A Life with Purpose

According to The World Factbook and the World Health Organization (WHO), today’s lifespan is approximately 73 years or 26,645 days. How many of these days we still have left, nobody can tell.  Don't you think it would be a wise use of  some of the remaining time, to set aside few moments to reflect upon your Purpose in Life? The search for purpose in Life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That is because we typically begin at the wrong starting point – ourselves.  We ask self-centered questions such as: Who am I, what makes me happy, what are my goals, how can I become successful? But focusing on ourselves will at best reveal desires that bring temporary pleasures and feelings of accomplishment. Contrary to what many popular books, movies and seminars tell you, you will not discover your life’s meaning by looking within yourself. You probably have already tried that. You didn't create yourself, so there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for. You could try asking your parents this question but most likely they would not have an answer. If you were presented with some kind of machine that you had never heard or seen it before, you would not know for what it was created or how to use. Only the creator of this machine would be able to explain its purpose and how to make the best use of it. And, even after detailed instructions we still would not be able to make the best of it, as time for preparation and practice is required. It is however, within ourselves that the journey begins. Dr. Bernie Siegel (Born: October 14, 1932, Brooklyn, New York City, NY) found he could predict which of his cancer patients would go into remission by asking, “Do you want to live to be one hundred?”. Those with a deep sense of Life Purpose answered yes and were the ones most likely to survive. Such Purpose often will manifest in form of HOPE, which is the belief that circumstances will get better. It's not a wish for things to get better. It's the actual belief; the knowledge that things will get better, no matter how big or small. It is the steadfast determination of the cancer patient who fights, believing that eventually a cure will come.  It’s the man who has lost his job, has a family to support and knows that new employment is just around the corner as long as he keeps looking. If you have felt hopeless, hold on! Wonderful changes are going to happen in your Life as you begin to live it with a Purpose. Jales A. De Mello Aleph Group Inc.