A Purposeful life is a well lived life. And when confronted with the question – “What’s the Purpose of your life?” we often don’t have a clear answer. Only when we understand the meaning and importance of purpose will we be clear.

Purpose is finding meaning in our actions. A story I heard as a student helped me understand this. A man saw three men breaking stones. He asked the first man what he was doing. The man replied with irritation that he was breaking stones. He asked the second man who also said unhappily that in the heat he was breaking stones. The third man was singing and on being asked said – you see that hospital coming up across the road – I am breaking stones to help build that hospital. He had found a Purpose.

Everyone goes through tough times and has challenges. Having a purpose keeps us inspired, focussed and dedicated. Hardships become small when we have a large purpose.

There are times we want to stop and give up. But when we see the difference we can make and visualise in our mind what we are trying to achieve, we find the energy to keep going. Purpose builds our inner spirit and stamina.

Purpose gives us the ability to impact the lives of others and create something powerful. But if we limit our purpose just to our own limited individual happiness, we have lost something precious.

Another story that has stayed with me was about Emperor Akbar and Tansen, the best singer in the land. Wanting to hear Tansen’s teacher sing, Akbar asked to be taken to his house. On hearing Tansen’s teacher, Akbar was mesmerised. On the way back he said to Tansen – “You are the best singer in my court, why does your teacher sing better than you ?”. Tansen replied, “the answer is very simple Jahanpanah. I sing for you, he sings for the Lord”.

Higher the purpose, greater the impact.

When we live purposefully, every action is soaked with the charged dynamism of inspiration, enthusiasm and energy. Whether it be taking care of a family, caring for the sick, teaching children, managing a business or running the country, having a purpose beyond our limited ego unleashes a potential we never knew we had.

This life is a gift. We were not born at random. We were born for a Purpose. We must find it in everything we do.