It's the mortal coil --- ever since we started thinking philosophically, human beings have struggled to answer the question: "What is the meaning of Life?"
And the endless sub-questions: "What am I here for?", "What does being alive mean?", "What purpose does my life serve?" and so on.
To answer these big questions, let's first break life down into smaller parts. Imagine that just one day in your life, you simply did whatever you felt like, anytime you felt like it, just moving from random though to random though, random action to random action. You don't think about the next day or even the next moment. You have no goals, no plans, have no consideration for others, and every day brings the same kind of numbing self-indulgence.
Many of us are, more or less, living this kind of existence. We don't know what we really want, we don't think about our future, we don't know what we're going to achieve. We simply go through life half asleep, finding temporary comfort in our material possessions and insatiable pleasures. A life lived this way ultimately yields disappointment and unfulfilled desires.
What gives one a sense of purpose and meaning is having something worthwhile to strive for.
Why are some rich people happy while others are not? Why do some musicians overdose on drugs and depression while others adopt orphans or use their talent for some worthy cause? The key is having nobler ambitions than simply amassing wealth or indulging in self-fulfillment.
We all need to seek a higher purpose in order to give our lives meaning. Some find it in self-discipline. Others discover it in the pursuit of knowledge. Some find it in helping others or becoming leaders in their community, others in making the world better in some way.
What about you? Have you achieved wealth and status only to find something lacking? Do you want to live your life with more lucid intention?
Then think about what you really want to achieve. Even if the goals seem too lofty (think "world peace"), embark on the road towards them anyway. It's in the endeavour that we find satisfaction. What are simple steps you can take or habits you can adopt right now that will bring you closer to your goals?
You will have your own unique set of goals, but think beyond just creating wealth, getting your dream house, or marrying your dream partner. Before all that and after all that, what will continue to sustain you? Consistent self-improvement? What about improving life for others? Inventing something? Creating awareness? Educating others so that they too can become successful and happy? What can you do conscientiously and persistently that will make a difference?
Think of the value that you can create for others and the world and you will make your life worth living.
Adapted from 'A Slice of LIfe' by Eugene Loh
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很多人可能就像 Mr. Loh 所说的那样吧？是不是也常常觉得或提问自己，生命的意义到底是什么呢？我为什么而生，为什么而死？来到这个世界上，到底是为了什么而来？活着，到底有何意义？
你想过吗？是为了赚钱？为了寻找命中注定的那个人？是为了求知识？是为了升职？是为了在社会上拥有崇高的地位？
到底你是为了什么？
想想吧。希望你会找到生命的意义、活着的意义。加油哦！
^_^g
