Purpose Of Life

We all have good and evil in ourselves. That's what makes us human; we have the potential to be good and are also prone to err. One cares about his/her outlook because it can be observed but what about the inner self? No one but oneself can be sure about that. One has a mirror that reflects the true image about oneself- conscience! One is always at war. The battle to choose good and be on the right path. This is the constant inner battle that each of us go through. Life is a struggle and the most important endeavour is to differentiate between right and wrong. This is the purpose of life. To shun the evils and to embrace the goodness. People often lose sight or never really have any clue in the first place about the purpose of their existence. They set for themselves achievable short term goals which define their lives. Great job, great company, comfortable living; all these can't possibly be the purpose of life simply because you can always achieve these targets. Purpose of life is endless. If one believes his/her life purpose to be materialistic then what after he achieves this target? Once s/he has achieved this materialistic purpose of life, the life is meaningless as the purpose is fulfilled BUT the life goes on. That is why I believe that true purpose of life is endless and has to be a constant battle; the most important battle, the inner battle!

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

No Pain No Gain

Hardships are opportunity cost if not learnt from. One can learn from tough times and rough patches; build resilience to sufferings and show character in the face of hardships. Pleasure makes us complacent and thankless, pain makes us considerate and compassionate. We tend to think about others after we've been through suffering. We can relate to them. We are more wary of how testing times can reduce one to helplessness and hopelessness. As we make it through the difficulty, through the dark tunnel into the light; we emerge as more compassionate, more grateful and more 'human'. It helps us realize our vulnerability and fragility so that we seek God's help to show us the direction of ultimate success and save us from the path of absolute harm. So that we may seek salvation and hope for redemption. Pain makes a believer out of us.

"Behind every trial and sorrow that He makes us shoulder, God has a reason." 
— Khaled Hosseini (A Thousand Splendid Suns)