You know what to believe and you have confidence in who you are. And a sense of purpose and direction mean something to you because you have a distinct set of goals and objectives. I mean, you want to live the life that matters, you want to be meaningful, successful, fulfilling, and empowering. The trick is knowing how to focus your life on that. Not coincidentally, I think that is where the majority of the mood disorders are coming from. Feeling as though it's all just a lot of random good luck or bad luck that's throwing you this loop, turning you off to the fact that you have any real control over your life.
A productive life, however, is one that serves a purpose. By this I don't simply mean we should value a good paycheck, or have fun doing it - a good paycheck alone is not the chief joy of life. It takes a satisfying life to get to that high, and for us to believe that the lives we lead matter. I love to take part in the weekend fishing trips, I love to ride my bicycle to work, I love to work on my tan, I love to travel, to contribute to my community, to love a plant or three etc.
Even more important, however, is the appreciation of what makes things worthwhile, good, and valuable. Why do people pursue careers in research? Why do they pour their lives into raising and shaping the world's best minds? Because that's what it's all about. That's what makes you an adult. What about seeing you do a good thing for the community? Be that good, and you'll be duly recognized for it.
When I'm driven by a passion for a thing, I can always turn to that thing and use it to define my life. That passion often looks a lot like wisdom, clarity, purpose and a lot of knowledge. But that often isn't what drives people to pursue the lofty goals that many of us settle for. Most people don't have the time, willingness and determination to pursue something that is not meaningful and offers them nothing that will improve their lives.
We share this purposeful, deep-rooted sense of meaning in every moment we wake up. Every time we open our eyes, every time we hear the word "muggle" and share our lives with the world, every time we say a pithy or poignant parting phrase. We do not just feel that we have our lives together. We see it. And it is not just our lives together, but the world as well.
We live in a very dark time in our history. People are finding meaning in new and exciting ways, in ways they have never imagined before. They are discovering their inner guidance and coherence in a very free world. They are making meaning, in every sense of the word, their own, as they explore their unique selves and their lives Being one of those who is finding meaning is scary. It is a journey fraught with fear, anger and despair, often alone, because once one knows they have found a truth, it is very difficult to find love and wisdom
Now you might not know how to go about finding meaning, but the happiness of knowing it's there isn't in question. It's possible. This year, you can start somewhere. Be good and genuine to yourself, to those you love and to yourself. Find purpose. Be sure your ambitions are genuine. Find solace. Embrace your mistakes and weaknesses, and learn to be brave in the knowledge that you have a great life ahead of you.