Life Lessons

The Mission of Life

Hand holding up a compass
© Freepik

“The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost; to be everywhere, is to be nowhere.”
— Michel de Montaigne

Just as we cannot survive without food and water, we humans cannot survive without a sense of the ultimate purpose or meaning of life — of life in general, and of our own life in particular. We want to transcend death by attaching ourselves to something permanent that will outlast us: art, science, our families and so forth. We all know, and as Vladimir Nabokov believed, “our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities of darkness”.

What is essential is an engagement with something that gives meaning and purpose to one’s life. Having a clear sense of purpose can help you navigate moments of certainty when you feel unsure of your next steps. The work of defining purpose is the work of becoming fully conscious of what you love and what is most alive within you and then acting accordingly. You should align your life’s goal with your mind, heart and body, your purpose connecting with the sources of meaning, joy and inspiration that reside deep within you. Life develops meaning because someone identifies with God’s purpose.

Cover of the October 2022 issue of The Teenager Today featuring Sriya Lenka

Subscribe to The Teenager Today print / digital editions to read the full article.

Moin Qazi holds PhDs in Development Economics and English. He worked for three decades at State Bank of India in various developmental roles. He served as Chancellor’s nominee in Nagpur University and as a Member of the National Committee on Financial Inclusion at NITI Aayog. He is the recipient of the UNESCO World Politics Essay Gold Medal, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Gold Medal from Dalit Sahitya Academy and Rotary International’s Vocational Excellence Award.

Moin Qazi

Moin Qazi holds PhDs in Development Economics and English. He worked for three decades at State Bank of India in various developmental roles. He served as Chancellor’s nominee in Nagpur University and as a Member of the National Committee on Financial Inclusion at NITI Aayog. He is the recipient of the UNESCO World Politics Essay Gold Medal, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Gold Medal from Dalit Sahitya Academy and Rotary International’s Vocational Excellence Award.