If you only battle for survival, you cannot earn significance. A man who fights only to fill his hungry stomach cannot be a constructive citizen of a country.
Everyone is in a battle for survival, trying to keep their basic needs in constant supply. The hustles, the 9-5s, the shortcuts, and the cons – these are survival moves. Even the rich work to stay rich. At what point, then, has an individual reached the level of a life of significance? That is the level where he can be pointed out as contributing to the betterment of the lives of others.
What is a life of significance?
A life of significance is to have reached a point where your basic needs are no longer a serious concern to you and the betterment of others becomes your duty. It is a life of relevance to your community and the world in extension.
The life of significance is the life of purpose, a life of meaning. You only need to look around you to see who is living it. Just a few. Everyone is running and driving to and fro for survival. Even your respected celebrities want more to have more. With this mode of life, way too many people will never leave their circles for survival. The price of living a life of significance is more expensive than the price to stay alive. That is why only a few are paying for it. That’s why there are only fewer people doing amazing things for the world through charity and purpose-driven initiatives. Others want to eat, clothe themselves, have a place to sleep, and enjoy sex.
The wisdom of life is to marry the hunt for survival with a life of significance. While you are keeping yourself alive, reach out to those whose hands are stretched out for help. You may not be a millionaire humanitarian, but your little resource can make a big difference in someone’s life. Don’t just do it once. Make it a lifestyle. A life of significance is a lifestyle, not a one-time show. Think of yourself first, and when life brings someone to you to help, help. When your survival game has reached its peak and you now sit with the lords of the land, make the acts of reaching out to the less privileged a big affair. Perform charity because it is expected of you and is a mark of worthiness. Finance a dream, a purpose, an idea or something, whether it be yours or someone else’s.
It is better if, in the midst of your striving for survival, you find a way to be significant in the space or environment you find yourself. It makes it easier not to wait until you have enough money or other resources to step into those acts of service that your purpose inspire. Instead, you will find that you already have something to do when money eventually manifests and you wouldn’t have to experience confusion on what to do.
One of the marks of a purpose-driven life is the intention and drive to be of service to the world, to be a contributing member of the human race; it is to make the world know that you lived.
