Life is a series of experiences that can be good, bad, or ugly. Every individual perceives life differently. However, perhaps the most pertinent question we all ask at the end of a long and tiring day is: What is the true purpose of life? Amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we tend to forget the reason for our existence, our ‘Ikigai’. This is a Japanese concept where ‘Iki’ means ‘life’ and ‘gai’ implies ‘value or worth’. Since time immemorial, philosophers have pondered ‘the real purpose of life’. But the more pertinent question today is how to make your life more meaningful. A meaningful life is worth living. Once life has a clear purpose, coherence, and significance, there is a sense of satisfaction.
Studies reveal that finding purpose in life to make it more meaningful is vital for your physical and mental health.
Without further ado, let’s find out the ways one can add more meaning to life from none other than India’s leading psychologist and relationship counselor Shivani Misri Sadhoo.
Connecting passion with purpose
Your life can become more significant when you connect your passion to your purpose. The balance between what your passion or interest in life is and how you can help or inspire others with your passion can define the purpose of your life. In case you can’t understand your purpose, try to figure out your passion. Your passion will help you find the right purpose. For example, you may enjoy teaching. Help the poor and needy with your wisdom. Let the passion ignite your purpose.
Appreciate everything
Sometimes great expectations result in great disappointments. You feel utterly disappointed when despite working hard for an examination, you don’t get the desired outcome. Expectations are often based on wishes rather than reality. They create demands and requests that affect relationships. Instead, appreciate everything and expect nothing. That’s how your life will become more meaningful and happier.
Help others
Perhaps, the best way to make your life more meaningful is to show kindness and generosity to others. Being generous isn’t about giving money. A simple word of encouragement can also make a huge difference in someone’s life. Simply lending a helping hand to someone in need can lift your mood. Research suggests that helping others releases endorphins that make you feel happy. Sometimes fighting for a noble cause like social justice, animal welfare or climate change gives you a sense of fulfillment. Giving back or prosociality can make your life more meaningful.
Set a vision for your life
Regardless of the challenges in life, you always need to set a clear vision for your life. A vision statement will help you identify your goals, stay focused, and will give direction to your life. You will not get distracted, inundated, overwhelmed, or confused. Decision-making will become a lot easier. Most importantly you will be able to realize the true purpose of your life.
Simplicity is beautiful
Too much of anything is bad. The notion of ‘having more will make you happier’ isn’t true. By simplifying life, you will be able to remove the clutter and distractions from your life and find more time for important things in life. You will feel less frazzled, and less stressed, and an opportunity to live life peacefully. Get rid of toxic people, be more organized, and disconnect from social media in order to connect with friends and family who will bring cheer to your life.
The power of ‘Now’
It is ‘now or never’. Believe in the present moment. You can neither change ‘yesterday’, nor predict ‘tomorrow’. All you have is ‘today’. So, do whatever you can, today and add meaning to your life.
We hope this article from Shivani Sadhoo will help you find your ‘ikigai’.
Shivani Misri Sadhoo is an internationally recommended relationship Counsellor by world’s biggest and most trusted study and research-based foundation for couples therapy – Gottman Institute. She is trained on specialised key relationship counselling Skills from AIIMS, VIMHANS and various other reputed institutions. Counselor Shivani Misri Sadhoo, is also Certified for Emotionally Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy.
Counsellor Shivani Misri Sadhoo is also a Certified Neuro Linguistic Practitioner with specialised training and experience in the field of affairs/betrayals, trust issues, difficulty communicating, conflicting values, bereavement, grief and loss (affairs, separation, divorce, childhood) and emotional health issue (anxiety, social anxiety, fear, depression, low mood).
Currently, Shivani Misri Sadhoo is one of the top counsellors with the HIGHEST Success Rate with over 17,000 happy couples and individuals (based in India and abroad), who has benefited from her therapy. Psychologist and Counselor Shivani Misri Sadhoo not only practice independently from her clinic in Greater Kailash, Delhi, India but also listed on the panel of eminent hospitals like IBS Hospital – Institute of Brain & Spine, Express Clinic, Fortis (formerly) based in Delhi.
