The Search for Purpose and The Meaning of Life

What is the meaning of life?? – That age-old stumper is slowly becoming eclipsed by a newer, more personal puzzle.

“What is my purpose in life?”

If you’re like most people, you’ve spent a bit of time pondering one or both.  

I know I have.

They’re big questions – undeniably important.

Or are they?

My favorite Monty Python flick above all has always been The Meaning of Life (sorry, Holy Grail devotees). And it’s not because of the question it poses. I’ve seen it dozens of times because it doubles me over with side-splitting belly laughs. 

I think that’s why such a ridiculously silly and perverse film has stuck with me for all these years.

Side-splitting belly laughs make me feel fully alive.

In a culture where the search for purpose and meaning leaves it's evidence virtually everywhere, perhaps the lesson to be learned is that the search itself may be distracting us from achieving it.

Perhaps – stay with me here – perhaps the meaning of life is… 

…living.

Maybe it’s as simple as that: laughing, and crying, and helping, and loving, and working, and eating, and fighting, and…

Think about the moments in your life when you felt FULLY ALIVE.

I’ll bet my hat that you were totally engaged, body, mind, and spirit, in what was right in front of you:

  • The sun on your face.

  • That twinkle of love in the eyes of someone who is seeing you.

  • The wind in your hair.

  • Singing at the top of your lungs with the radio blasting.

  • The sound of the forest.

  • That welling of pride that comes from a job well done.

  • Smelling the tangy ocean air.

  • The fire in your belly when you’re fighting for something you believe in.

  • A meal with people you love.

  • Sending a thank you note.

I could go on and on, but you have your own list.

This Week: 
Dive into Purpose and Meaning in the Present

Try this…

  1. List the moments in life when YOU’VE FELT FULLY ALIVE.

  2. Upon waking each day this week (before you even open your eyes) set the intention of experiencing some FULLY ALIVE moments that day.

    Imagine all the different ways that may occur.

  3. Before you go to bed each night this week, add at least one FULLY ALIVE moment to your list.

I’d love to see you! Post a selfie holding your list to our Facebook group with the hashtag #reclaimingmuchness. (Not in the group, click here to join in!)

Wendy Perrottilife, purpose, meaning, mindfulness, mindful, fully alive, reclaiming muchness, present moment, moment, awarenessComment