Excellence Reporter: Orrin, what is the meaning of life?

Orrin Woodward: That is a profound question. To me, human beings are like pilgrims sent on a journey to earth by God Himself. Each person is provided a body, mind, and a spirit that he/she is responsible to develop in the quest to fulfill life’s purpose.

Unfortunately, the modern age glorifies body (fitness and finances) while minimizing mind and ignoring spirit altogether. Of course, there is nothing wrong with body, but its overemphasis at the expense of mind and spirit makes people less human. For many times, the quest for the perfect body or financial position results in a self-centered personality that ignores the needs of others around them.

The problem, needless to say, is that mankind is more than just body and regardless of how successful the physique or pocketbook becomes, it simply will not satisfy. For without developing the mind and spirit, mankind is merely a shadow of the human being God intended him or her to be. True purpose, on the other hand, develops all three areas — body, mind, and spirit — in order to make a difference in the world. As Jesus Christ taught, the two greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart and soul and to love others as our selves. In other words, use our body, mind, and spirit gifts to glorify God and serve others.

Indeed, only when people learn to take the focus off them selves and seek to serve others can their true purpose be accomplished. Victor Frankl explained it best when he said purpose is not so much determined as it is detected. Taking this a step further in my book RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE, I taught purpose is the intersection of passion, potential, and profits. Thus, every person has a unique purpose because each person has different gifts and talents to share with the world. Moreover, each person, regardless of the size of the overall purpose, has something to contribute to the world. The meaning of life, then, is to utilize your passions, potential, and profits to fulfill your purpose by serving God and humanity.

Paradoxically, only when a person takes the focus off himself and places it upon others, does he consummate the quest for fulfillment and satisfaction that had eluded him previously.

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~Orrin Woodward, NY Times Bestselling Author and Guinness World Record Holder for Largest Book Signing Ever.
www.OrrinWoodwardBlog.com

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