Kareem Mayan's Weblog

Originally posted Sept 23 to the Find Your Life Purpose newsletter.

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I’ve gotten amazing responses from both friends and strangers since finding my life purpose.

But a few have focused on the negatives. I’ve gotten responses like:

“It’s a luxury.”

“You’re indulgent.”

“Who are you to have a ‘life purpose’?! Put your head down and do your job.”

To this, I said: true, BS, and BS (pardon my abbreviated french).

Having a purpose is a luxury? So? Does that mean you shouldn’t go find yours?

You are alive at the best time in the history of the world. Never has there been such world-wide peace and prosperity.

You likely won’t wonder where your next meal will come from. You have a roof over your head. And there are probably a hundred joints to eat good food at nearby, and lots of places to meet new people who won’t hate you or try to kill you based on your religion, skin color, or other factors you can’t control.

In short: you are free. Free to pursue the work you choose.

You were more likely to be born in India or China (35% chance) than in a G8 country (15%). Living in a G8 country provides a much higher standard of living unless you’re one of the lucky few in China or India, never mind other less-industrialized countries. You’ve beaten the odds already.

So why the heck would you waste your lottery ticket doing something you don’t love doing?

Why *wouldn’t* you figure out what you’re here to do? That thing that resonates so deeply that your heart sings when you think about doing it?

Life is too short to squander the amazing opportunity you have to live a meaningful life. You only get one go-‘round, so make it count.

What about those who say you’re indulgent?

The only thing you’re indulging in is to use the beautiful opportunity you’ve got to live up to your full potential.

People who aren’t as lucky as you have gone through hell and back to give themselves (or their children, or even grandchildren) the opportunity that you have. It would be indulgent of you *not* to use this opportunity to live your life with meaning.

And those who ask who you are to have a life purpose?

They’re probably applying their different definition of “meaning” to your life.

Perhaps they grew up with different opportunities at hand, and don’t understand why you don’t want to put your head down and work away like they did.

Or perhaps they did have your opportunities, but squandered them, too scared to follow their true calling.

Whatever it is, brush ‘em off. It may be difficult, but I guarantee you they go to bed worrying about their own problems, not yours.

The next time someone pooh-poohs your search for a life purpose, their words will slide off you like water off a duck’s back.

In short, with the opportunity you’ve been given, who are you NOT to have a life purpose?

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