The Purpose Of Life Is Not Happiness: It’s Usefulness
There’s only one purpose of life: to be happy. Right? Why else go through all the pain and hardship? It’s to achieve happiness in some way. That’s why we collectively buy sh*t we don’t need, go to bed with people we don’t love, and try to work hard to get the approval of people we don’t like.
Happiness is a façade
“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”
- Aristotle
- But when you read that quote, you think that happiness is the main goal.
- And that’s kind of what the quote says as well.
A different mindset
Being useful is a mindset. It starts with a decision.
Happiness is a byproduct of usefulness
Most things we do in life are just activities and experiences
- You go on holiday. You go to work. You have drinks. You buy a car
- Those things should make you happy, right? But they are not creating anything. You’re just consuming or doing something.
- What really makes me happy is when I’m useful. When I create something that others can use.
It comes down to this
What are you DOING that’s making a difference? Did you do useful things in your lifetime?
- You don’t have to change the world or anything. Just make it a little bit better than you were born.
- Examples
- Help your boss with something that’s not your responsibility
- Take your mother to a spa
- Write an article about the stuff you learned in life
- Call your friend and ask if you can help with something