Day 3 - What Drives Your Life?

We are driven by different factors. Sadly, most people today are driven by the wrong things, and they end up seeking an empty and unfulfilling destination; Materialism, approval from others, anger and resentment, fear, or guilt. Of these, materialism is the most common one in the modern society today. Ask someone what they wish to attain in the next 5 years, and half will response with things like a car, a house, pay increment, promotion etc. The other half of the lot will not even have a clue of what they want, so they end up just following the crowd, thinking that what fits the rest will be fulfulling for them too.

That's why there are so many individuals who are not happy with their life, with their job, with their marriage etc etc... Resulting in broken marriages, unfulfilling relationships, untapped potentials.

"7 Habits of Highly Effective People" advocated "Beginning with the End in Mind" as the 2nd habit; the final end of our life is the day that we die. Upon that day, what do we hope to have achieved? In constrast, does our daily actions contribute to that end? Or do they contradicts the end that we desire? Specifically, how many will hope to be branded a liar, a weakling, an irresponsible person after we passed? How about being branded a respectable father/mother, a caring and helpful friend, a lovely spouse? Yet how many of us lie blatantly to get that business deal? How many forget to listen to their kids after a tiring work day? How many forget to love their spouse amidst the unending list of mundane issues?

I believe that many of us have at one point or another during our life asked, "what is the meaning of life? why am I here?" I don't have an answer, but I believe that each of us is unqiue, and we have our gifts in different ways. Some people are musically inclined, some are very logical for scientific work, some are born leaders... of course the list goes on, but you get the point. I believe that the way that we are gifted has something to do our purpose. Well, those qualities must have come with a purpose right? You're not born with musical inclinations just so that you can always laze at home watching TV right?

A person with good levels of creativity is purposed to be an artist, creative director etc, so that he/she can bring about enriching art, culture, adverts into the reality; to enrich the lives of others.

This realization is vital. Cause without it, there's no way to understand one's own destiny, purpose, mandate (whatever you call it). Without this end state in mind, there's no way to focus our daily efforts, and we end up like a boat drifting without steers; floating wherever the tides may bring. Hence, lost.