5 Reasons to Keep on Getting Up Each Morning

Published 13 February 2012

Almost everyone reflects on the purpose of life at some point. We know life's short, so most of us like to feel that it's meaningful, or that we're making the most of it. Many philosophers have reflected on the purpose of life, but for me it's about using our gifts, skills and personal traits to leave the world (at least our part of it) in a better condition than when we found it. This can be a daunting task for anyone, a thankless job and one where progress is hard to measure. Sometimes, life doesn't feel meaningful at all, and that can lead to discouragement and a lot of self-doubt.

If you ever feel like this, consider these five things:

1)    You are the Only You

You are a unique blend of traits, skills, passions and desires that will never be found in another human being. For example, you may be good at guitar like many others are, but you may only be passionate about playing songs about a particular subject or in a certain way. This makes you unique, the only you.  You may share similar traits, skills, passions and desires with others, but you will almost never find someone else who mirrors all four together. You alone can offer that blend to the world.

2)    If You Don’t Play Your Part in the Story, No One Will

Because you are unique, your part in life’s story can only be played by you. The world will make do without your blend of traits, skills, passions and desires, but it will never be at its best unless you play your part. You have something to offer the world, something that has the potential to make it a better place. That is invaluable.

3)    Things Won’t Always Be The Same

Sometimes we get discouraged because of our circumstances. We may have been trying to live a purpose filled life and become disheartened either because of the response to our efforts (or lack thereof), or because we can’t see if we’ve made any progress. Perhaps other things have had to take priority for the moment, and maybe those things are incredibly draining and/or challenging. Whatever your circumstance or obstacle, remember this: things won’t always be the same. Your chance will come. Change will come. The problem will resolve. Nothing lasts forever; everything passes. Life may be frustrating now, but there is still life to be lived. You may have to wait a little, but don’t give up: your breakthrough could be closer than you think.

4)    You're Not Alone

When difficult circumstances come our way it’s easy to think that we’re the only one’s going through them. It’s important to remember however that many others have gone through and overcome them. There are other people who are struggling to find out what their purpose is. There are others who are fighting against their circumstances, against their own self-defeating talk, against other people’s perceptions of them. If they can do it, so can you. You may not realise it, but you have the same access to resources, to good support networks, to people who understand. Sometimes our self-pity can keep us in the rut, but by realising we are not alone, we too can find a way forward.

5)    You Never Know What Might Happen When You Step Out Your Door

Thomas Edison tried and failed many times to make an incandescent light bulb before he succeeded but is quoted as saying, ‘I didn’t fail. I found 2000 ways not to make a light bulb. Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.’ The same is true of us. We may feel we’re making no progress, that life is pointless, but each day is a fresh start with new hope. We don’t know what might happen when we step outside in the morning, what opportunities may come our way, what challenges we might finally overcome, what difference we might now be able to make. It is always worth taking that first step just to find out.

Whether you’re struggling with seeing any value in your life and/or in what you have to give, be reassured that you are unique and that each day is a chance to pursue your purpose. We all have the capacity to make a difference; we all have something to offer. No matter what anyone else believes of us, if we believe it of ourselves, we have empowered ourselves to lead a life worth living.