In Western culture, nobody is surprised that existential questions occupy mainly young people. Reflection on the surrounding world and one\u2019s place on the earth is perfectly natural in adolescence. Students also discuss the goal of life during their university debates and informal talks. However, as time goes by, we seldom return to those questions. First, the mundane aspects of everyday life leave hardly any space for prolonged reflection, which actually has a\u00a0good side too. Second\u2014and that is probably the most important point\u2014our growing experience teaches us that the meaning of life evolves with time. A\u00a0goal set in one\u2019s early youth oftentimes recedes into the background later on, and that is not necessarily because its pursuit has become impossible. We constantly change, develop, and long for new experiences, so it comes as no surprise that our goals follow the same process. Who knows, maybe this is the most beautiful aspect of human life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research has shown that people all over the world dream of just two things regardless of their age or education level: they want to be happy and rich. Having achieved that, they seem to have everything they wished for. However, those are very general goals and their pursuit makes no easy feat. The resulting difficulty has sprouted secondary goals which are more likely to attain and thus facilitate reaching the happy ending of wealth and joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Women usually dream of family bliss, while men long for great careers. A combination of these two priorities multiplies the chance of achieving the ultimate goal of life. Consequently, people form relationships and start up families to follow the main path together, providing one another with support, assistance and trust. Sounds like a fairy tale, right? Indeed, real life rarely looks that perfect, and a mutual pursuit of happiness sometimes becomes a trail bristling with impassable obstacles. The original goal turns out to be unrealistic, which makes many people withdraw with resignation and lose faith in their own capabilities. Consequently, a breakdown may follow, and apathy ultimately sets in. This is when a fresh goal comes as the best cure and puts on a light at the end of the tunnel. True, the new meaning of life may no longer be so grand, but it is much more relevant than the old one because it makes the whole pursuit plausible again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Actually, the very search for the essence of life may become a\u00a0goal in itself. A\u00a0life set in motion is the best protection from the slow poison of stagnation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n