We are both intimidated and madly excited by one of the oldest questions underlying all of humanity: "What is the meaning of life?" What is the point of it all? Why are we born, why do we die, and why does anything exist? If you find yourself pondering these questions, you are likely at a crossroads. You might feel lost, with no idea what your calling is, or perhaps you've been searching for years, and nothing feels right.

Deep down, we all want our lives to mean something. We want to dedicate ourselves to what we love. But how? The desire to know why we live can feel like opening a Pandora's box of existential questions. Soon enough, we can find ourselves overwhelmed. This fundamental question is often at the heart of dark and melancholic human experiences. Sometimes, the more we search for answers, the more they elude us.

This exploration aims to help navigate these difficult emotions, to help you feel strong again. By the end, you should understand the crucial difference between meaning and purpose, feel a sense of relief, and have a clearer idea of what to do with your life.

Meaning Is What You Create; Purpose Is What You Discover

Most people use the concepts of "meaning" and "purpose" interchangeably, but they are fundamentally different. Understanding this distinction is the first step out of the confusing labyrinth of existential dread.

The meaning of life is something we invent for ourselves. It is a personal philosophy, a collection of beliefs and ideas about why we are here. It is subjective. It depends entirely on your worldview, your dreams, desires, and preferences. For one person, the meaning of their life might be raising children; for another, it's creating art, engaging in charity, or even living a simple life in a forest hut. Meaning can change over time, just like fashion, or it can remain a constant anchor. To find your meaning, you have to engage in some inner reconnaissance—to understand your talents, your weaknesses, what inspires you, and what drains you.

The purpose of life, on the other hand, is like built-in firmware. Everyone has it, coded somewhere deep inside. It is objective. It’s not something you invent, but something you fulfill, like a program that has been running since your birth. You don’t have to chase it like a departing train; you are already on its path, even if you don't realize it yet.

The Unstoppable Force of Growth

So, what is this innate, objective purpose? From a purely earthly point of view, the answer is simple: to grow, change, and expand. This is a fundamental law of nature. Trees sprout new shoots, rivers carve new channels, and the universe itself expands. Development is not a choice but a natural, inherent process.

But are we just biological mechanisms forced to follow this path? For those who see the world only through a material lens, the answer is yes. Yet, life is far more complex than a set of chemical reactions. For ages, people have sensed there is something more beyond the tangible world.

This leads to a spiritual perspective on purpose: to mature and develop on all levels—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The process of spiritual awakening is an expression of this maturation. Our souls expand and grow. Like childbirth, this growth can be a painful process, but it is an integral part of life's purpose.

Finding Your Kingdom: Are You a Tree, a Mushroom, or a Meteorite?

What if this whole idea of growth and expansion doesn't appeal to you? What if you just want to live a quiet life and not evolve like a Pokémon?

Development isn't always about success and grand achievements. Sometimes, it means learning to stand still without guilt, because expansion is not only upward but also inward. Think of a seed. It first buries itself in the dark, hibernating, and only when the time is right does it break through to the surface. If you feel you are standing still, perhaps you are simply in your seed phase. Growth cannot be forced; it will happen when it's meant to.

Or perhaps you look at the world and feel you aren't a majestic oak but some kind of weed. What if your purpose is to stick out on the side of the road? Well, the world needs weeds, too. Nettles sting, but they are full of useful properties. Cacti are prickly, but they hold a treasure of water in the desert. Maybe your purpose isn't to become a great Baobab but to be resilient, prickly, and unlike everyone else—and still, undeniably, alive.

Then again, maybe you’re not a plant at all. Maybe you're a mushroom. Mushrooms exist somewhere between plants and animals. They can be solitary toadstools or vast underground networks connecting entire forests. Perhaps your path isn't to grow up, but to connect. You are not the one striving for the top, but the one who creates the invisible, vital relationships that help others grow. A mushroom doesn't need to become an oak; it has its own essential work to do.

What if none of this resonates? What if you feel like an artificial flower—existing, but with an emptiness inside? You look fine, but you feel as though you were placed on a shelf simply to create the illusion of life. Artificial flowers are quiet guardians of comfort. They don't demand attention, they don't wilt, they just are. They are tiny acts of resistance against the constant pressure to change. Perhaps your purpose isn't to rush toward perfection but simply to be, which is more than enough.

And what if you feel you don't belong here at all? As if you were accidentally thrown into this world without a manual. Maybe your purpose is not to fit in. What if you are a meteorite from another coordinate system? Some come to this world to grow according to its laws, while others come to bring something new, something that wasn't here before. Your role might not be to follow scripts, but to write your own.

Finally, consider the possibility that you are an observer. Your purpose may not be to participate in the struggle, but to be a witness—to see how everything is built, collapses, and is built again. When we stop trying to actively influence the world, we can notice the incredible beauty in what is happening without our intervention. Being an observer is perhaps the freest path of all.

The Deeper Calling: Maturing the Soul

Ultimately, our main task here may be to grow our soul. Just as the body is formed in the womb, the soul is a project that continues long after birth. With each experience, it becomes deeper and richer. Our difficulties and pain are like the sandpaper that polishes a pearl.

This is what it means to grow the soul: to establish a connection with who you really are. This culmination is known by many names across different traditions: enlightenment, self-realization, individuation, nirvana, or unity.

Turning Inward: A Compass for Self-Discovery

To find the meaning of life, you must first find yourself. Self-analysis is key. If you don’t know where to start, here are a few simple ways to begin your inner exploration.

1. Listen to your inner child. Your inner child is the original version of you. It holds a tremendous amount of wisdom. What did you love to do before the world told you what you should do? Did you like to read, build things, talk to animals, or create imaginary worlds? The core of that activity, the quality that attracted you most, may hold a clue.
2. Explore what you don't know. We all have a small patch of genius—things we know well. Everything else can feel like a dark forest. To expand is to dive into a topic where you are a complete beginner, something that has secretly intrigued you. Don't be afraid to be an amateur with burning eyes.
3. Find the meaning in your past. Life experiences are, by themselves, neutral. It is how we interpret them that gives them meaning. Have you ever thoughtfully reviewed your experiences? Look at your life in perspective. What were your peaks and valleys? What victories and losses defined you, and most importantly, what did they teach you? If you can answer the question, "What has my life path taught me?" you may discover your true meaning.
4. Imagine your final moments. This is a powerful, though potentially uncomfortable, exercise. Set aside ten minutes in a quiet, dark place. Imagine you are on your deathbed, looking back over your life. What achievements come to mind first? What fills you with pride? What were you devoted to? What truly great thing did you bring into this world? When you finish, write down what you saw. The answer may be more important than it seems.

As Nietzsche said, "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." Your meaning comes from the depths of your heart. To hear it, you need to find ways to go within yourself and listen carefully.

References

• Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man's search for meaning. Beacon Press.

  This foundational work of logotherapy, developed by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl after his experiences in Nazi concentration camps, argues that the primary human drive is not pleasure but the pursuit of what we find meaningful. It directly supports the article's distinction between a life of purpose and one of personally derived meaning, particularly in how we interpret and find value in our life experiences, even suffering (see Part Two: "Logotherapy in a Nutshell").

• Hillman, J. (1997). The soul's code: In search of character and calling. Grand Central Publishing.

  Hillman's "acorn theory" posits that each person is born with a unique "daimon" or spirit, which contains the seed of their individual purpose. This aligns with the article's concept of an objective, innate purpose that is discovered rather than invented. The book explores how this calling manifests throughout life, often in ways that defy conventional expectations, resonating with the metaphors of the weed, mushroom, and meteorite (see Chapter 1: "The Acorn Theory and the Redemption of the Calling").

• Jung, C. G. (1968). The archetypes and the collective unconscious (Collected Works, Vol. 9, Part 1). Princeton University Press.

  This volume details Jung's concept of "individuation," the lifelong psychological process of integrating the conscious and unconscious aspects of the self to become a whole, distinct individual. This corresponds directly with the article's theme of "growing the soul" as a central life purpose. The journey of individuation is about fulfilling one's innate potential, a core tenet discussed throughout the text (see paragraphs 289-299 on the process of individuation).