The Purpose of Life Is to Be Happy: True or False?
The Dalai Lama once said, “The purpose of life is to be happy.”
According to him, people are born with an inherent sense of kindness and warmheartedness toward others. If the ultimate goal in life is to find happiness, being kind and good to others should help us achieve that.
The Dalai Lama’s view is very optimistic about the nature of people, which feels quite refreshing nowadays. But is he right in saying that the purpose of life is to be happy? After all, happiness means different things to different people.
Let’s find out in this article.
How Do You Find Your Purpose in Life? Top Tips
Finding out what your purpose in life is can be daunting.
Purpose varies from person to person, and no one can find it but you. Some people spend their whole lives searching without ever finding it.
But that doesn’t mean they don’t have a purpose! It only means they were looking in the wrong places.
Finding your purpose is easier said than done, so we’ve prepared some pointers and suggestions to help you.
1. Identify What Brings You Inner Peace
The Dalai Lama believes the key to happiness lies in peace of mind. This inner peace is something you can’t buy from a shop. Instead, you must cultivate it within yourself.
So, if you want the kind of happy life the Dalai Lama describes, you must find what brings you inner peace.
It’s time for some soul-searching. What do you love doing? What makes you feel at ease? What gives you a sense of fulfillment in the present moment? (To help you out, you might be interested in this article on how to find what makes you happy.)
When you’ve answered these questions, you’ll be well on your way to finding your purpose in life.
2. Focus On Self-Improvement and Well-Being
If you want to find your purpose in life, you must understand yourself and your own shortcomings.
If you can’t be honest with yourself, you won’t honestly know what makes you happy. Self-reflection is integral to understanding what you want from life and how to get there.
Taking the time to reflect on things you can improve is only the first step. From there, you need to make a conscious effort to improve those things. This can take a long time, but the effort is worth it.
If you don’t work to improve your life, you won’t find fulfillment or purpose in the long run.
You may think, “I don’t deserve to be happy.”
This isn’t true! Everyone deserves to find their own happiness. However, some people have a lot of work to do before they can be truly happy.
3. Contribute to Your Community
Doing things that benefit others is an excellent way to find your purpose in life.
One of the most effective ways to help others is to get involved in community outreach programs and services.
Remember that despite our different cultures and beliefs, we’re all human beings. There isn’t a nobler purpose than helping others who are having a tougher time managing than you are.
Kindness is contagious. Offering a helping hand can add a dash of positivity to someone’s life. They, in turn, might pass this on to the next person! Setting off a chain reaction of kindness is one of the most satisfying things you can do.
So, if you’re looking for a sense of purpose, remember that community service is an excellent place to start. It’s a great way to give back, feel connected, and make a real difference.
4. Practice Compassion in Your Daily Life
Compassion is at the heart of humanity. It involves understanding and empathizing with the pain and challenges others face and motivates us to take action to alleviate their suffering.
Practicing compassion can be a powerful catalyst for discovering your purpose.
When you’re compassionate, you see the world from a broader perspective. You see how we’re all interconnected. Rather than focusing on yourself, your attention shifts outward to thinking more deeply and critically about the needs of others. You think more carefully about how your actions impact those around you.
As you practice compassion, you unlock new insights into your own values and passions. You discover how you can use your talents, skills, and resources to improve the lives of others. You may encounter issues or causes that deeply resonate with you that you want to pursue further. All this can lead you to your purpose in life.
5. Form Habits That Bring You Happiness
Sometimes people feel like they don’t have a purpose because they don’t feel in control of their lives.
Many working adults start their mornings early with breakfast and morning chores. Then, they go to a job for most of the day, work hard, and come home tired. Feeling drained, they find it difficult to fit anything else into the day.
Human existence shouldn’t be all about work! So, what’s the solution?
You need to form habits that bring you happiness in your daily routine!
As much as you can, find activities that bring you joy and incorporate them into your daily routine. Maybe it’s taking a walk with your dog every morning or reading for a few minutes during your lunch break. Perhaps it’s cooking dinner with your family or talking with a friend on the phone while you’re driving to and from work.
These small habits may seem insignificant, but they can have a lasting impact on your mood and outlook. When you start feeling more positive and like you have some control over your life, it can be much easier to find your purpose.
6. Make Time to Cultivate Your Relationships
Cultivating relationships is very important. Strong relationships make you feel supported, loved, and connected. These positive emotions can help you through tough times and make the good times even better.
Your friends and family are people who know you better than anyone else, sometimes including yourself!, so they can help guide you when you’re feeling lost. They’ll gladly tell you about all your positive qualities so you can see them too!
So, make an effort to reach out to your loved ones more often. Take the time to connect with them through text, social media, or good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation.
Catching up with friends doesn’t have to be a big production. You can have a meaningful conversation, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
If you feel like your life needs more direction, tell your friends and family. Speak with them about the struggles you’re going through, and get their advice. You don’t have to take it, but having a second opinion is always helpful.
Most people battle with a lack of purpose, especially later in life. Don’t be afraid to tell the people in your life if you’re one of them. If you have strong relationships, they’ll be happy to listen and try to help you figure it out.
7. Take Satisfaction in Making Progress
If you’re struggling to find your purpose in life, chances are high that you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself.
When searching for your purpose, trying to succeed on the very first try is tempting. The desire to instantly find the knowledge or answer you’re looking for is an ever-present part of modern living.
But remember that the journey is just as important as the destination. You probably won’t figure it out immediately, and that’s okay!
Take satisfaction in the fact that you’re even on the journey in the first place. The effort you put in is just as important as the result. And, more often than not, the journey is more rewarding than the destination.
So, cut yourself some slack and take your time. Celebrate when you make progress — no matter how small it may be.
You’re on a journey, which means you’re bound to take some detours and wrong turns. It happens to the best of us, so don’t get discouraged when you hit a roadblock.
Interestingly, frequently what seems like a wrong turn is actually the right one that leads you to your destination. So, keep an open mind and enjoy the process!
The Purpose of Life Is to Be Happy: True or False?
With all that information fresh in our minds, let’s get back to the central question: Is the purpose of life to be happy?
Well, that depends on you!
Consider this: happiness is how people find their purpose. If something brings you a strong sense of happiness, peace, and satisfaction, it may be your calling. Whatever your life purpose, being happy will make the ride much smoother.
If you want to know if you’ve found your purpose, ask yourself if you’re doing what makes you happy. Does it have a positive impact on your life? Does it positively impact those around you? If the answers are yes, then congratulations—you’ve found your purpose!
We believe that the purpose of life is to be happy, and to be happy, you need to find your purpose. Purpose is one of the elements of happiness and is something you determine for yourself. It’s not set in stone, and it can change over time. What matters is that you live a life that’s authentic to you and brings you true happiness.
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve found this article helpful!
Keep seeking out your purpose in life. You may be feeling a little lost – don’t worry; it’s normal! If you keep at it and remember that happiness is a habit, you’ll be closer to understanding your calling.
If you’re looking for a way to track your happiness, consider using the Do Happy App. This app is dedicated to helping you get a little dose of happy every day on your journey toward finding your purpose!