“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.” Thomas Carlyle
To live a life on purpose is the highest calling to which a man can aspire. Without a clear sense of purpose men will go to and fro on the earth and up and down in it in a desperate search for meaning. The actualization of true purpose gives rise to an awareness of meaning.
Discovering that purpose, truth be told, can be quite a challenge in a world full of distraction. Having been born into a relatively “ideal” situation, I personally found myself pulled this way and that by well-entrenched and powerful forces while growing up. A young, bright white anglo-saxon protestant is expected to follow in the footsteps of those who came before him, but the idea that my life had to be about finding a good job, living in a nice house and dying with the most toys never fully captured my attention. I was always drawn, by a deep and indefinable compulsion, to something more.
In my search for purpose I came to realize that you can tell a lot about a man by the manner in which he presses against the limitations of his present capabilities. Some turn away as soon as they sense the need for exertion, others press lightly and precious few press on with all their might. It also became obvious over time that people often define themselves more by what they can’t do than what they can. Such people develop the habit of shrinking from the challenges in their lives – physical, mental and spiritual – and the net result of such living is as Thoreau put it so well, a life of “quiet desperation.”
The fact that you are still reading tells me that you are interested in something more, say, your higher purpose. You may not as of yet have defined this purpose, but the fact that you are still asking means that the door which leads to that purpose is still open to you and the light that leads the way has not yet gone out. This is a good thing!
You may feel frustrated, tired and lonely, but take heart, you are on the right track. You do have a purpose and it is unique to you. I daresay that your purpose cannot be found in a book or outer activity, it is something that unfolds from the inside outward. It is made known to you as you begin to live your life according to it.
The best way I know to prime this pump is by serving others. Give freely and don’t be concerned about what comes back, be it appreciation, recompense, love, ingratitude or disdain. If you give freely, you’ve done your part and you’ve set the wheels in motion for a deeper awareness of your true purpose. There will be obstacles and yes there will be feelings of discouragement, if not futility, but press on and you will break through. Press on and your purpose will being to take form in and through you. Press on and your sense of purpose will catalyze a revitalizing and rewarding sense of meaning!
You are a strong soul. Why settle for anything less?
Gregory Hake 
Such a simple key “to serve others” in knowing the strength of our soul in living.
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I have never wanted to settle for anything less than what you are describing and “press on” is probably the best advice that you could receive for those who feel the same way!
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You have hit the nail on the head Gregg on discovering the major factor in driving one’s life to be of real meaning. Once I discovered my real purpose in life it changed everything, especially in the area of giving it more meaning. And I must say that once I discovered my true purpose in life, that I not only became genuinely happy but more valuable to others as well. Interesting how that happens isn’t it!
Since that time, I have encouraged those who I have had the privilege of working with to focus more on discovering their true purpose than on any other aspect of their development. And I have noticed that those who have paid attention to that suggestion are today far more balanced and generative in their lives than those who ignored that suggestion.
One last thought – there is a significant difference between one’s purpose and one’s goals. I personally am a believer in having both but have discovered that true purpose never leaves me while goals come and go.
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Your starting point to discover purpose, serving others, is one of those things that seem to open up portals of blessing that aren’t easily quantified. We weren’t designed to be a commodity for the barter system. Our design is so fearfully unique that even the great scientists have to, at certain points say , we don’t know why or how some things occur. Even the most narrow and constricted of medical disciplines will agree that our attitude can be the difference in getting better. Our purpose was not deliberately hidden from us, we wandered away and we can return to it.
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I sit this morning (with computer on lap) under a canopy of green, a cool breeze rustles the leaves above me, the birds are greeting the day with robust singing…a beautiful morning. Thank you Gregg for your words of encouragement today, in a world that appears to constantly conspire to prevent one from finding ones higher purpose, perseverance is definitely a much needed quality. I think that the overcoming of obstacles is actually a part of the process; it certainly gives one opportunity to declare on a daily basis, who we serve. I rest in the knowing that “God is the ruler yet” and that he has a plan, and that as I do all that I possibly can with what is given to me to handle, that plan will become increasingly evident. True Purpose, I believe is been on hand to accommodate that plan. I am a strong soul; He endowed me with the strength to overcome.
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