The Teleology of Life

[Teleology: – (from Greek telos) meaning end or purpose | philosophical attempt to describe things in terms of their apparent purpose, directive principle, or goal.]

“Every single thing demands a purpose”

Life isn’t a race, it’s a marathon, where everyone is chasing one thing or another at his/her own brisk pace. Every single action of ours has a purpose, a strive which results in its consequence. To say life is sans any purpose is gibberish. Some innovative souls often believe that life isn’t teleological, and often, they are right. Life may not have a pre-defined version of it, but existence in itself concocts a sense of purpose. In a crude sense, this impetus acts as an agency to the human consciousness.

People often smirk at the fact that nothing is without purpose. Often, I have heard scintillating examples to justify it. For example, one innovative soul said:

“I kept staring at a blank wall for a couple hours last night. I did something which did not have any purpose.”

You call staring at a blank wall purpose-less? Where do you think ideas generate for an allegorist (someone who writes stories, articles or poems)? Staring at a blank wall might seem without any purpose, but it sure does have one. You calm your inner self down. Think about it. You kept staring at it for a couple of hours making everything around you irrelevant for a change. Your soul was at peace like a serene view. This blank wall, my friend, is nothing less than a canvas.

Whenever you do something that you think is without impetus, just remember that making yourself calm or happy comes under the same providence. After all, that is what life is about, right? Living it happily. Happiness is the ultimate purpose of all, something which I can strongly put forth as the teleology of life.

What are you living for then? Why this sophisticated life if you don’t construe a sense of purpose to it? You, every single one of you, are here on this planet to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose.

Someone rightly said, “Life without purpose is like a body without a soul.”

We all need a drive to move forward. We cannot progress without a purpose. Think about it really carefully. Observe each and every trivial phenomenon around you. Every minuscule action has a purpose. A pre-defined setting to fulfill the task.

To live a life worth it, you need to evaluate the purpose of the important things in it. There isn’t any mainstream Bollywood or Hollywood movie lifestyle in the real world. This world is cruel to those who do not have a clear vision. It is what it is. Trying to fight it is blaspheming.

Success demands purpose. You cannot be successful if you do not realise the purpose of what you do. How do people find success? By excelling in their respective fields. Excellence is required for success.

Excellence demands purpose. You cannot excel at something without realising the purpose of your actions towards it. You excel at things which prove to be stepping stones towards the success you work upon. You work on things you’re passionate about, set agendas to it and work accordingly.

Tell you what? Even passion demands purpose. I know it sounds nonsense, but yes indeed it demands so. Ask yourself once, why do you have a passion? Delve deep down the abyss of your soul, and you’ll find your answer. Your passion does have a purpose. It might be something simple as making you happy or something very complex like providing an escapade from the horrors of your life. All in all, whatever the reason be, it is the concoction of the passion. Having a passion is raw, everyone has it. Be it writing, singing, dancing etc. everything has a purpose to at least make a soul happy.

I see people around me, engaged in trivial stuff that won’t be mattering in the next couple of decades, reminiscent of me being a part of such fallacy not long ago. I see a lack of that flame of passion, the never-ending thrust for excellence. All I can do is give a wry smile at the thought of it. At the same time, I admire a couple of those students who are managing their time so efficiently, who truly have construed their purpose towards whatever they do. It motivates me to excel at what I love.

Like all marathons, this one has a finish line too. We run and run, only to culminate into the non-existence. Is there an afterlife? I do not know, but I’d definitely like to believe in one.

A purpose is an elixir people often neglect. It really doesn’t matter, if right from the inception of your work, you are hardworking and passionate about it. There’s a simple equation which everyone must remember:

Hard work + Passion = Dedication

Dedication, the one quality which if one possesses, can easily make up for the purpose of something. Purpose calumniates Dedication. One must be really dedicated about whatever one is involved in. Life should either be all in or none of it. No one ever appreciates half-a-measure.

In this world, there is no midway. You are either completely into it or none at all. Period.

Excellence isn’t just a single quality. It’s an assortment, a careful balance of various traits. Traits like Dedication, Passion, Hard work, and a sense of Seriousness to it. We often take stuff really casual, which isn’t the norm to excel. A casual approach is nothing less than a parasite, a leech clinging on to you, not only sucking the talent out of you but also hindering your development.

People have different views about everything in the world as well as the world itself. Being an imperfect prodigy of this world, I tend to look at things in a different sense. I follow various eminent personalities, people who have made a mark on this world in their respective fields. What I find admirable about them is the passion and seriousness they have towards their goals. They vibe a positive sense to all. The striving is clearly visible in them. The only sense that I construe from such people is that you need the dedication to excel. Carelessness and callousness towards things lead nowhere. Such people have a proper usage of time.

Set goals in life. Don’t just dream, work on them, implement them. Live a life which you won’t regret at the verge of your death. Live a life which when you reminisce about 50 years from now, brings a smile and a sense of satisfaction to your face. The only type of people that find excellence are people with agendas. Set your agenda and get started on it.

Whatever we do has at least one purpose, an incentive. Out of the innumerable ones, a sole fact remains constant. A question of sorts, if you may.

Is whatever you are doing for yourself, a utility or wastage of your time? It’s the one question that’s attached to each and every action we take. This lifestyle seeks no infinity. It is definite and you will eventually reach the end-point. The tip of the ocean, per se. Time is an elixir, and everything works in accord with it. This question is something one must always remember, no matter what. Only then, you’ll find yourself excelling at the things you love.

Even after all this, one particular chain of thought sometimes baffles me. We are born, we live a unique life, and then we die, vanishing into complete oblivion. This is the simple chain of existence. Life’s a wheel. This one’s on top, then that one’s on top, and on and on this wheel rotates. If we all live just to die one day, what use do we have of having a purpose? What use do we really have to everything there ever is? Passion, hard work, honor, integrity, respect, love, hate, joy, sorrow… on and on the list goes. These are same as money or materialistic things, things which we can’t take to the grave.

Then why fight for them?

Is it all in vain?

Or is the universe having an undisclosed plan for us that will connect the dots?

I do not know, but I’d certainly like to believe so.

Until this question is answered, let us work with the gear we already possess. Let us strive for excellence in the things that we love, things that make us happy.

Life of Purpose and Purpose of Life. Seems a twisted juxtaposition of very simple words, yet very crucial facts meant to be deeply understood.

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