As you may know by now, I love tea, and I often appreciate the sayings that I receive from them. I also deeply value the guidance and teaching that tea provides when I sit with it in formal ceremony. For example, the following two quotes highlight the key focuses that are frequently of most importance. “The purpose of life is to know yourself, love yourself, trust yourself, and be yourself.” “May you create peaceful harmony as your life’s purpose.”
How tuned in to your purpose are you? Are you living your best life for the best reasons? Do you value your time, energy, and effort, or are you drifting along aimlessly? Purpose points towards proper productivity. With a clearer path persistently powering your lane forward along its best trajectory, you will patiently progress toward peaceful perfection.
[The person] who has a why in life can tolerate almost any how.
-Friedrich Nietzsche
How does your past impact you? Does it plague you, or does it prod you toward proof? Are you still holding onto events as a victim, or are you embracing the struggles and sufferings to catalyze and drive meaningful change and improvement? I used to carry around and hold onto too much of my past out of spite, shame, and guilt. Now, I am slowly getting better at forgiving both myself and others. Freeing up those spaces and releasing that baggage helps me be more mindfully present and purposeful with next steps. Those past problems no longer drown me; instead, they fire up a keen passion.
There are two kinds of guilt: the kind that drowns you until you’re useless, and the kind that fires your soul to purpose.
-Sabaa Tahir
I believe we each have a primary, personalized purpose for why we are here right now. None of us are here by accident or happenstance. You may think that way, but I do not agree with or believe in such an approach or mindset. Are you willing to uncover and pursue your plan, or do you plan on placating yourself with paltry pleasantries? Piece together your purpose please. We can all establish collectively beneficial lives together.
The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
-Robert Byrne
Why do you think burnout is so prevalent? We are disconnected from our true or best purpose. A strong sense of purpose is one of the key factors that determines our state of flourishing. Without an authentic and heartfelt purpose, we will simply go through the motions without a strong sense of determination and self-worth. Is that a worthy or worthwhile way to live? I do not think so. I think it is essential to appreciate being here and knowing why in order to do the best with what we have for as long as we can.
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.
-Mark Twain
How can you be a paragon, not a prima donna? What will make you into a paladin or a philanthropist and not a photocopy or a phony? How do you develop and improve your personal philosophy, projecting your purpose into all projects? Promote pacifistic pursuits to prompt people to approach their primary purpose. We can all give gifts to one another.
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
-Pablo Picasso
Happiness is a passing emotion. It will come and go throughout our lives. Our purposes should permanently point our compasses towards the best path that we can each commit to and complete. I care more about living and loving well and fully than any luxuries and legacies. If others will live and love better as a result of what I do, then it will be further impactful. Regardless, though, I can confidently say that I am happy with who I am now and how I live, and I love patiently pursuing the present power from my prime purpose.
The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do I have it all figured out? No. Will I ever? Probably not, but I continue to see what my best next step is in most moments, and those glimpses and actions align purposefully. Perhaps you are already on a similar path. If not, I hope you begin to ponder upon it.
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.