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The Defining Question Of Your Life

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Is there a cause you would die for?

 

Something that, if it was successful, would change the world in an enormous, seemingly magical way?

Something that goes far beyond you as an individual, the importance of which dwarfs your existence…if any thing can, in fact, do that?

Something that gives you the chills every time you ponder it, share it with friends, or even distantly entertain the thought?

 

If there is one sensation that is more electrifying than those chills, it is the feeling of dedicating the entirety of your being to that cause. That bliss of choosing a single path and pouring everything into the endeavor. Waking up every morning knowing that you do only what you love, and what you love has the potential the change the world, if even in a small way. Knowing that even if you failed, you used every ounce of this life fighting for something BIG.

 

Whether it be educating the young, studying the cosmos, splashing art over the grey walls of the world or asking people questions that appeal to their sense of wonder — there is something out there for which you are uniquely equipped.

 

Please, for your own sake, and for the sake of the world, FIND THIS ONE THING! Find it, and do everything you can to turn it into reality.

 

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”

Joseph Campbell

 

If you have yet to experience the truth of this quote first-hand, you’re in for a treat when you finally take this big step :)

Call it God, serendipity, positive thinking, luck, collective unconscious, perception bias or whatever you want — but I can tell you this: crazy synchonicities will pop up everywhere when you make the decision of what you want to do with your life.

The answers to your questions will immerge in the most unusual of places: song lyrics, StumbleUpon, messages from old friends, books, graffiti, etc.

The right people will trickle in through mutual friends, random online interactions and chance encounters.

You will get the feeling that something strange is going on. And you will be right.

 

All that’s left is for you to take the plunge. And as you know, jumping is only terrifying right before you leap… then it gets fun ;)

You will die some day, and you are not getting any younger. The time to do this is NOW. Leave your mark on this Earth! You weren’t considering being normal just because it’s easy, were you? I hope not :)

P.S. If you’re not sure what you’re meant to do, check out this article.

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27 thoughts about The Defining Question Of Your Life

  1. That’s powerful stuff, and actually quite serendipitous for me. Only a few weeks ago I was doing an exercise from Steve Paulina’s blog about finding your true purpose. The idea is to keep writing and brainstorming about what your true purpose is until you write something that makes you cry. That something that is so powerful, that is what your purpose is. At least so goes the narrative.

    Anyway, this is what I wrote: My true purpose in life is to die for what I believe in: community, activity, intelligence, freedom, love.

    I still don’t see a clear path towards that, but at least I have a direction.

    Thanks for another great post!

  2. Hamner said on 09.06.2012

    Everybody NEEDS to watch the movie Jeff Who Lives At Home. It changed my life. Just sayin

  3. Marie said on 09.07.2012

    I want to work with Art, and I want to work with FREE Art, and I want to work with it in such a way that nature itself could potentially benefit from it. I want to support any environmental cause, eco-friendly or fair-trade whenever I can. Wether it be political art, or art created without the help of technology or comics. If I fail, at least I did what I loved, and I did it without fear or regret. I don’t know how, but this is what I want to do. It is my bliss. I want to reach out and show people the importance of play and imagination, and hopefully grow some open minds. :) I want to share unconditional love with every person I meet. I want to grow as a person. I’ve only just started. And I’m 22. Thank you for the post, and thank you for HE.

    • Nate said on 09.12.2012

      Right on, don’t stop following your passion! Im 22 also, college student, soldier, martial artist, and survivalist among other things, my goal as of now is to constantly push myself to become better, smarter, free, open-minded, and to leave a trail of people I have met inspired! I inspired one person two days ago and it made him cry ha, I cried a little too

  4. Sam said on 09.07.2012

    If there’s nothing else, ensuring we last the next 100 years is a great one. If Dr. Kaku is correct, we’re on the verge of putting ourselves onto the path of something wonderful and ultimately ending with the immortality of human civilization within the universe.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NPC47qMJVg&feature=relmfu

  5. Kevin said on 09.07.2012

    These synchronicities are no joke..

  6. I would die to show everyone what life is worth living for. Sometimes I look at the people around me and just want to lean over and slap them! Or at the very least shout so loud they wake up back into the present. People get so disillusioned by things in their life that they miss the whole point, like cleaning your room a thousand times just for the sake of cleaning. I am a huge subscriber to Alan Watts. Hopefully that sums up how I feel about life. I would die to show everyone, or at the very least my best friend, what life really is. It’s a party! Every second is absolute perfection. And since I have had one hell of a time and won’t be around to loath my death, I can boldly sacrifice myself to give others a taste of living. I just want some people to snap out of this hopeless dream they are in. Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP!

    • Nate said on 09.12.2012

      My dad, works, sleeps, and eats! i want to slap him all the time, so many distractions in life!

    • Drew said on 03.01.2013

      This post reminds me of the short film 2081. It is set in a distopian future and has kind of a sad ending, but it is centered around a guy who does exactly what you are talking about, and he dies trying to show the world how to push your limits, be the best you can be and live life to the fullest.

  7. I told my mom when I was 8 what I was going to do, and it has become so prevalent in my life, I have no single doubt that it is one of the main purposes of my existence. I work with young children with autism :]

  8. I was thinking about this question a lot and thought to myself, “There are many things that I am passionate about”.
    But then I realized that when I saw the video of “the greatest speech ever made” by charlie Chaplin, I realized that I really want to spread love, compassion, and family-like connections with the whole world.

    I am 17, and know that somehow I will make the world a better place concerning my life purpose!

    Peace and love!

    • Nate said on 09.12.2012

      “Wherever life takes you, leave the place shaking, disrupted and trying to imagine what it was like before you came. Be a force for change. For pondering. And re-pondering. For love and the belief in the good of people. Go forth and be a force of the awesome. Do epic, terrifying, unheard of shit. Whatever makes you happy. And drugs. And other “bad” things. And fall in love. If nothing else, fall in love” Jordan Lejuwaan

      This is it right here! ha I have taken quotes I find I love, like this, and rewrote them into one for me that works, I read it everyday before I leave my house and it has impacted most everyone I meet!

      • That is really cool to hear!
        Sorry I didn’t reply in such a long time.
        Yes, I am most definitely doing things expressed through Jordan’s quote.
        I’ll randomly go up to people and ask them deep questions like “What’s something they wanna do before they die?” and I bet it’s a little weird to hear for some, but you know, its a good starting point.
        I’m actually getting really good to the point where I can have a real, human moment with people passing by (whenever I’m in the mood of course)

  9. I want and need to make music. I simply can’t stop writing music and playing the guitar. When I sing I’m perfect, complete and happy. This is my dream, my path and what I would die for: expressing myself through music and leaving it for everyone to enjoy.

  10. I’ve been wanting to put this thought into words, but I couldn’t. so thx a lot for writing this article :)

    I believe every single person who were born has his or her own importance or impact to the world. but not everyone believes that they can change the world or even has this way of thinking. it’s sad.

  11. I just spent about an hour sitting outside in the middle of the yard. My goal was to try and find out what I wanted from/for the world. I wasn’t sure how to start so I began by listing things that I think are good and/or have a positive effect on humanity as a whole. I listed the following;
    Truth, Love, Confidence, Compassion, Empathy, Honesty, Awareness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Courage, Endurance, Reflection, An unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Laughter, Hugs, Kisses, “Thank you”s, and “You’re Welcome”s.

    After making that list I started writing down what “I Want”;
    I want the world to value honesty and truth, to be honest and always do their best to find the truth. I want the world to exhibit an undying curiosity and a healthy amount of skepticism. I want the world to be confident, and humble. I want the world to be compassionate and empathetic. I want the world to truly understand that everyone is different and imperfect, and to love them regardless of their differences. I want the world to realize that regardless of what ever else we may be, we are all human, no matter how different we may seem we are all the same. I want the world to be happy. I want to be happy.

    I learned a lot about myself from thinking about what I want, but I have no idea what to do with what I’ve learned or how to dissolve it down into actions I can take. Any help would be appreciated.

  12. Good one Jordan;)

  13. “And, when you want something, all the world conspires to help you achieve it.” -Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

  14. paul54 said on 09.28.2012

    Your article is always motivating and dynamic to pursue ones great dream. Thanks!

    It true that we are all uniquely created for something big and splendid, but its only when we believe and do all means to blissfully and doggedly achieve it.

  15. Good attention getting hook but most people seem to be automatically translating it into what is worth living for. I think life is a spiritual boot camp where we learn what’s worth living for & how to do it if we pay attention.

  16. Skip said on 11.16.2012

    What do you mean, die? Ya know, death is just a bump in the road. A temporary setback. I don’t like rebirth: childhood, learning a language, learning all of the cultural constraints of wherever the heck I find myself. Death is a real hassle. But we’re all stuck with eternal life. Here it is. You are living it right now. So what do you want to do for eternity, watch television? Not me buddy. There’s lots of cool stuff to do. I think I’ll move to Boulder maybe, find some soul I connect with. Anybody with a healthy female body want to hang out in Boulder with me?

  17. All these replies are so inspiring. at the same time, we have to remember that vocabulary like that – “what cause would you be willing to die for?” is the same vocabulary that inspires people to do very bad things, like inflict violence on others. But I do agree that it’s an interesting way to think of things…in a sense we are all dying every day so we need to find a purpose that will sustain us through that reality.

    Sorry if that was a bit incoherent…it’s bedtime for me!

  18. This question has kept up at night a lot, mostly because I am young and still not found what that answer may exactly be. But as I grow I realize not only that it is ok not to know, but that the search is a great one. That as long as you are taking action towards what that question may be, as long as you moving everyday to get there, then you will get there. And you can find peace in that. You can find peace in the search.

    I still haven’t gotten to the question, but I will. Until then, the search is pretty damn great as well!

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