A lantern in fog—
Its light cuts through the grey veil,
Guiding the unseen.
It started with a question I hadn’t dared to ask myself. I was sitting by the ocean, watching the tide pull in and out with meticulous rhythm, as if the universe had its own heartbeat. “What am I really doing here?” It wasn’t the first time the thought had crept into my mind, but on that day, the waves made it unavoidable. The answer didn’t come immediately. It lingered in the salty air, hung there like a whisper, waiting for me to acknowledge it.
The Weight of Aimlessness
We’ve all felt it—the unsettling drift of a life without direction. Like a ship lost at sea, we might find ourselves moving but not toward anything meaningful. Without purpose, even success feels hollow, and the joys we encounter are fleeting. Purpose isn’t something you stumble upon; it’s something you cultivate, like a seed planted in rich soil. It takes time, attention, and belief to grow.
Having a purpose isn’t about grandeur or world-changing ambitions. It’s about alignment. It’s about waking up each day with a sense of clarity, knowing that what you do—even in the smallest of ways—matters. A higher purpose doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours.
A Light in the Fog
When you focus on a purpose greater than yourself, you become like a lantern in the fog. Your actions cut through uncertainty, offering not only yourself but also others a sense of direction. Purpose anchors you in a world that often feels chaotic and transient. It turns noise into melody, chaos into rhythm.
Life without a higher purpose can feel like sprinting on a treadmill. You expend all your energy and go nowhere. But with purpose, every step carries weight, every movement has momentum. Your purpose doesn’t have to be fixed; it can shift, evolve, and grow as you do. What matters is that it’s there, guiding you forward.
The Danger of Small Loops
When we don’t aim higher, we can get caught in what I call “small loops”—habits, routines, or goals that keep us busy but not fulfilled. Earning for the sake of spending. Working for the sake of working. Even our achievements can trap us if they’re not tied to something larger. The danger isn’t failure; it’s stagnation. Growth requires not just movement but direction.
How to Find Your Purpose
Purpose is less about discovery and more about creation. You don’t find it hidden in the corner of your mind; you build it through actions, reflections, and adjustments. Here are a few ways to start:
- Follow What Resonates: Pay attention to what moves you, what sparks curiosity or stirs your heart. These are often clues to your deeper purpose.
- Serve Others: Purpose often grows in the soil of service. How can what you do contribute to the lives of others? When you focus outward, your purpose gains dimension and depth.
- Accept Evolution: Purpose is not static. What matters deeply to you today may shift over time. Embrace this evolution as part of the process.
Purpose doesn’t need to be perfect or complete. It’s about the journey, the pursuit, the alignment. A river doesn’t doubt its flow; it simply moves toward the sea. A lantern doesn’t question the fog; it simply lights the path it can. Purpose is about taking the next right step, even if the destination is obscured.
As I left the ocean that day, the question lingered, not as an ache but as a quiet guide. I didn’t have the full answer, but I had the beginning of one. And perhaps that was enough. The tide, after all, doesn’t rush to meet the shore. It takes its time, knowing that purpose is found in the rhythm, not the race.
life 