. It’s the convergence of these three states, the pinnacle of all three. There are plenty of ways to be happy, serene, or fulfilled—at least temporarily—but joy is the enduring presence of all three. Rather than a fleeting sensation, it becomes the constant state of being, even during times that would seem to threaten them all.
I would then define purpose as the unique goal of our individual lives. The specific thing that we—and only we—are meant to be, do, and/or create. It’s the one-in-a-trillion picture that is developed when all of our unique puzzle pieces come together. We then become our own sort of puzzle piece, one that fits perfectly into the odd-shaped hole that the world needs filled. We succeed in leaving our unique mark on Life, as we were intended.
I suppose I must also define intended, as that may be at the heart of the matter for some. As you all know, I am a follower of Jesus Christ, and the revelation of His Word couldn’t be clearer:
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
— Romans 8:28
…but I want to put my faith aside for a second, to make this conversation a bit more pragmatic. Let’s agree that there are a lot of different variables to life; a lot of possibilities for how our’s can unfold:
Some will get married, others won’t.
Some will have a house full of kids, others can’t.
Some will travel the world, others will never leave their town.
Some will live in a big home with multiple cars in the garage, while others will live in a modest studio apartment and ride the bus.
so on and so forth…
The only unifying and consistent thing—the thing we all get to do—is to live with purpose. It stands to reason, then, that purpose is the only thing that matters. If most of the things that the world defines as success are not guaranteed for all, then they can’t be the source of true joy.
Now, if we add some concept of a benevolent higher power, the case becomes even stronger. Even in the most abstract sense, intelligent design must assume intent. It’s hard to design something without an intent for its existence. Then, if we could agree (maybe we can’t, but I hope so) that this benevolent higher power intended to create some kind of collective harmony, while also maintaining strict uniqueness, we must conclude that even in the uniqueness, all can experience joy.
Some might say that my rationale is oversimplified, or Pollyanna-ish. I would agree with that. For me, a foundational assumption of joy is that it is not only possible, but by design—and that the underlying tenets of Life are love, goodness, and peace. I have no interest in a worldview devoid of that.
We could engage in a healthy discussion on the details, and perhaps we should, so that we can continue to unpack these concepts, and maybe find some common ground that transcends personal theologies, values, and perspectives. Until then, I will stand firm in the belief that the answer to the age-old question, “What is the meaning of life?” can be only one thing: to discover and embrace our purpose.
Agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments, or DM me on the Substack app.
Incredible article 👏🏼