The most effective way I know to Begin with the End in Mind is to develop a personal mission statement or philosophy or creed.
-Stephen R. Covey

Why is it important to Begin with the End in Mind? Let’s face it—because there is an End. It is how this world functions. You have been inexorably approaching the moment of your death since you were born.

Mr. Covey gave a few thousand words to explain why you should keep the End in your mind. I would have to quote him extensively to explain it as well as he did, however, Google doesn’t like quoting.

In short, if you won’t live true to your values, at the end of your life you could discover that you lived in vain. It’s quite probable in fact. It’s like travelling a really long distance without a map or GPS. Unless you are a great traveler you are destined to get lost. And I’m talking about the very long distance now, the distance of decades, of your lifespan.

Counter-arguments

Well, there are some who claim that the existence of the human race is a cosmic joke and we all live in vain. I think we all accept this point of view to some degree. Think of it; how many people do you know who will answer clearly, quickly and without much doubt the question: what’s your purpose in life? How many, on the other hand, live just to get by, to do the minimum their employer demands from them and then enjoy food, sex, stimulants, video games or TV excessively?
If you don’t actively pursue your destiny, you naturally tend towards the opposite. You live life with no final destination.
Hey, wake up! You know very well yourself that there will be some final destination anyway! Why not change the direction today?

Comparison

I have discovered my purpose in life: to expand beyond myself and to show others they can do it too.
I tasted the aimless life. It’s tasteless. It gives you a lot of excuses, ready solutions and reasons to waste your life on trivia. Ultimately, if your life has no meaning then you are as good as dead. If your existence makes no difference, then why exist?

When I studied at university I met one guy who led such a purposeless life. He drank a lot. He spent most of his money on prostitutes. He did only what was necessary to get by. He always cheated with sick leave and he was taking his exams 6 months after the deadline. And he always got a scholarship, because he was very bright. But he was also miserable.

Now it’s your turn. Think about someone you know who believes that life has no purpose and is happy simultaneously. Quite a mental exercise, isn’t it?

And I taste the purposeful life now. The difference is indescribable.
Each of my actions has a meaning. Each of my experiences is a lesson I need. Each minute is invested, not spent. The quality of my life has increased by an order of magnitude.
I feel more and deeper. I do more and better. I learn more and faster. I fail more often and thrive.
Words are just too dull to express this difference. Talking to the no-purpose philosophy believers I feel like describing colors to the blind.

Check it out

Do you really want your life to be just producing two swimming pools of saliva or eating 60,000 pounds of food?
Don’t take the ‘there is no meaning, there is no sense’ propaganda without a pinch of salt. First try both sides of the equation; try to live with purpose for some time and decide what’s better for you. Don’t take the word of the skeptics; don’t take my word. Taste it yourself. Experience it yourself.
What have you got to lose?

I’ve been there; I’ve done that. I tell you—there is no comparison between those lifestyles. Purposeful life wins hands down.

All those philosophies which say that humans are just tiny, tiny pawns on the universe chessboard bring nothing of value to humankind. They have made you powerless; they equate your fate with the fate of animals. It’s true that you can’t influence the movements of the planets or the work of the sun.

But you have free will. You have a working mind and imagination—and the power over a single entity in the universe.

You.

Take that responsibility. Seek your purpose and then live it.


Did you like this post? Check out Your life has a meaning p. I

Your Life Has a Meaning p. II

7 thoughts on “Your Life Has a Meaning p. II

  • March 23, 2014 at 9:42 pm
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    Hey Michal!

    “I tasted the aimless life. It’s tasteless. It gives you a lot of excuses, ready solutions and reasons to waste your life on trivia.”
    — Yeah. That sums it up. I agree.

    “Ultimately, if your life has no meaning then you are as good as dead. If your existence makes no difference, then why exist?”
    — I think Arthur Schopenhaur’s “will to live” is a decent explanation for this.

    Reply
    • March 24, 2014 at 8:19 am
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      Hey, man you are merciless. You gave me no space for discussion. You summed it up perfectly 😉

      Reply
  • March 24, 2014 at 6:24 pm
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    Good post, Michal. I really pity those who have no desire in discovering their purpose in life. Those that are just getting by and hiding in their comfort zones, not daring to risk putting themselves out there to do something great. And some people are even intimidated by you when you talk so “serious”. Well, this is life man. If you don’t see your life as serious business, than life will see you as a joke.

    Reply
    • March 25, 2014 at 12:11 pm
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      “Pity”, that’s an appropriate word. I should have used it in this post.
      Just “some people”? Jeremy you have a good company out there! Virtually everyone is intimidated 😉

      Reply
      • March 25, 2014 at 4:12 pm
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        Well. I guess everyone is intimidated to a certain extent. But we should embrace it and not shy away from it.

        Reply
  • April 6, 2014 at 1:50 pm
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    Hi Michal,

    ” If your existence makes no difference, then why exist?”.

    This is very true. But… I do believe everyone has a purpose and the people who live a pointless existence, remind the rest of us, not to. So, I’m tolerant of these types. But wish we could limit the amount of them I guess.

    Naomi

    Reply
    • April 7, 2014 at 7:47 pm
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      I’m very tolerant, too. All in all I lived quite an aimless life for 33 years. Those words are for anyone who reads them to make him think.

      Reply

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