Presence > Purpose (plus weekly recommendations)

"I need to do this, and it's my purpose in life. "

We obsess over all that we want to achieve, the things we believe we have to do.. to focus on what we believe is our purpose. Because when we latch onto the purpose bandwagon, we tell ourselves that everything else is less critical, more mundane and just ordinary. We're telling ourselves that if we are distracted, absent, or even walking away from other things, it's because of a higher need, a higher purpose.

But is it?

Because life isn't just about following your purpose, it's ensuring you focus on your presence. To truly focus on the moment and be present, no matter how normal or mundane it feels.

If we keep focusing on the finish line, we won't get to enjoy the view along the way. And this doesn't mean giving in to FOMO, looking at every shiny object and chasing it. It means we need to be present for the moments we take for granted, those that feel mundane, with the people who always seem to be around.

I'll be honest, and I struggle with being present. Always have. I'm easily distracted, eternally FOMO driven, and like the fly chasing that shiny object. And then I started to think about death. Not just my mortality but of those closest to me. And this is a tricky thing to do. The Stoics ( who follow the philosophy of stoicism ) talk about Meditating on our mortality and of those closest to us. And every time I have, I've been shaken by it.

But I missed the point of it.

In my fear of this ever happening, I missed the point. And only as I started experiencing it through people who have passed away, from those near me and those connected to me, did I begin to soak in and reflect on what is truly important in the moments I'm alive. Even if it feels ordinary, mundane or, as Jerry Seinfeld puts it, "Garbage time".

"I'm a believer in the ordinary and the mundane. I don't want quality time I want the garbage time" - Jerry Seinfeld

If I'm terrified of dying, I must genuinely live right now. I need to be present right now. Because while we must all have a purpose, it should never wholly drive our lives because life isn't something to be driven... it's to be lived, to be experienced. And even when you act towards your purpose, you are genuinely soaking in every step of moving towards it... while being there for the normal and the mundane, which are indeed the best parts of life.

Recommendations

#1 Morgan Housel’s podcast is quickly becoming one of my favourites. This episode, in particular, is one I’ve listened to more than once..you must do the same

#2 I love talking to writers of all kinds, and this chat with Hussain Dalal is a treasure trove of insights on Life, Creative process and beyond.

#3 This song has been on loop in my head for a while now, so I had to add it to the playlist ( plus a few more)

👉🏽 Link to Playlist

Keep following your curiosity ✌🏽

Before I sign off

You can Buy my Book at👉🏽 “Everything is Out of Syllabus: An instruction manual for life & work”

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