Finding a life purpose may not be about discovering some grand mission, but about rediscovering what gives life meaning. Through lemon soda, hobbies, and a personal story, this text offers a path toward recognizing that the strength we seek has been within us all along.
Whenever someone talks about life purpose, it feels like we’re supposed to search for something extraordinary that will change the world. But that’s where the contradiction begins: if I’m already living a life full of responsibilities and barely have the energy to get off the couch, how am I supposed to move mountains?
And then comes that saying mystics love: “All the strength you need is already within you.” But where is that strength? It seems so deeply hidden that only a monk could ever reach it. The truth is, this phrase has been repeated so many times that it has lost its meaning. But wait, I think that’s exactly where we should begin: the emptiness of meaning.
Sweet, beautiful, and empty
Whenever I think about something meaningless, I think of lemon soda. I don’t know if you like it, but it’s my favorite. It’s clear and absolutely beautiful when poured into a glass, while the bubbles rise with that satisfying fizz. It’s sweet in just the right way.
And have you ever seen a lemon soda cake? It’s unbelievably beautiful, almost like it’s made of resin. Ah, how easily all of this distracts me and satisfies my craving for something sweet.
And yet, my dear drink is nothing but sugar and terrible for your health. It’s nutritionally empty. So empty that the poor thing doesn’t even have a color. It’s pure distraction and an illusion of the senses. That’s why I think lemon soda is a lot like the emptiness we carry inside.
Ironically, we live lives full of responsibilities and routines, and without realizing it, we forget to fill the parts of ourselves that truly matter. We wake up, fulfill our responsibilities, distract our minds with the bubbles, go to sleep, and then do it all over again.
Basically, by the time we have any free time left, our minds and bodies are so exhausted that we spend whatever energy remains scrolling on our phones or repeatedly consuming something that merely fills the empty space until the next obligation arrives.
We live full lives, but not complete ones.
When the bubbles fade
Now, here’s the good news: there is a force within you. Yes, right now it may be pulling you down, but what if we reverse the logic? If the emptiness of meaning is a force dragging you downward, then filling that emptiness can also lift you upward, right?
But how do we live a life filled with meaning and purpose? Oh no, I think we’ve found ourselves back at the monks again. Or have we?
Tell me: what is your greatest desire in this earthly life? Think about yourself as a person, not as a mother, father, citizen, or monk. Don’t answer, “I want to give my children a better life,” “buy a house,” or “bring about world peace.”
What makes you happy? What moves you? What renews your mind to the point that it gets you off the couch and makes you forget you’re tired?
Think about what brings you joy in a light, effortless way, without obsession or obligation. It can be anything, from the simplest to the most altruistic: playing an instrument, learning about the universe, growing plants, watching the ocean, or helping others in some way.
Does that sound too simple to be a life purpose? You’re probably annoyed with me right now, saying, “So you’re telling me I’m supposed to fill this emptiness with a hobby? Is that what you mean?” Well… yes and no.
Squeezing the lemon
Remember that we’re thinking in reverse: life is full of obligations but empty of meaning. Now we’re going to empty the obligations and fill the meaning. What fills you is what makes you happy, and that can begin as a hobby.
So often we think, “I know this is silly, but I love doing it.” But have you ever stopped to wonder why such a simple activity can matter so much? Because it holds your creative potential (I’ll talk more about that another time). It’s what allows your spirit to soar freely, untouched by the interference of the outside world.
You don’t need to rush. In fact, forget about perfection altogether. Just do what you love because it makes you feel alive, and let it grow and awaken something within you.
Sometimes, the first world you need to change is your own.
Pouring out the glass
I’ve always loved writing, ever since I was a child. During my childhood and teenage years, it was simply a hobby. I allowed myself to create for the sake of creating, without worrying whether anyone would ever read it. Over time, I realized it had professional potential, and writing became part of my work.
But one day, surrounded by dashboards and deadlines, I felt completely exhausted. I realized that all the love I once had for writing had turned into an obligation, a tool shaped by the market to deliver business results. In other words, I had drained the meaning from the very thing that moved me, and life lost its color, just like lemon soda.
After a long period of inner work (I can tell that story another time), I returned to writing simply as a hobby and as part of my healing process. That’s when I began to see my “pastime” as something that strengthened me from within and helped me understand my place in the world.
I realized then that writing, beyond being a hobby, was my purpose: inwardly, because it helps me find myself; and outwardly, because it can help other people too. In fact, that’s how my book Another Frequency came to life.
Let’s just say I traded lemon soda for sparkling water with fresh lemon.
In the end, what fills your soul begins with doing what you love, because that awakens the strength you need to move your life forward. In other words, all the strength you need really is already within you. Does that make sense now? Then tell me: what moves you?
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