Dennis Won considered himself a loser. He was forty years old, single, and stuck in a dead-end job. This reality made him more bitter and negative. He tried to make friends. However, his personality repelled people. As he became more depressed, he wondered when his negative circumstances would end.
an unproductive climate
Are you surrounded by shallow dreams and empty pursuits? Some people like to complain about an unhappy life. However, others manage to turn negative experiences into positive ones. For example, the world mourned the death of Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, not because of his great contributions in the academic field, but because of his vision of life. Dr. Pausch meant living life with a focused purpose. He was a pioneer in virtual reality research. He died at the age of 47 years. To those who knew him, “his flamboyance of his and his showmanship as a teacher and mentor” made him a campus legend. His final discussion with the students centered on his fight against terminal cancer; his vision of life generated international recognition. Dr. Pausch’s book, the last reading, became a nonfiction bestseller. However, Pausch did not seek fame or fortune for himself. Pausch explained, “The conference was for my children, but if others find value in it, that’s wonderful.” However, many people never examine his personal values or goals in life. People tend to just exist. Faced with this reality, the next step would be to reassess our personal values in life, thus overcoming a wasted life.
Reality
Purposeless life continues to plague humanity. In fact, it can be deadly or lead to drastic decisions. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), suicide was the eleventh leading cause of death in 2004. Faced with this scenario, people who feel they have lost their purpose become more vulnerable. In fact, an estimated eight to 25 suicide attempts occur for every suicide death. Some key indicators in suicide attempt include gender, age, ethnicity, and extreme change. Risk factors include depression and other mental disorders. More than 90% of people who die by suicide face stressful events, according to the NIMH. Armed with these negative beliefs of a wasted life, individuals confine themselves to a premeditated future of sadness. In fact, the more that individual repeats these self-limiting thoughts, the more they become trapped in their ways. Nearly two centuries ago, Samuel Johnson said, “When a man knows he is going to be hanged in a fortnight, he concentrates his mind wonderfully.” Therefore, people need to establish a renewal process.
A better life
People need to get the most out of life. To do this, one must feel that life has some meaning. In fact, there is something special about having a reason to exist. In 1946, Dr. Viktor Frankl wrote a book, Man’s Search for Meaning, which embodied the concept of finality. As a prisoner in a Nazi death camp, Dr. Frankl developed a revolutionary approach called logotherapy, which emphasized that man’s primary motivational force is the search for meaning. Dr. Frankl, an author and psychiatrist, had firsthand experience of suffering. His wife, his father, mother and brother died in camps or were sent to gas chambers. Only Dr. Frankl and his sister survived. How could Frankl continue when everything seemed to be turning against him: the loss of family and possessions, the loss of dignity, mental and physical torture, and the constant threat of death? Like Dr. Pausch, Dr. Frankl used his purpose to support himself. Therefore, no matter what the obstacle, an individual can be renewed by a sense of purpose. The following questions are offered to start this renewal process:
- Are you frustrated enough to want something different and move in a positive direction?
- Are you willing to let go of any negative thoughts or people in your life?
- Have you seriously thought about your divine calling?
- Are you willing to invest the time and energy for your new self-discovery?
- Are you willing to receive help from professionals such as personal trainers or counselors who can help you in your transformation?
- Can you accept the consequences of making positive changes in your life?
- Will you ever be satisfied if you don’t find a meaningful existence?
the end story
Success begins when you take charge of your life. Personally, I don’t think anyone’s life is meaningless. Each individual is divinely made and uniquely created. However, people need to believe that they have a purpose. In fact, no man-made program, self-help book, or motivational speaker can instill purpose. British historian and essayist Thomas Carlyle noted: “The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder: an abandoned child, a nothing, a nobody. Have a purpose in life, and in having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you”. With purpose, a person can endure life’s hardships. Successful people know what’s important, but can get sidetracked if they don’t properly reevaluate themselves. Do not wait more. Start today to build a great life, not a wasted one.
