THOUGHTS
Varied Paths to Purpose: Finding Serenity in Bias
“Should we actively seek life’s purpose, or should we just live gratefully and on our terms?” My friend’s playful question lingered in my mind. Though rhetorical, it felt like a weight on my shoulders, as if I were tasked with finding an answer.
It is indeed a puzzle many ponder; the allure of chasing a grand purpose versus finding contentment in the present moment. This debate isn’t just idle chatter — it taps into the very core of what drives us as humans.
And although I didn’t have a definitive answer, I did have something that could offer him a different perspective.
A couple of weeks ago, I read an article on Medium. Although I can’t recall the title or topic, one statement stayed with me:
“Choose your bias and stick to it until you stumble across a new one; in that case, choose that and stick to it.”
I had never resonated with something more.
I can recall myself often dividing situations, people, truths, and goals into blacks and whites when in fact what this principle offered me was a place to exist in the greys. It allowed for a more nuanced understanding — where biases shape perspectives rather than dictating absolutes. It’s through this lens of relative perception that I understand choices.
Bias is just our mental perception of something. They may or may not come with reasoning, but strongly affect our overall nature and personality. They shape our opinions and, ultimately, our lifestyle.
Take two of my closest friends for example — One of them finds immense joy and purpose in traveling the world, seeking new experiences and cultures, whilst another finds the same level of joy and purpose in staying close to home, cultivating a deep connection with their local community and surroundings. Both of them care deeply about different things, led by their consciousness, and their bias. Their actions, fueled by these biases, ultimately shape their emotions to reach their state of being.
Depending on a person’s chosen actions and sometimes uncontrollable circumstances, individuals radiate a variety of emotions. One thing we humans tend to do is bury these emotional signals. However, ignorance in this case is far from blissful.
I’ve had friends who, with good intentions, attempted to console me by diminishing my emotional struggles, often saying things like, “We reside on a speck in the vastness of space, where we are a minuscule part of it, and our emotions and problems even smaller.” While I acknowledge the factual truth in their words, it’s challenging to dismiss the constant presence of my own feelings, emotions, and thoughts that occupy my mind day in and day out.
Just because our existence may seem small on a cosmic scale, it doesn’t invalidate the significance of our problems or the depth of our feelings. We matter profoundly, not only to ourselves but also within the interconnected web of human experiences. Each individual’s emotions and challenges are real and impactful, deserving of acknowledgment and understanding.
As insignificant as we might seem, we matter to ourselves, and this consciousness that resides within us makes us who we are.
I do take pleasure in making parallel comparisons between the obvious and the unknown. Therefore, when I say I truly believe all of us are part of a higher cosmic consciousness, I draw a comparison with virtual machines.
For those familiar with the term, a Virtual Machine (higher consciousness) can have multiple instances (us), each ingrained with different configurations (distinct personalities, quirks, and experiences). So, while I might be running “Ubuntu Introvert” and you might be on “Windows Extrovert,” we’re all connected. I apologize in advance to readers who didn’t get this little operating system joke, but as a techie, I had to.
Just like these Machines share the same physical server, we all tap into a single, universal consciousness, sharing the same cosmic hardware. Despite our individual perceptions and experiences varying widely, I believe there’s a fundamental interconnectedness in our existence. This interconnectedness suggests that our states of being are not entirely isolated but rather intertwined in ways that may not always be immediately apparent.
This recognition led me to observe my true state of being. I realized that it was my misconception to think that I’m meant to pursue happiness. What I truly crave, at the end of the day, is peace.
My life oscillates between moments of profound meaning and apparent meaninglessness, shaped by my ever-evolving perspectives. My biases, molded by my experiences and beliefs, serve as guides through this journey. Whether or not I have uncovered my life’s purpose, it invariably leads me towards peace. Therefore, I am bold enough to conclude that my purpose, whether found or unfound, will ultimately lead me to a higher purpose — peace. And to find my purpose, I must follow my leanings.
I know it can get tough sometimes. We can find ourselves caught in one of life’s many puzzles, feeling stuck and unable to move forward. But when life becomes suffocating, I find solace in remembering that the essence of life is within me — it’s shaped by my core, guiding me toward peace. In those moments, everything seems to lighten up, and suddenly, it becomes easier to breathe.
A little note to the readers
Embrace your biases and see how they shape your personal truths. These truths can flow like water, leading you towards discovering your purpose. Life isn’t always about pursuing a singular grand purpose; instead, it’s a journey of continuous exploration and acceptance of who we are and what matters to us.
This article is solely for informational purposes and represents the writer’s personal opinion. Please seek professional advice if required.
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