Ultimately, life is an endless series of mostly dull moments strung between sporadic, pivotal events. And most of us enjoy a humble existence. Your purpose for living doesn’t need to be complex or elaborate. Fame and fortune do not equal meaning. Some of us know what we are meant to be or do during our tenure on Earth. Some marvel at possibilities without identifying any in particular. Others might not ever ask themselves such a philosophical question.
Your reasons for living might be obvious and unshakable, or they might seem more elusive. Wherever you are in the continuum of knowing your purpose, focus your attention on this inquiry: What is your why? Then, write about it by answering the following prompts.
My Why
- I am here to:
- I aspire to:
- I dedicate myself to:
Reflections
How was it to consider your purpose in life? Weighty? Illuminating? Have you been living in alignment with your why, or might you make changes to do so? Hopefully identifying goals fosters more inspiration than frustration.
It’s kind to offer ourselves healthy margins. Just as we wouldn’t expect a beloved to be perfect, we won’t always act as our most authentic selves. Also, we don’t need to always be serious. Living well means opening to it all, which includes fun!
When you want to keep it light, give yourself permission to do so. When you are depleted, nurture yourself. Guilt isn’t a great motivator—mortality awareness can be, though. In the end, a healthy regard for impermanence, liminality, equanimity, and purpose leaves us with the following knowledge—a dialectical sort of truth: time passes, yet this moment is mine.
Excerpted from:
In this thought-provoking publication, community doula and death literacy advocate Francesca Lynn Arnoldy offers readers a guided tour through topics like death anxiety, mortality awareness, compassion, and connection. This contemplative workbook is geared toward anyone wanting a more intentional approach to living and dying as well as those beginning or updating their end-of-life plans, those with serious/terminal conditions, people ready to create remembrance gifts for loved ones, and deathcare providers seeking more tools. It includes personal stories, professional anecdotes, and practical activities throughout with sensitivity to all belief systems, cultures, identities, and histories of lived experience—inviting readers to modify and customize as needed to ensure alignment.
Francesca Lynn Arnoldy 
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