What is my true purpose in life?

Context: There is no one else on earth who is exactly like me.  I am a unique person. I live in a universe that is larger than I can imagine. It includes far more information than I can ever hope to comprehend. The only way I have of knowing anything is through empirical experience or through the verbal reports of experiences of other people. Life for all living things is either growing or dying. Growth seems to be enhanced by acts of kindness and compassion. In order to survive and grow I need sufficient financial income to pay bills and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Caring for others and being appreciated is important to me. I would like for my life to make a positive difference for others, especially my children.

Insight: For most of my life I felt as though I have just not been able to figure out why I am here.  What is my purpose and how do I find it?  That is the question I have spent a good bit of my life pondering, but never arriving at a satisfactory answer.  But, recently I ran across a philsopher online, Steve Pavilina, who enlightened me about this issue. According to Steve, I may or may not have been created for a specific purpose, but I have the freedom to decide for myself what my purpose in life is. 

My Purpose in Life: The purpose I choose for my life is to be the best me I can be, to always seek to know and understand what is true, to live my life with integrity and work daily for justice, to care deeply for my family and the world, and to generate sufficient financial income to live a healthy and happy life.

God is not mentioned in this purpose statement because I have no way of verifying his/her presence in the universe. As an act of faith, my purpose includes an invitation to God to be present in my journey as I seek to know and understand what is true. I cherish the words of Micah 6:8,   He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Thanks, Steve.  Your insight is quite liberating.

 

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