W.I.N. Wednesday: The purpose of life is not to be happy.

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ahh, the ever elusive “happiness” so many people are seeking.

How often have you been told, “Do what makes you happy.”? Did it? For how long?

Some people are told money will make them happy, so they spend their lives chasing money and live a miserable existence.

Some people accumulate great wealth and are still unhappy.

Some people try to convince themselves that once they get that promotion or get a nicer car or a bigger house or get into the right college or university then they will be happy.

Some convince themselves that once they get to retirement age and don’t have to go to work anymore, then they will be happy only to discover they are no happier in retirement than they were before.

What if, instead of chasing happiness, we followed Emerson’s advice and sought to be useful, honorable, compassionate and to make a difference in a small part of the world and in the lives of others? What if we sought significance instead of success? What if we sought to make a positive impact in the world? What if we stopped worrying about who knows of us and sought to be worth knowing? What if we learned self-compassion as part of being compassionate? What if we learned to love ourselves for who we are instead of always seeking the approval of others? What if we allowed ourselves to be human, to be flawed, to screw up and make mistakes?

What’s Important Now? Reflect on the purpose of life for you, and live accordingly.

Take care.

Brian Willis

www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com. 

ONE QUESTION BRINGING FOCUS AND CLARITY IN THE CHAOS AND COMPLEXITY OF TODAY'S WORLD.

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