Our deepest thoughts are in an area of our minds that we don’t visit very often. When we do go there, however, it can be a deeply satisfying experience. The best time to do this is when we are out for a walk, as we have few distractions you other than the scenery; but any other time will do as well.
These deep thoughts have a lot to do with what has transpired in our lives, a good portion of which is negative. Given a natural proclivity to dwell on the negative, this could have us brooding! Which is pointless. The only purpose in thinking about the past is to learn from it. Our own mistakes, errors in judgement, failed relationships and the like are a great learning ground. We learn what not to do again and move on.
It would be better to give direction to our own thoughts and to chose what we want to think about. A good maxim in life is to stop every negative thought in its tracks and replace it with a positive thought, its own opposite. Rather than looking back at the steps we have taken, chose to look ahead at the steps you are taking now! These are the steps that are taking you where you are going. A little contemplation might show that the steps we are taking are different from the steps we should be taking.
Think, plan, and do. Our philosopher’s walk helps us to gain clarity about our life. If life has a purpose, then what is my purpose in life? A clear purpose adds meaning to life. It gives direction to what could otherwise be a life of meandering from one post to another. Speaker and author Zig Ziglar asks, in his well-known quote, “are you a wandering generality or a meaningful specific?”
Shakespeare also contributed to this theme, in Macbeth: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Of course, we dispute that ignoble thought. We consider life to be meaningful. We rise in protest because we inherently believe in ourselves, and therefore in the value of what we do. Having said that, though, it behoves us to demonstrate what value we do bring to lives other that our own. After all, to live to benefit only ourselves, to the end of our days, would clearly be meaningless.
Coming to the end of our philosopher’s walk, we realize that the decisions we take in life have a major impact on how we live and the results we achieve. The concept of having a purpose therefore has a purpose, which is to bring pragmatism to our thoughts and actions. We must be clear on our purpose because purpose gives meaning to our lives.
Let us rejoice in this thought and decide to live purposefully.
