#49 Look to the stars to find your purpose
Gazing up at the stars is one of my favourite pastimes. One of my greatest experiences was seeing the night sky over the Great Barrier Reef – we slept in a tent on a pontoon far out at sea where there was no light pollution. It was just incredible how many stars lit up the sky – simply awe-inspiring. I can’t believe that the closest star to Earth is around 4 light years away (a light year is 5.88 trillion miles) but many that we see are 500 light years away. That is mind-blowing!
When we think about how far away the stars are and the sheer scale of the universe, it can make us feel like a tiny, insignificant speck. For me, it makes me contemplate a question that I ask myself frequently - what is my purpose? How can I possibly make any difference when I am such a drop in the ocean? BUT then I think about it from another perspective. The sheer fact that our planet is so small and that our lives upon it are relatively short means that every single small thing that we do can make a HUGE difference!
A sense of purpose is good for our wellbeing
There is a lot of research that suggests having a sense of purpose has a huge impact on our health and wellbeing. Knowing our purpose helps to motivate us and feel that we are contributing and valued. It is thought to be as important to our health as sleep, exercise and what we eat.
Find your own sense of purpose
Each person’s sense of purpose – what motivates us, our values, what is important to us is different. So the worst mistake we can make is comparing ourselves to others. I sometimes get frustrated that I am not making more of a difference to the world. When I hear stories about people donating millions to charity or discovering a cure for a disease or helping raise awareness of climate change, it can make me feel inadequate. BUT it’s important to realise that purpose is not always about changing things on a global scale. It could be much closer to home:
As a friend, you are there for others and bring joy to the lives of people around you
As an employer, you are creating a work environment where people feel fulfilled and appreciated
As a member of a team, you are supportive and making a contribution to work that is adding value
As a member of your local community, you volunteer your time to help in whatever way you can
As a parent, you are creating a loving and nurturing environment to give your child the best start in life
As an individual, you are making the most of your time by leading a purposeful, healthy and happy life
One of my favourite sayings is ‘Success is measured by how you make those around you feel’. So while I still plan to make as much difference as I can by helping nonprofits to deliver their missions, I will be satisfied in the knowledge that I do my best to make a difference to the people that know me.
““Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake.””
So when you next gaze up at the stars, think how privileged we are to have evolved into such incredible beings that can influence the lives of others in so many ways.
