Pursuing Happiness? Defining Purpose? Do They Contradict?
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In order to pursue one's happinessn one earlier post on your responsibility, I mentioned that one should uptake full responsibility for one’s future, desires and needs and not live the script written by others. In a way, some interpreted it as being “selfish”.
Yet in another article post to help you identify your purpose in life, I ask of you to think of a worthy purpose which will enable you to contribute, give and share whatever you can with your community. To others, they see it as a way of “putting yourself in front of others”.
Now for some clarification. To live your own script, to live the life you desire, get the things you want and obtain the things you need is NOT being selfish.
“Believe me, I know what’s best for you. I just want to protect you. I won’t want to bring any harm to you, will I?” Does that sound familiar? Probably they really mean what they say. However, one thing for sure, they’re trying to control you.
To be responsible for your life is to break free of constantly having to seek approval, recognition and acknowledgments in everything you do. That is a signal of low self esteem.
In fact, I strongly believe that not living the life you desire or not becoming the person you are destined to be due to fear, approval seeking is the real, real selfish of you.
While we are focusing on fear, worry, or hate, it is not possible for us to be experiencing happiness, enthusiasm or love.
~~ Bo Bennett ~~
By not being the person you’re destined to be, you are obviously not contributing the amount you should to your community, to the society and obviously not to the world, the Universe.
You’re being selfish for staying in your comfort zone unwillingly to breakout of it. You’re being selfish for not willing to recognize your own uniqueness and the individualism in you. You’re being selfish to your children and the people around you as you’re not setting up the correct example for them to follow.
So what who is being “selfish” here? Someone who is unwillingly to uptake the responsibility given to him or her? Or someone who is willingly to recognize the fact that by being responsible for his or her life, s/he can start making huge contribution to the society?
I think the answer is obvious, isn’t it? So now the question is who do you want to be? Whose responsibility are you going to uptake? Your own or the responsibilities of others?
As for the next post, I suggest stating a purpose that state what types are contributions you can make to the world. It is not a must-have, just a good-to-have.
“People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.”
~~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr. ~~
Whichever the case, stating the types of contributions you’ll make doesn’t necessary mean that you’ll need to put others in front of yourself.
It just symbolizes that you’re willingly to make the sort of contribution or giving in circumstances that allow you to.
Also, those contributions should be something you enjoys and is excited about. If so, even if it means having to spend some of your valuable time, energy and effort to make the contribution, I believe you won’t find it a chore to do so, not say sacrificing anything.
“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”
~~ Oscar Wilde ~~
I know such issues can be very debatable at times. I just hope to bring to you that it is really not selfish to live your life you desire. Personally, I really encourage you to take the step out to start living a life you can truly call your own. A life you know you’ll enjoy and be excited about.
You only have this lifetime to make a difference to the world. You wouldn’t want to miss this chance, would you?
Zach Kong is the facilitator of a personal development site which focus on building a community to support, inspire and motivate other to succeed.
For more information click on: http://www.ZachKong.com
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