Essay on Understanding Life's Purpose: The Journey for Meaning and Knowledge

We all seek understanding, wisdom, meaning, and knowledge in our life journey. Every person wants to know why they are here. It is normal to crave purpose. Many people navigate life trying to make sense of who they are by focusing on obligations, family, work, and passions in the quest to find themselves (Kashtan, 2013). If we act on something, we have to understand why we should with the hope of gauging the intended outcomes of the results. The greater we understand the "What" and "Why", the more we are likely to find peace and balance in life. The paper finds out why people do what they do.

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Obligations (Needs) are elements of life. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the obligation falls at the base of the pyramid (Connors, 2017). This defines our most fundamental requirements, i.e., food, shelter, and water which are needed for survival. Such basic needs force people to do what they can to provide them. Necessities and luxuries are important in life. However, survival is a necessity, hence people have to work to provide for such needs. Our senses are aware that we may not always be conscious to recognize such requirements. However, people have to do what they have to do not only to survive but also to fulfill their obligations to others and their own needs.

Pride (Sense of duty) is an extensive category that entails a sense of duty such as nationalism, patriotism, and volunteerism among others. These provide a pledge for oneself for a cause that is viewed as greater than ourselves. It originates from the feeling to involve ourselves in actions that others will benefit from while the perpetrators take pride in doing them. It also incorporates the feeling of pride that originates from doing a job perfectly. People work to put food on the table and study to prepare themselves for a better future. The results of such efforts include work products, and high-test marks among others. The quest to take pride and strive for success makes one do what they do.

Destiny is a hidden power that people believe has control over their future events. "Our parents might have done it" (Connors, 2017). All humans inherit some traditions or feeling of destiny from their youth. Therefore, they start engaging in activities and shoot for the stars, with the hope that they set a higher standard than what was initially set by a family member, countryman, or schoolmate. Sometimes people engage in circumstances or a set of activities with the hope that they are in-line with their destiny.

Fulfillment and self-actualization are also aspects that contribute to people doing what they do. To achieve a major milestone, one has to want it, feel energized, and empowered to get it. This will enable them to be better and well-prepared for it. They take great pride in strides made towards personal development. Working to improve oneself results in refining their mind, body, and soul. The feeling of taking what has been learned and sharing the love and light with others brings with it greater equanimity in life that contributes to one's happiness. The resulting feeling of self-actualization and fulfillment is worth working for.

Conclusion

To conclude, people do what they do for various reasons. Some of the reasons behind it include their obligations (needs), pride (sense of duty), destiny, and the quest for fulfillment and self-actualization. Life is, therefore, one big game that involves figuring out the solutions to mysteries that surround us.

References

Connors, C. (2017). 10 reasons: A guide for why we do, what we do. Medium.com. https://medium.com/the-mission/10-reasons-a-guide-for-why-we-do-what-we-do-90f42877d5bf

Kashtan, M. (2013). Why do we do what we do? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/acquired-spontaneity/201312/why-do-we-do-what-we-do