Purpose is the New Happiness
How I became spiritually rich in an unorthodox way
Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a chemical reaction that produces Water and Sodium acetate — these are called Primary products.
But the reaction also produces a side-product — carbon dioxide (CO2).
I’m talking about a chemical reaction because the mistake I made was trying to create Happiness as the primary product of my actions.
Until I realised I couldn’t just will myself to be happier.
Happiness isn’t the primary product you get when you mix baking soda and vinegar — it’s the carbon dioxide.
Happiness is the byproduct of living a meaningful and purposeful life.
And why is purpose important?
Purpose makes me feel like I matter, and like the world is a better place with me here — something I never felt in the past pursuing happiness.
Creating purpose starts with accepting who you are — and your role in the world — and doubling down on that.
And this story might help illustrate why.
The Stonecutter
There was once a stonecutter who was unhappy with his position in life.
One day, he passed a wealthy merchant’s house and became envious. “I wish I were a merchant,” he thought, and magically, he became one.
As a merchant, he was happier until he saw a powerful governor. “I wish I were a governor,” he thought, and magically, he became one.
One day, the sun was blazing, and he felt its power. “I wish I were the sun,” he thought, and he became the sun.
He was happy until a cloud blocked his rays. “I wish I were a cloud,” he thought, and he became a cloud.
He enjoyed being a cloud until he felt a powerful wind move him. “I wish I were the wind,” he thought, and he became the wind.
The wind blew and blew until it encountered a mountain. “I wish I were a mountain,” he thought, and he became a mountain.
As a mountain, he stood strong until he felt something chipping away at his base. He looked down and saw a stonecutter. “I wish I were a stonecutter,” he thought, and magically, he became one again, finally realising the value and importance of his original position.
How to cultivate purpose
Let’s start with what not to do.
Do not try to be something else.
As the stonecutter wished himself into all different things, is the same we chase things we believe will lead to happiness.
A short basketball player sees a tall player and thinks that the sport would be so much easier if he could just grow a few inches.
If only I was tall! — he cries out.
But he shouldn’t wish to be taller — he should focus on impacting the game using what he has: quickness, and a low centre of gravity.
Instead of living in resistance to it, he should double down on what he does have.
Because this is the hand you’re dealt — a unique hand with pros and cons.
Creating purpose is finding a way to maximise your pros and share that message with the world.
Allen Iverson was an NBA player who played through the 90s and 00s.
He is far from the best player to ever grace the court, but he’s often referred to as:
The most influential player ever.
Why?
Because there are few things more powerful than the force of someone being authentically themselves.
Allen Iverson looked like a regular kid — he dressed like he was headed to the mall with his friends. He had cornrows and swag. He played to his strengths. He brought the street ball style that kids were familiar with to the professional level.
His impact was so large because all the kids saw themselves in Allen Iverson.
They can’t relate to 6'9 130kg LeBron James — but a 6-foot guy who weighs 75kg?
That could be me!
Iverson inspired millions — Iverson had purpose and meaning beyond the sport, beyond money and even beyond happiness.
That’s what living your life with purpose can do — it can change lives.
But imagine if he’d made the same mistake as the Stonecutter.
Imagine if he’d tried to be something else, play like someone else and look like someone else.
He would’ve been just another person who wanted to make the NBA. And more importantly, he wouldn’t have inspired millions of children around the world to be themselves.
Please don’t underestimate the impact a single person can have on the world just by being authentic — the impact that you can have on the world.
Your character is your purpose
All this is to say that your character is your purpose.
Behaving in line with your soul and pursuing your curiosities is how you’ll create:
a life you excel in
a life you’re proud of
a life that inspires others
For me, I can’t shut up about this self-improvement stuff. I can’t shut up about wanting to show people the value in being authentic, in pursuing their unique purposes.
So here I am — writing to interesting people like yourself who want to learn about it.
I want to be the Allen Iverson of self-improvement writing.
Not the biggest, not the fastest, not the strongest — the one who shares their own unique message in their own unique way.
So what’s the hand you’ve been dealt? What are the pros and cons of that hand?
How can you maximise the pros?
How can you be most authentic to yourself?
What comes naturally — what’s a message you want to be the vessel for?
Be the Allen Iverson of that message. That’s your due diligence. I’d argue that’s what you’re put on this earth for!
Life is pitching you a baseball of purpose — and if you don’t swing at it…
Strike 1.
Strike 2.
Strike 3 — you’re out — and your life is boring and meaningless.
Is that what you want?
Or will you crank that ball into the grandstands? Will you seize the opportunity you’ve been given, and the gifts you’ve been blessed with and share a message you believe in?
Only once you’ve passed through the door of purpose can you reach the door of happiness.
Sincerely,
eren
If you’ve made it this far — thank you so much and I hope you found it valuable.
Leave a comment saying what your message is. Will you share it? How will you share it? I can’t wait to hear from you and discuss.
And if you want to share it through the medium of writing, I have a video on my website on how I sit down to write these articles — it’s free :)
I’ve been trying to find my purpose for a while now , thanks 🙏
I enjoyed this one especially the story.