I have always expressed an interest in philosophy. But lately, this interest has skyrocketed as I have frequently perused the philosophy section of my local bookstore. Recently, I became the proud owner of a book titled “Why Does the World Exist?” by Jim Holt. The author takes you on a journey through the world of existentialism, making you wonder at each turn of a page the reason for your own existence. As I was reading, I came across a sentence that fascinated me. The sentence reads: “Being without a cause was thus unthinkable to them.” This led me to the following questions: is it even possible to be without a cause? Or would that be classified as simply existing? And why is having a cause important?
First, I must clarify that I believe having a cause is synonymous to having a purpose. Without our purpose, getting up in the morning would be difficult. Oftentimes we find ourselves crediting our alarms for our ascent into our daily routines but, speaking without the consequences in mind, we could easily just stay in bed. Hence why is it that you choose to get up and make your coffee or tea? Well, that is your purpose. Your purpose drives you to work, school, or whatever other commitments you hold and fuels you throughout the day. It is the factor which guides all of your behavior. Thus I believe that life without a cause would have no meaning. It would be mere existence. But what is it about having a purpose that translates into us having meaning?
Well, simply-speaking, the purpose is the meaning and vice versa. Our purpose equates to the reason(s) why everything occurs. With our purpose, we find our reasons to be and do as we will. Thus having one attaches a meaning, or reason, to all that we say or do. This is why I believe it is impossible to be without a purpose. It is not because it is unthinkable to me; instead, it is because to be means to have reason and without a purpose we fail to have a reason. Even those who feel that they have no reason, indeed have one: to discover their purpose.
Yet, so often people walk through life feeling as if they have no purpose. This is the part where I believe the line is drawn between being and merely existing. When your life becomes a humdrum routine it is usually because you associate no meaning with what you are doing. The world is a web of connected actions; one action leading to another and so forth. So, if you are not finding meaning in one action then your next might as well not have reason either. This is why it is important to find your purpose. If your desire is to feel fulfilled, then it is crucial that you find the reason behind all of your actions. Then, and only then, your life will have meaning.
Therefore, I leave you with this: What is your purpose?
