Theme: "Men—Myths, Mirrors & Magic" Title: "The Library of Forgotten Men" By: Denzel

 

The Librarian once told me every man becomes a book when he dies. Not the grand, gilded kind—but the ones shoved into the Miscellaneous section, spines cracked with unspoken words.

I found my father there. His pages smelled of salt and engine grease. Chapter 3: How to Love a Woman Without Swallowing Your Tongue. Chapter 7: Silence as a Love Language (See Also: Regret). I dog-eared the corners where he’d tried to write himself kinder.

Across the aisle, my brother’s volume pulsed with heat. How to Be a Storm Without Destroying the Village—title scribbled out, rewritten, scribbled out again. His margins were crowded with doodles: a boy building a ladder to the moon.

Then I stumbled upon my book. Still blank.

The Librarian coughed. “Most men spend lifetimes editing their first sentence. Be bold.”

So I inked my opening line:
“Once, there was a man who dared to read himself aloud.”

Your purpose is an antidote to your depression

 

Too many of us bury our dreams in a lesser existence, making ourselves a graveyard of God's precious treasure. Change will always upset people who are content to be stagnant.

People, especially youths ignore completely this idea of purpose and just live their lives without a plan or to even know why they wake up everyday. Trust me you can earn overwhelming wealth and still be depressed and unfulfilled. Living in an environment of competition because you have to protect what you have in order not to drop from that level and even with the level of respect you command with that wealth if you don't discover and fulfill purpose you will live and die a very disturbed and unhappy person. Purpose is that one thing you want to do even without getting paid, it is that thing that brings fulfillment to you when you do it. Purpose is distinct to every person on earth and two people can never have the same purpose. It is like a finger print. Purpose is embedded in our passion for something and the vision we have for that thing. Though they are not the same they must always come together in order for purpose to be fulfilled. Do not live a life of penury and be unfulfilled. In my country and even the world at large, people, especially youths are more concerned about survival and wants to do only what will bring the next meal and thereby ignoring their purpose on earth. The fact that you woke up today is testament that the world still needs something that only you can provide, that thing is your purpose and it is what brings about overwhelming impact and contribution in the world. Find your purpose and find your antidote to depression.

Reasons and Benefits of Having a Life Purpose

 

• “The human race is a monotonous affair. Most people spend the greatest part of their time working to live, and what little freedom remains so fills them with fear that they seek out any and every means to be rid of it.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• Do you wake up each day dreading spending another day at a job you hate? Do you feel dissatisfied with your life? It might be because you have not determined what your purpose is. It takes work to uncover it, but it is within you.
  

  Living a life in alignment with your purpose allows you to go through your day happy, hopeful, and with an action plan. The trick is to determine your why. If your life is in a rut, it is time to discover your life purpose. Knowing your life's purpose has numerous benefits.
  
• • You have more fun when you know your purpose and live it. You are in a position to enjoy yourself.
  • You have a greater passion for life. Since you are spending your day doing things important to you, you will have more enthusiasm.
    
  • Your future looks exciting to you. You have a high level of motivation that makes you unstoppable in reaching your goals when you have a clear purpose.
    
  • You get the chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself. You can change the world in a significant way.
    
• 
• Finding your life's purpose will alter your way of living forever. Discovering your purpose in life will change how you live forever. It adds meaning and focus to every decision and action and is the motive behind all choices.

WHAT IS PURPOSE?......

 

• “Everyone has a purpose in life…a unique gift or special talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of goals.” – Deepak Chopra
• According to Dictionary.com, Purpose (noun) is the reason something is done, created, or exists. When you think of your purpose, most of the time you think of “Why” – why someone is working on something, why a task matters to a job, or why a job matters to someone. We want to know that the outcome is meaningful.

  “It is just built into our DNA,” says Jacinta Jimenez, a psychologist, and the head of coaching at the leadership development platform, BetterUp.com. “As human beings, we are wired to connect, and part of the purpose is serving others or serving the greater good, something outside of us that allows us to feel more connected.”
  

  This need to connect and serve others so you can feel more connected motivates you to fulfil your purpose. Your life purpose is the reason you get up in the morning, the motivating goal of your life.
  

  Your purpose can be the guide you use when making decisions that influence your behaviour, shape your goals, and give you a sense of direction or creates meaning in your life.
  

  For some, the purpose is connected to their career and meaningful, satisfying work. While for others, it comes from their responsibilities to their family and friends. Others continue to turn to spirituality or their religious convictions to find purpose. Some people may find meaning in all facets of their lives.
  

  Everybody has a specific purpose, so what you determine to be your route will be different from someone else's. Your priorities may change over the course of your life, and your experiences may vary, causing them to shift and change.
  

  You can have some questions when you think about your life's purpose. These might include:
  
• 
• • Who am I? 
  • Where do I belong?
    
  • What is my purpose in life?
  • When do I feel fulfilled? 
• The purpose is our reason why. It serves as the impetus for our acts, objectives, and fulfilment. We become content and happier when we have a purpose in life, whether through employment, volunteering, or some other activity.

WHAT IS PURPOSE?

 

• “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for a newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
• Have you ever considered your purpose for being on earth or what you are supposed to do? It is the age-old question: “What is my purpose in life?”

  Imagine you are so sure about your purpose that you spring out of bed every morning, excited to start your day. Imagine going to bed each night feeling content and appreciative of the possibilities and knowledge you gained today.
  

  Most people do not suddenly realize they have found their purpose in life. Many of us will spend countless hours searching, dreaming, and wondering about our purpose. Some will never find it. Some people spend their entire lives looking for their calling. Some individuals will put in the effort and take decisive action to identify their talents, passions, and life goals.
  

  Some people spend their entire lives looking for their purpose. We spend a big part of our lives working. In actuality, most people work more than 90,000 hours throughout their lifetime. With all that time working, it makes sense to want to be doing something that fulfils your purpose.
  

  Consider these facts regarding the significance of leading a purposeful work-life balance:
• • 9 out of 10 workers would take a pay cut if they had the opportunity for purposeful work.
  • Employees want their work to be meaningful.
    
  • Those who have meaningful work emerge as leaders and top contributors.
    
  • Turnover rates are lower when work is meaningful.
    
  • Employees with meaningful work are happier, more productive, and harder workers, according to BetterUp.com.
• 
• Finding your purpose is a lifelong pursuit. There are a few lucky ones who discover their purpose early on, but most people struggle over and over again trying to figure out what exactly they were meant to do on earth.

  The first step to building a happy profession and life that ignites your passion and lets you use your skills is understanding your purpose. Nevertheless, you must first understand the importance of the purpose and what it is. This manual will delve further into the subject and assist you in comprehending the necessity of having a purpose.

Making Purpose Part of Life 2

 

• “If you feel like there is something out there that you are supposed to be doing if you have a passion for it,
  

  then stop wishing and just do it.” — Wanda Sykes
• Now that you are ready to live a life of purpose, you are passionate and filled with the energy to take the next big step. But hold on. Take a deep breath before you jump to keep from getting overwhelmed.
• 
  

Slow progress is the most reliable way to create any change in your life. When trying to reach a new goal, running a marathon, for instance, you set a pace to take a small step.

LOOK TO THE FUTURE

• • What does the end of your journey look like? How do you want to be seen in the future? What does your life look like? Now make a plan on how to get there.

    
    

    What can you do today to get started on your purpose? Do you need to make a new plan or set some new goals? Are there people whom you need to connect with? Is there something you can do today toward your passion? What resources do you need?
  • REMIND YOURSELF OF YOUR PURPOSE EACH DAY
  • • • Every morning and evening, remind yourself of it, look to the future, and feel the excitement. You can do this by rereading your goal, having a vision board of your life purpose goal, or simply journaling each day.
      • TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
      • • • Keep a journal listing your wins and losses. How can you create more success and prevent making future failures? Appreciate each step along the way.
          • LET OTHERS KNOW YOU HAVE FOUND YOUR PURPOSE
          • • • Tell and show others what you are doing. Practice putting your meaning into your daily activities. How can you communicate the importance of your purpose to others? You are the messenger, not just a worker.

                
                

                For example, if you know your life purpose is to create joy in other people’s lives through your art, your plan might include teaching others to paint, taking others on retreats that include art sessions, or hosting a tour at the local art gallery.
              • PUT IN THE WORK
              • • • Do not expect your life purpose to magically happen. You have to take the action and put into practice what needs to happen to make your life purpose a reality. To make a difference and be passionate about your meaning takes effort and time. Do not let the magnitude of your dreams become overwhelming for you. Do a little work each day, and the results will come faster than expected.
                  • 
                    
                    
                    
                    

Making Purpose Part of Life

 

• “Follow your own passion - not your parents,’ not your teachers’ - yours.” - Robert Ballard
• You have taken the time to explore your talents, discover your passions and determine what fills you with meaning. You know what you want and how you want to show up. You are prepared to devote your life to fulfilling your purpose.

  Before you can claim your passions, talents, and purpose to connect with the work you want to do, you have to figure out how to make it a part of your life every day. Living a passionate life begins with what brings you joy, knowing what you care about and why you create the things you do.
  
• 
• The definition of purpose is "the reason you do what you do," "your motive," or "the rationale." That is purposeful work that contributes to the world and allows you to use your skills and talents. Following your purpose and living a passionate life enables you to offer value to others. So how can you use how you have narrowed down your primary reason for being?
• “The dynamic process of aligning yourself with your life purpose requires energy and willpower: wind in your sails to move you forward, and a strong rudder to prevent being blown off course,” writes Victor Strecher, a behavioural scientist at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, and author of the book called Life on Purpose.

  Making your purpose a passionate part of your life requires energy and willpower, setting a course, and taking action. Of course, these can be boosted by having a healthy lifestyle that includes sleeping and eating well, getting plenty of exercises, and being present in your everyday life through meditation, prayer, or other practices.
  

  A healthy lifestyle influences every other area of your life. Along with a healthy lifestyle, though, is the need to take action and be aware of every choice or decision you make as it relates to your purpose.