How I Found Purpose In My Life
Agápe, The Love for Everything
Around nine months ago, a friend of mine, a forest officer in a remote area, invited me to visit her.
She was stationed in a village situated in a remarkably beautiful location.
At that time, I was practicing mindfulness, making this an excellent opportunity to explore Mother Nature.
During one of those days, while wandering alone in the mountains, I encountered a truly old tree.
Old trees never fail to captivate my mind, often leading me to profound realizations about life.
Mesmerized by the sight, I noticed a man strolling among the trees.
This wasn’t a monk or an aged sage; it was a young man, even younger than me, roaming among those green trees.
Engrossed in the moment, the young man approached and asked if I needed any help.
Working for the forest department, he was there for official duties, exuding energy and a jovial spirit.
When he inquired about my presence, I simply stated that I was observing the trees, and wondering how trees make people more mindful.
“Nature has a unique way of making us mindful, helping us develop self-transcending values,” he said.
“You know what, these trees helped me to find purpose in my life”,he added.
Curious, I asked about these values and the purpose of life.
He explained that life’s purpose revolves around a person’s values, with two sets usually present, one dominating the other.
One is self-enhancing values and the other one is self-transcending values.
Self-enhancing values focus on gaining social status and authority for oneself, while self-transcending values embody selflessness.
Research indicates that those with self-transcending values tend to lead happier live.
While he was speaking, the young man’s insights intrigued my thoughts. I was truly amazed by his unique perspective.
“If purpose of life is centered around values then people cannot chose to be selfless if they have selfish tendencies”, I asked.
He said that he wasn’t naturally empathetic and happy and it is possible for everyone to develope self-transcending values.
He told me further that he developed self-transcending values through Love-Kindness Meditation which is usually called compassionate meditation.
This practice consists of six simple steps.
- Sitting at a quite place.
- Imagine yourself sitting before you and say , “Dear self, You are strong, You are positive and I wish you become happy and satisfied”.Repeat this 4–5 times unless your heart starts believing it.
- Imagine your best friend entering your space and say this to them.
- Now, Imagine a stranger entering into your sight and repeat the same.
- Repeat this process for a person you hate the most.
- Now imagine the whole world, all the creatures and everything you have ever encountered and repeat this for everyone in the world.
Through a daily ritual of sitting among the trees, closing his eyes, and expressing positive affirmations, he developed self-transcending values.
Enlightened by his words, I adopted this practice into my routine.
After six months of consistent meditation, a positive shift in my mindset became evident.
I started loving everything in the Universe.
My family noticed the absence of arguments, and friends questioned my perpetual positivity, challenging me to explain the ingrained positivity in my mindset.
I didn’t know that investing 10–15 minutes of my life daily will ingrain positivity deeper in my personality.
I kept myself on the track of further improvement in my thoughts and personality.
Recently, when I stumbled upon the Greek word “Agápe,” I found it resonating with my journey. Yeah this is going to be the purpose of my life.
Agápe represents empathetic love for humanity, extending beyond personal relationships to include affection for God, nature, strangers, and the less fortunate.
This is what I wanted in my life. The Universal love. The empathy and love for everything and everyone.
This concept is a foundation for great societies, characterized by unconditional positive regard, acceptance, faithfulness, and commitment.
Ekaterini Constantine, a Greek therapist, emphasizes active community engagement, with volunteering as a tangible expression of Agápe.
This altruistic approach creates a ripple effect, strengthening social fabric and fostering compassionate communities that transcend personal boundaries.
Understanding Agápe provides a framework for expressing the depth and breadth of emotional connections.
In conclusion, Agápe stands as a testament to the transformative power of empathetic, universal love.
By embodying its principles through acts of kindness, acceptance, and community involvement, individuals contribute to the creation of a more compassionate and interconnected world.
Let us carry the spirit of Agápe into our interactions, fostering a love that transcends boundaries and nurtures the collective well-being of humanity.