Is There Such a Thing as Life Purpose?
Exploring the Letter P in the MPA Acronym
Spiritual health is a state of inner well-being that arises from a sense of purpose connected to something greater than oneself, and the ability to find meaning in life’s experiences.
Introduction
Today we are discussing letter P in the acronym MPA. P stands for “purpose of life.” MPA is the three-letter acronym we’ve been exploring in our two recently published essays. In these essays we looked at the letter M that stands for “meaning making,” and the letter A that stands for “awareness of wellbeing.
Life Purpose…?
Have you ever asked: What is the purpose of my life? I imagine you’ve mulled over this question at one time or another, right? Asking about life’s purpose is unique to the human species.
Is there any animal that ponders a question about their existence? To date, scientists conclude animals lack the cognitive ability to ask an abstract question like: What’s my purpose for being on this planet, anyway? However, there is no question animals exist on earth for a purpose such as survival, reproduction of the species, and impacting the natural environment. What about animals and the idea of love?
Different branches of science (evolutionary biology, neuroscience, psychology) engage in on-going debate about whether or not animals exhibit love comparable to human love. There is no “scientific proof” one way or the other about such matters, and it comes down to one’s subjective view of life and the universe. To properly direct our lives, each of us needs to get a handle on our sense of life purpose.
The god Question and Life Purpose
Is there a transcendent or divine will humans are designed to connect with, or is the universe a meaningless, incomprehensible reality where we carve out our own interpretations about what matters in life and how to live? Must we answer to anyone or anything other than our own carefully crafted narrative about what is real, right or wrong, or what matters in life?
Millions of individuals create a sense of purpose without reference to a divine will, instead understanding their purpose through lived experience and making contributions to better society. There is no inherent need to “believe in god,” an idea lacking any credible evidence, so say the agnostics and atheists. On the other hand, millions claim it is impossible to understand one’s life purpose without believing in an all-powerful deity in charge of the world and who directs our lives.
Getting Clear About Life Purpose
The first essay published in Spiritual Health Magazine dealt with how, at the age of seventeen, I experienced for the first time a desire to understand my life purpose:
The untimely death of my Uncle Ancel at just fifty-six years old confused me, especially the way he had to suffer for a year with that vicious and devilish cancer. Why am I on this earth, anyway? What is the purpose of my life? Is there a spiritual world people live in after they die? These were the questions constantly buzzing in my head as a seventeen-year-old preparing to start his senior year in high school.
Regardless of where you are at about your sense of life purpose, it’s well worth taking time to reflect on this area of your life. Why? Lacking a clear sense of life purpose can negatively affect your emotions, physical health, mental health, and social relationships. Trying to live without a clear sense of life purpose is like navigating a boat without a rudder—shifting aimlessly, at the mercy of the wind and water.
Self-reflective Activity
If you want greater clarity about your purpose for life, here are a few suggestions to consider moving forward:
1. Check out what world religious traditions say about life purpose. Start with Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Look for major themes or threads interwoven in these traditions and consider how such themes might inform your sense of life purpose.
2. Reflect on how your current view(s) on life purpose are shaped by prior experiences and learning. Consider whether or not those influences have been helpful or detrimental to you.
3. Make a commitment to invest time and energy to focus on this area of your life.
4. Talk with trusted friends to see how they approach this topic.
5. Begin compiling in your writing journal a working list of benefits and rewards associated with a healthy sense of life purpose.
Conclusion
The benefits and rewards to possessing a clear sense of life purpose and acting on it are multifaceted. Immediately start working on this component of the MPA acronym and look forward to a richer, more rewarding life.
Don’t hurry the process or judge yourself for not instantly coming up with satisfactory answers to this question. Take your time and enjoy the process!
We’ve concluded exploring the MPA acronym as a way to help get started with a spiritual health program. The three components represented by this acronym, meaning making, purpose of life, and awareness of overall wellbeing, are the grounding you need to begin to pay more attention to nurturing your spiritual health.
Let me know how you feel and what you think about this approach to spiritual health. I look forward to hearing back from you with suggestions, expanded ideas, critiques, etc.
Until next time—here’s to your spiritual health!