Intent and the Meaning of Life

Elmen Lamprecht
3 hours ago
6 min read

There is perhaps no more profound human experience than when one's existence aligns with their purpose. Some might describe this as finding their God-given calling, while others might see it as discovering their fate or destiny. Some refer to it as becoming one with the universe, and others call it being in the zone. Regardless of how you define this extraordinary occurrence, it is a universal experience that almost every person encounters at least once in their lifetime.

This otherworldly sensation allows us to feel as though we are touching the untouchable, makes us feel invulnerable, expands our understanding of what it means to be alive, and transcends our empirical perception of the world.

The first principle practiced daily by Resolute Beings is about discovering and continuously deepening the understanding of that something which renders you invulnerable. This involves finding and interpreting your reason for living, your meaning in life. Viktor Frankl, the renowned psychiatrist who endured the horrors of the World War II concentration camps, wrote, “There is nothing in this world, I venture to say, that would so effectively help one to survive even the worst conditions as the knowledge that there is a meaning in one’s life.” He further quotes Friedrich Nietzsche, “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”

When you uncover your why, every action you take becomes intentional. Discovering your life's meaning empowers your activities with precision and purpose, as you focus intently on specified goals. When your thoughts and feelings consistently guide you along a purposeful path, you move intentionally toward the inevitable. Living with intent infuses your existence with an energy that manifests success, happiness, love, peace, acceptance, and all the other fruits of a Resolute Life.

Woman in red sweater stands with arms raised in a forest. Text overlay: "When you uncover your why..." Website: www.beresolute.life.

The Convergence of Rational Choice and Innate Purpose

In the labyrinth of existence, each person must embark on this profound journey—a quest to find meaning in the chaos of life's randomness. This narrative of discovery often starts with the question: Where do we find our 'why'? For years, I adhered to a belief system rooted in the idea that meaning is malleable, that any life component, be it a relationship, career, or passion, could be deemed the cornerstone of one's existence, we just have to choose the best option. This approach posited that the essence of living could be rationalized, chosen from a menu of life's offerings, where the 'what' of our focus is only as important as the justified 'why' we attach to it.

Despite my longstanding belief in the power of rational choice to define life's direction, personal experiences began to unveil the limitations of this perspective.

Moments of unexpected clarity pierced through the everyday noise, revealing a deeper, almost predestined sense of purpose that no amount of rational planning could replicate. For years, I attempted to ignore these inexplicable experiences, dismissing them as mere emotional responses to overstimulated sensory functions. The effect was that for years I struggled to find my purpose that remained hidden in my core. No matter where I searched for ‘my special something’, I could not reconcile the conclusions of my brain with the messages from my heart.

In my quest for meaning, I ventured through various realms: intense professional engagements, deep personal connections, and spiritual inquiries. Each path offered temporary respite and insights but also highlighted their intrinsic limitations. My professional successes, while gratifying, fell short of quenching a deeper thirst for purpose. Relationships, though profoundly enriching, could not singlehandedly fulfil the entirety of my existential needs, especially when they drained more energy than they offered. Similarly, my spiritual journeys, while illuminating some aspects of the mysterious 'why', often clashed with the rational, scientific framework I also held dear.

A Holistic Approach to Discovering Purpose

These epiphanies suggested that perhaps our most authentic 'why' was not chosen but revealed, emerging from the depths of our existential core rather than the surface of our rational minds. The realization dawned that isolating facets of experience—intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual—was inadequate in cultivating a comprehensive understanding of one’s purpose. True purpose, I discovered, was not a patchwork of disparate elements but a cohesive integration, requiring a balance of all life’s dimensions. This holistic view aligns personal purpose with a universal narrative, suggesting that our individual meanings are threads in the broader tapestry of life’s collective purpose.

Personal meaning is therefore, contrary to what Frankl believed, only accessible to those who are keenly aware of the holistic, universal Meaning of Life. Personal Purpose cannot be separated from the purpose of everything around us. The truth is that our purpose is inseparably weaved together with the purpose of all else and finding your purpose is dependent on firstly understanding the universal purpose. Finding your purpose requires a series epiphanies during your lifetime, moments where you touch the untouchable, and increasingly gain understanding that your destiny is tied together with everyone’s destiny. By realising where true power comes from, you can use that power to drive your own destiny.

This shared Meaning of Life the true ‘Intent’ behind everything, and your individual role within it all your ‘Personal Intent’. We will define both concepts in detail later on but for now it is important to understand that finding your ‘why’ (your Personal Intent) requires you to discover its connection with our shared universal Intent, and realising that your purpose in life is intimately intertwined with the Purpose of Life.

Intent as the Cosmic Thread

The concept of Intent emerged as a pivotal force, an all-encompassing energy permeating every aspect of existence. This invisible energy has been called many things by various cultures, religions, spiritual traditions and mythologies. Whatever we attribute this power to, our history has shown us that Intent is not found in an isolated, individualistic pursuit of meaning but plugging into the one all-encompassing intention of existence. Described by visionaries like Carlos Castaneda, Intent is not merely a passive backdrop but an active, dynamic principle that orchestrates the symphony of life. It binds the cosmos, propelling the universe and its inhabitants towards a shared destiny, responsive and mutable through each individual’s actions and thoughts.

Accepting this framework of universal Intent necessitates a paradigm shift from a purely empirical worldview to one embracing intuition and interconnectedness. This transition challenges deeply ingrained beliefs about autonomy and empirical truth, urging a broader, more inclusive perspective that recognizes the mystical alongside the material. Discovering Intent starts with accepting that we go through life perceiving the world without being aware of it. We have become masters in dissecting every aspect of existence but we have lost the ability to see the big picture.

We became so skilled in separating everything into its distinct parts that we have unlearned how to become aware of the Intention that binds it all together. We have become so reliant on our brain to make sense of the world that we have lost the ability to see with our souls. We have built our reality through perception only and neglected the role that awareness can play in understanding the principles of life.

To navigate this expanded reality, developing a interpretive system that marries perception with awareness is crucial. One of the most difficult steps on our journey towards a Resolute Life is developing a holistic awareness of the world around us. This is difficult because it requires us to acknowledge the existence of another reality that includes the mystic, the inexplicable, the fantastic. It involves a rejection of a lifetime of ‘reason’, an overall abandoning of our current worldview.

The Resolute Life is not a total disregard for the universal truths uncovered by the empirical investigation of life. But it demands a confession that with our intellect alone we cannot absorb the deeper dimension that is sensed by our souls. It is a confession that perception alone is not enough to make sense of the seeming randomness of life, to find the patterns in the chaos around us.

Last words

As we deepen our engagement with life’s mysteries, we begin to live in harmony with Intent, aligning our personal journeys with the cosmic flow. This alignment transforms our existential narrative from a solitary quest into a participatory dance with the universe, where each step, each decision, and each insight contributes to and is supported by the larger story of existence.

Our pursuit of meaning transcends the personal, linking each of us to a grand, interconnected saga of life and purpose. By embracing and engaging with the universal Intent, we not only discover our unique 'why' but also the universal ‘why’ of all life. This journey redefines our understanding of existence, inviting us to a life lived with profound intent and interconnected purpose, continually influenced by and influencing the cosmos.

If you found this blog valuable, please forward it to someone in your network who will also benefit from its message. Life is amazing but hard, and we all can benefit from sharing knowledge and wisdom that can help us life a Resolute Life.

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“The Daily Life of Resolute Beings” integrates philosophical insights with practical advice, encouraging readers to adopt a mindset of abundance, purposeful resource management and meaningful connectedness in pursuit of their goals. Order your book at any of the following online bookstores: