What Is the Point of Life: Why Are You Here?

‘What’s the point of life?’ is a question that many of us have asked ourselves at some point. Life on Earth can indeed seem pointless at times.

Our lives will come to a point where we question our purpose, what we’re doing, and where we’re going, no matter how successful we think we are.

Posing this question can help us evaluate our goals and lifestyles and improve them for better physical and mental health.

Life’s purpose for most people is to seek happiness and fulfillment in their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Like any journey, you walk, you fall, you pick yourself up, and do it all over again until you get to the end.

Everything from science to religion, our internal and external reality, logic, and the unknown has an answer to this perennially important question.

Your starting point, objectives, purpose, and ultimate goal all play a significant role in how you arrive at your unique solution.

Even if you don’t have the final word, this article will help you get started on your search for an answer on what is the point of life?

“Discovering what the point of life is is a lifelong journey and the steps and stages won’t be the same for everyone.”

What Is the Point of Life

Human life is revered as a gift from the divine, according to many religions. Many religious people believe that God is putting them through their paces and rewarding them in the afterlife for their unwavering devotion. 

For many reasons, humans are distinct from other creatures, including our desire for happiness and fulfillment in life. Humans have been searching for meaning since the dawn of time, and it remains a central question in every society. 

Scientists also believe that we are hardwired to look for deeper meaning in our lives, as our larger brains give us the capacity to appreciate things that go beyond our most basic needs.

The search for meaning in life is so vast that even contemplating where to begin can leave you feeling completely daunted. It’s a lifelong journey to discover what the purpose of life is, and the steps and stages will differ from person to person.

When it comes to starting the journey of discovery, however, there are a few questions you can ask yourself to get you started.

What do you want people to remember you by?

In our human nature, we tend to look forward and backward. If you take a closer look at your goals, you may discover that they’re confined to the next few years or even the next decade.

However, have you given any consideration to how you’d like to be remembered?

The answer to this question usually has more to do with your spiritual or professional aspirations than your monetary ones and pondering it can assist you in discovering your true self.

If you had superpowers, which problem would you solve first?

It’s impossible to solve all of the world’s problems, but considering which one you’d prioritize can provide some insight into your most pressing concerns. Once you’re aware of this, you can start thinking about what you can do to help.

Creating a community food garden or volunteering at a soup kitchen are two examples of ways you can help end world hunger.

What’s the one activity that makes you lose track of time?

When we’re doing something we don’t enjoy, time flies by. Time can also fly when we are fully engaged in an activity and feel a sense of accomplishment from it, but the reverse is also true.

Finding your flow, or the state of being completely immersed in an activity and losing track of time is a sure sign that we are engaging in something that brings out the best in us.

As a result, increasing the amount of time you spend on these pursuits can enhance your overall quality of life.

To answer the question, “What is the point of life?” There are several ways to combine the above ideas into an answer. Here are some steps to follow:

Step 1: Start Living With Purpose

When you recognize the truth of who you are, you discover your true purpose in life. True reality is a projection of our inner world onto the outside world.

As soon as you identify your life’s true calling, you realize that the only thing worth living is the pursuit of that calling.

You have a reason to live and stay alive once you discover your life’s purpose. This does not imply living solely for the benefit of others. It has to be bigger than that so that your purpose and meaning will never fade away.

Step 2: Tuning Our External Reality

Everything about your internal reality is influenced by your external reality. A lack in your external reality may be the cause of your depression, unhappiness, or a general sense of “emptiness.”

Perhaps you lack the support of a group of close friends to help you through difficult times. Your education may have lacked focus when it comes to figuring out what you enjoy and don’t enjoy. If your job doesn’t present you with any new challenges, you may be feeling lifeless.

You must examine your external reality to determine what part of your internal reality and sense of purpose are out of whack. If you do this, your goal will likely become much more clear.

Step 3: Appreciate What You Have

To keep your internal reality in check while you ponder “What is the point of life?“, practice gratitude. For those who have yet to discover their purpose or the direction they want to take in life, there are things they can be thankful for that can lead to a more fulfilling existence.

Gratitude has been linked to an increase in optimism and a general sense of well-being in studies over and over again. Even if they don’t know everything, at least they’ll be happier in the process of finding out.

Understanding How We Perceive Reality

When you pondered the question, “What is the point of life?” the first thing you realized was that my interpretation would undoubtedly differ from yours.

If you were to answer this question, it would be both true and false. Essentially, our perception of reality will influence our response to the question.

Three aspects of our reality must be considered: the known, the known within us, and the unknown outside of us.

● External Reality

Our culture and religion are part of our external reality. All the things that have shaped us are part of our culture, which is nothing more than the context in which you were raised. It’s no secret that religion is a powerful influence.

What you believe, how you treat others, and the type of community you build for yourself can all be influenced by your religious beliefs. Religion, on the other hand, isn’t the only thing that exists outside of our minds.

Culture, education, ancestry, family customs, and social circles all contribute to the unique person you are now and will become in the future.

● Internal Reality

You discover your aspiration by looking inwards at your inner world. Our intuition and sense of direction can be found deep within our desires.

Our intuition is our compass, and it will lead us to our ultimate goal if you allow it to guide us. You all have those internal feelings that tell us something about ourselves through life’s experiences.

If you’re having trouble figuring out your life’s purpose, rely on your instincts to help you find it. If you listen to your “gut feelings,” you might discover something you never knew you needed.

It would be much easier to access your inner reality if you removed everything that influences you from the outside world, but that’s not how it works.

Together, they can help you achieve your life’s goals and meaning when you begin to wonder, “What is the point of life?”

● The Unknown

This leads us into the abyss of uncharted territory. Although our lives are built on what we know and believe, there are far more unknowns than known in our world.

A sense of peace and openness toward other people and their ideas can come from accepting that there are some things you will never understand.

What is the Point of Life, According to Different Beliefs

Isn’t the goal of life to find a solution to the age-old conundrum of “what’s the point of life?”? To find meaning in our lives, we may not need a single thing, but rather the journey itself.

When we say “journey,” we mean the entire process, from relishing the good times to learning from the bad.

Below are the definitions of “point of life” according to different beliefs:

➤ Theism

This school of thought holds to the idea that there is a supreme being or god who created everything.

There are polytheism (belief in multiple gods), monotheism (belief in one god), and ditheism (belief in two gods) (the idea that two gods exist and they are both equal). Theism is the belief that the universe was created by a single deity.

For those who adhere to this school of thought, what exactly is the point of living? According to your religion, your god(s) tell you what life is all about.

Since the dawn of humanity, theism has presented itself in various forms depending on what that religion’s followers believed God wanted from them.

➤ Confucianism

Is there anything better than the feeling of taking care of your parents or children? Not only are you not alone, but you’re not the only one.

Confucianism is rooted in human-centered virtues and ancestor veneration. Living an authentic life and following the Golden Rule: Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want to be done to yourself is the goal.

➤ Mohism

No matter how distant you are from a person, do you care about them? The central tenet of Mohism is that every human being is deserving of equal treatment and respect.

Those who adhere to this philosophy believe that the purpose of life is to serve others and cultivate positive behavior as a result.

➤ Aristotelianism

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, held that the only goal in life is to be a good person. And if you’re a good person, you’ll be happy. Aristotle is quoted as saying, “Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim, and end of human existence.”

➤ Absurdism

Some people believe that pondering life’s meaning is a fruitless endeavor doomed to failure. There’s a tension between our expectations of the universe and what we find when we look around.

Despite our best efforts, we will never fully grasp the meaning of our existence, and the more we look for it, the more confused we become.

Absurdist in the words of French philosopher Albert Camus, “You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of.” 

For the vast majority of people, the purpose of life is to seek happiness and fulfillment in all aspects of their lives, including their physical, emotional, and mental needs.

Like any journey, you walk, you fall, you pick yourself up, and do it all over again until you arrive at your destination.

➤ Cyrenaics

Those who follow the teachings of Socrates are known as Cyrenians. To them, the purpose of life is to maximize one’s enjoyment and contentment in the here and now.

Disregarding societal norms and prioritizing your happiness are both parts of this process. Your happiness and comfort are of the utmost importance, and your present is priceless.

Don’t put too much emphasis on the future and don’t plan too far in advance.

What To Do When You Haven’t Found The Point Of Your Life

No doubt that knowing your life’s purpose can lead to greater happiness. Do not punish yourself for not knowing what your life’s purpose is if you’ve been looking for it for a long time and have yet to come up with an answer. 

Stress and pressure will only increase if you try to find an answer too quickly. Consider it from another angle: if you haven’t found an answer yet, just be sufficient for the time being. To make that work, here are four ideas:

1. Find abundance.

Science has demonstrated the benefits of gratitude. Take some time to reflect on your blessings and be thankful for them. You can discover abundance in these things through mindfulness practice, and you might even discover that having enough is… enough!

2. Acclimate yourself to discomfort.

In difficult times, we may wonder what the point of life is or what we’re accomplishing in the first place. Discomfort is a part of life, and trying to make sense of it all can be exhausting. To put it another way, accept life as it is and know that bad times will pass.

3. Follow your instincts.

Analytical thinking is necessary for the search for life’s meaning, but logic alone does not always provide the answers.

It’s important to strike a balance between logic and intuition because intuition can sometimes run counter to logic. Trust your inner voice because it usually knows what’s best for you!

4. Forget about what other people think.

Comparing yourself to others who appear to have their life’s work figured out isn’t helpful. Living life on your terms and at your own pace is what it’s all about, and that’s what you should be aiming for.

Let your thoughts and feelings guide you when it comes to deciding what’s meaningful and how to pursue your goals.

Conclusion

What’s the point of life, then? You are the only one who can answer the question even if you subscribe to a common ethos.

Change is the only constant.

Our lives are meant to be dynamic, and we can only find contentment by embracing the constant flux of life. Accepting the unknown and connecting with your life’s purpose are key components of this approach. 

In the end, it’s your unique set of traits, abilities, aspirations, and motivations that will guide you in the right direction.

Every beautiful thing you see in the world is the result of combining the echoes of all the people who have ever lived. Begin forming your echo today with the help of the information provided above.