calebchouinard Sep 18, 2024 8:07 AM

The Pursuit of Purpose: Are You Living Your Dream or Someone Else's?

Life can take us in many different directions, driven by ideas, dreams, and goals. I’ve experienced both the exhilaration of achieving dreams and th...

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Life can take us in many different directions, driven by ideas, dreams, and goals. I’ve experienced both the exhilaration of achieving dreams and the pain of losing them. For much of my life, I was chasing an ideal—one shaped by my surroundings and the expectations of others. School, college, and society all pushed me toward a vision of success. But one question stopped me in my tracks: Whose dream am I actually living?

 

That question changed everything. I realized the goals I had been pursuing weren’t truly mine. They were either imposed by others or born out of selfish ambition, and they left me unfulfilled. I wanted something greater than myself, something with lasting significance. When I finally stopped listening to the world and its distractions, I began to uncover my true purpose and vision.

 

Everyone is searching for something in life—whether it's fame, money, or a lavish lifestyle. I once chased after those things, just as many of us do. But what happens when you finally attain them, only to find that they don't meet your expectations? What do you pursue next?

 

Let me tell you: if you live a selfish life, you’ll reap a selfish reward. But if you live a selfless life, the reward is eternal. In the end, what value do our possessions, titles, or achievements really hold? Eventually, they will all become meaningless. Your wealth will pass to someone else, and your titles will be given to another.

 

So, I leave you with this question: Why do you live your life the way you do, and for what ultimate purpose? Are you chasing after things that will one day be meaningless, or are you pursuing a vision that will have eternal value? At some point, we must all confront these questions and decide whether we will continue to live someone else’s dream or find the courage to live out our own, rooted in a purpose bigger than ourselves.

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