“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.” Carl Jung
It’s the beauty and poignancy of well-constructed thoughts like Jung’s that have the power to inspire—to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness. It’s powerful ideas like this that inspired me to become a writer.
Jung’s statement holds both simplicity and sophistication, which makes it poignant and pregnant with depth. Leonardo da Vinci’s statement, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” rings true.
But what is the darkness of mere being? Without direction or purpose, we fall into stasis, a sort of directionless humdrum. It’s a painful state that many suffer from.
Mere being is a given; it takes relatively no energy to maintain it, and therefore, it is a sort of purposeless existence. If we are merely being, we know it, and this knowing has the ability to drag us into a sort of depressed paralysis.
But when we have meaning, everything changes. When we have a purpose, our entire outlook on life shifts. We see sparks of genius all around us. Meaning perpetuates an internal drive that ignites activity, a self-generating force that’s undeniable. Those with purpose feel it, and those around them see it. Those with meaning are motivated to continue whatever it is they are seeking.
When we have meaning and purpose, the path appears before us; we are no longer lost; instead, we are spurred along the journey, a sort of self-fulfilling destiny.
If you are in a state of mere being, study these words and make it your mission to find purpose. You’ll notice that even the searching will fuel you and inspire those around you. It will imbue you with life.
As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.
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