Breathing Corpses

There is a poignant irony in the human condition, like so many of us are alive but barely living. We wake, work, sleep, and repeat the routine, moving through the motions of life as if it were a monotonous routine to endure rather than an adventure to embrace.

However, mere existence is different from living, and this dichotomy is central to the concept of purpose. It’s important to note that one can exist without purpose, but one can not truly live without it. Existence is foundational. It is biological, primal, and instinctual. To exist is to breathe, to eat, to sustain oneself. It is driven by the need to survive, often without deeper thought or direction.

Viktor Frankl, in his seminal work ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’, wrote: “Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” He observed this stark reality in the concentration camps during the Holocaust.

Those who merely existed and were consumed by despair, often withered away. But those who found purpose even amidst unimaginable suffering discovered a reason to live, to fight and to endure.

Existence can trap us in the realm of comfort and familiarity. It allows us to maintain the status quo, to avoid risks, and to settle for mediocrity. But in doing so, it denies us the fullness of life; the joy, the pain, the growth, and the discovery that comes with living.

Living, by contrast, is active. It is intentional, vibrant, and marked by a desire to leave a mark on the world. Living demands more than survival, it demands significance. Living requires embracing the uncomfortable: asking the hard questions, confronting fears, and pursuing goals that ignite the soul.

It involves making choices that reflect our values, contributing to something greater than ourselves, and finding joy in the journey rather than waiting for a destination.

Purpose serves as that bridge between mere existence and true living. It transforms the mundane into the meaningful. Without it, we are tossed about in the storm without direction or destination.

Simon Sinek, in his book ‘Start With Why,’ explains that “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” Purpose is our why and it gives coherence to our actions and depth to our experiences.

Often, people who are merely existing feel stuck in a routine that neither excites nor challenges them. They avoid risks or decisions that could disrupt their comfort, they struggle to find joy or fulfillment in daily life and live for the approval of others rather than for their own convictions.

Contrarily, people who are truly living most often than not wake up with a sense of excitement or curiosity about the day. They pursue goals that align with their passions and values. They embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, and invest in relationships and experiences that enrich their lives.

Bronnie Ware recounts the common regrets of those at life’s end. Chief among them is this: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

This is the essence of living, to follow your unique path, fueled by purpose, unburdened by fear or societal expectations. So get ready to cross the bridge of purpose with Daily Grace into true living.

Remember, it is never too late to choose living over existence. With purpose as your guide, you can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Please answer the call, because life is calling.

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