What Is the Purpose of Life? A Soulful Reflection

This is a question that I believe we have all pondered at some point.

Maybe as children, we asked our parents, only to receive vague or unsatisfactory answers.

Maybe later in life, during specific moments on our journey, such as losing a loved one, feeling unfulfilled at work, or simply engaging in deep internal dialogue.

A question that arises at key moments in life

This question usually arises at key moments in life—whether it is a child growing in their awareness of self and understanding of life, or an adult facing a crucial turning point in their life, bearing the weight of a preoccupied mind or a sad heart.

But it can also sometimes arise because of the intrinsic and natural evolution of the human mind, always aiming at grasping more of the divine mind. On their path of spiritual endeavour, individuals seeking to understand more about the nature of the Divine and the reality of existence often dwell on this delicate question, overthinking it in an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of the self and the cosmos. These moments, occurring during transitional phases of consciousness, are, in truth, opportunities for individuals to ascend to a higher level of awareness.

When we receive no answer as a child

As children, we sincerely ask such essential questions, driven by an inherent curiosity about life and a desire to learn and understand. We instinctively seek to broaden our comprehension of the world we were born into, yet we are also conditioned to inquire, taught to question the purpose and utility of every tool and object around us. So naturally, we extend this curiosity to profound questions about existence and life itself.

However, very often, we receive no answer from adults, or worse, we encounter a parent’s distressed expression. This response subconsciously signals to the child that this question is taboo, instilling a sense of heaviness and unease.

All of this experience creates a lasting impression of shock for the child, who witnesses their parents, often overwhelmed or uncertain, evading the question and unable to respond comfortably or adequately.

And so, we learn not to ask it again, suppressing or pushing away this type of questioning. 

Yet, later in life, when the adult faces a delicate phase, whether triggered by external events or internal shifts, this suppressed question inevitably resurfaces. Its reappearance, often burdened by the label of being painful or taboo, can intensify the challenges of the journey. 

This moment often coincides with a “dark night of the soul” or a profound period of internal exploration, both of which are inherently delicate and transformative experiences.

What one feels when reflecting on this question

Questioning the purpose of life, much like questioning the origins of existence or how everything came to be, pushes the mind to an uneasy and unfamiliar place.

This question can be deeply painful to grapple with. It stretches the mind to its limits, driving it into a mental no-man ’s-land, making one feel as though they are in a dark hole with no way out. While this question has the potential to expand and elevate one’s thinking, it also harbours the danger of creating a negative spiral, where one might even feel tempted to end their own existence.

In truth, very often the individual lacks the proper tools to deal with this question and relies solely on their mind to seek answers, solutions, or an escape. But the mind is not the master many of us tend to believe it is…

How to deal with this question

It is crucial to realize that the human mind, by its very nature, is incapable of fully grasping infinity or these profound truths and is unable to assimilate knowledge at this level.

Using the wrong tools during these specific times of evolution, when one is particularly vulnerable, can be a delicate and challenging process.

Those on an accelerated path of evolution, the students of life (as we all are, though some are more persistent and diligent than others), are strongly encouraged to turn to solid spiritual literature and practice or seek guidance from experts in consciousness development. Without such support, the journey can become arduous and testing. It is not impossible, but it may push one to the brink of martyrdom.

Therefore, wisely choosing a mentor and proven spiritual tools is essential on this heroic path. One such tool is undoubtedly meditation, whether guided or practiced in silence, alone, depending on each person’s level of advancement. Another tool is fostering the creative and artistic mind, and actually any practice that would just balance the excessive rational activity of the mind.

The limitation of the rational mind and reason

You see, we have been extensively taught that the rational mind is the key to uncovering the truth of all that exists, including existence itself. We have been taught to explain everything, to find a reason for everything we witness.

We have become an overthinking and stressed humanity.

It is impossible to explain and understand everything solely through the mind and reasoning.

Yet, we are constantly striving to explain everything.

While the world strives to find solutions to all kinds of so-called problems, whether they relate to the environment, health, education, or even the universe, trying to unravel all the mysteries, it is evident that the vast majority of scientific discoveries did not emerge from pure reason. These discoveries are often the result of a moment of lucidity or inspiration. Reason then intervenes to corroborate the result, analyse it, or perhaps translate it into an equation to convey what the scientist had initially discovered intuitively.

So yes, reason is here to serve us, but it is not here to explain the existence of what we experience in the deepest parts of our being.

We can’t explain existence

Honestly, how could we explain Existence? Of course, we could delve into evolution, from a simple bacterium to more complex organisms, or explore the presence or absence of water or unicellular organisms on different planets and their potential to give rise to life, at least in forms we consider more complex.

Yet, trying to explain the very first emergence of a bacterium brings us back to square one in our ignorance.

Attempting to answer the “why” of existence, or its meaning or purpose, leads us to the same conundrum.
 

A call to reconnect more fully to the heart of existence is the true answer

So, the next time you ask yourself this question… focus on calming your analytical mind by any means and seek to connect more with your body by:

• Focusing on your breath and doing breathing exercises
• Listening to soft or classical music
• Feeling your heart beating and expressing gratitude for that
• Going outside, feeling the wind, the sun or the rain and connecting to the clouds or the stars
• Feeling the air, breathing it fully and filling up your lungs with love and joy
• Dancing, walking or running
• Painting, crafting or singing
• Talking or smiling to a stranger in the street
• Simply reconnecting with existence and remembering that existence can only have meaning if we inhabit it, live it, and share it.

Conclusion

In truth, we never question the meaning of Life when we are in love with life and trust this love is endless!

If you reflect on those times when the question about the purpose of life emerged, chances are you weren’t fully flowing with life. You weren’t completely immersed in the moment, or if you were, perhaps you were fearing losing it. 

We never question the meaning of life when we are fearlessly living, when we are intimately connected to our essence. The question simply doesn’t cross your mind. In those moments, existence simply is.

But let´s imagine I handed you an answer about the true purpose of life, would you genuinely believe me? Are you really expecting to find a purpose to Existence, a purpose that would be beyond Existence itself? Could Existence have a meaning beyond simply existing? How could that possibly be? 

Does Beauty need a meaning beyond being beautiful? Could Love have a purpose beyond Loving? What would Joy, passion, freedom… require beyond being that which they are in essence?

Perhaps life is not meant to be explained. Perhaps it is meant to be lived.

Maybe life’s meaning isn’t something to be found. Maybe life has the meaning we give to it.

It is when we stop chasing the meaning of life and instead open our heart, mind and soul to welcome it even more deeply within us each day that the magic of life will start unfolding in its most splendorous ways and operate its wonders.

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