Do you ever ask yourself, “Why am I here?” Not as in, “Why do I exist?” But rather do you wonder, “Why am I in this family?” Or, “Why has fate brought me to live in this town?” Or perhaps, “Why have circumstances resulted in my having this job?” You may wonder, how can I possibly create a meaningful life in this place?
If you have struggled with these questions, you are not alone. We all, at times, have wondered why we are here, in this specific place, with these certain people. The answer to these questions lies in this one simple idea:
You are here to enrich your small part of the world.
You are here because someone in your small part of the world needs you. That person may need your guidance, your kindness or your encouragement. That person may be someone in your family or with whom you work. It may be your neighbor. It may be an animal in need.
So, the key to life is not to ask yourself, “Why am I here?” Instead, you want to ask yourself, “Who do I need to serve here?” Or, “How can I improve this tiny patch of earth?”
Below are some ways to create a meaningful life from where you are today by making your small part of the world just a little bit better.
Consider Your Family and Friends When Creating a Meaningful Life
There are 7.5 billion people in the world. Nevertheless, the world can be a pretty lonely place for many. When trying to create meaning in your life, look around at the people closest to you. Is there someone who needs your support right now?
Maybe you have a family member who is going through a divorce, or a friend who lost their job. Those can be discouraging and lonely experiences. Be an encourager to that person. Offer help. And most importantly, instead of judging that person when they are down, offer him or her hope that things will get better.
Recognize that you are where you are today because you have something to offer someone. You are in a unique position to be able to make a positive difference to another human being within your orbit. Don’t let that opportunity pass you by.
For example, over the years, I’ve been a listening ear to people who were struggling in their marriages, and to those who were frustrated with raising their children. And I’ve counseled people who were just plain discouraged with life. Each time I did that, my life suddenly made a lot of sense. I thought to myself, “OK. This is why I am here, at this moment in time. I am here to help that person.”
So, keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to help others. Don’t underestimate your ability to positively change another person’s life. Realize that you may very well be where you are at this moment because someone in your vicinity – perhaps a friend or family member – needs you.
Improve the World Through Your Job
We’ve all had jobs that seemed like a disaster. And when you are in a job like that, it can feel like you are spending 8 hours a day doing nothing more than earning a paycheck. But the reality is that even in a terrible job, you can make a difference.
Realize that your co-workers are people in need of your friendship and encouragement. They may feel uninspired by their jobs as well. But realize that by creating a collegial work environment, you can be a blessing to others and turn a humdrum workplace into a dream workplace.
For example, my mother worked for many years in a university library. The work itself was fairly dry. However, she and her co-workers were more than colleagues. They were like family members to one another. And as a result, the library was a joyful place for her to be each day for over 20 years.
In addition, you can be a blessing to the people who you serve in your job. We all know how wonderful it is to be assisted by someone who is cheerful and professional. Realize that a kind smile can turn around the day of a patron who is feeling down.
So, know that your job is more than the task that you are performing. The actual tasks you perform are just a small part of your job. What is even more important is how you relate to other people at your job, whether they be your colleagues or your patrons.
Your job can be imbued with meaning if you approach it correctly. Use your workplace as an opportunity to encourage others, and to make the lives of others just that little bit better.
Beautify Your Home and Community
A number of years ago, I was driving around Vancouver Island, which is a stunning island in British Columbia. While driving through the interior, every so often, I would pass by a house which had garbage outside. In the yards were broken strollers, beat-up furniture, and inoperable cars. I was dumbfounded that in the midst of all that natural beauty, people would take away from that beauty by having piles of junk in their yards.
Realize that no place or home is naturally filthy or decrepit. Rather, we, as human beings, make things filthy and decrepit. It’s a choice. Let’s face it. Every major city, from New York City to Chicago to Bangkok could be immaculate and stunning if the people who lived there simply chose to make it so.
So, if you are struggling to find purpose and meaning, look around. Maybe your purpose is to make your home or neighborhood a little bit nicer. Look for something that needs beautifying, and make it lovely.
You can start small. Make your bedroom a tidy, clean serene place in your home. Then expand from there, improving your house and yard. You eventually might spearhead beautification projects in your community. You can create meaning in your life by making your small part of the world as beautiful as possible for both yourself and others.
So, don’t ever feel like you are in the wrong place. You aren’t! You can create a meaningful life from wherever you are today. Look for opportunities to improve your small patch of the earth. You will be amazed by the difference that you can make, and how much joy you can derive from doing so.
(To read about your purpose for today, click here.)
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