Life is full of experiences. It is a treasure trove of ups and downs, excitement, happiness, sorrow, disappointment, joy, milestones, emotional bottoms, accomplishments, setbacks and challenges, suspense, anticipations, friends, foes—the list goes on. But throughout all of it, certain longings exist in all of us: the desire for happiness and living a life of fulfillment, significance, and meaning.

Many authors have written about life’s meaning and purpose. Victor Frankl discusses life’s purpose in his book “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Friederich Nietzsche strongly emphasized the significance and power of purpose in shaping human existence. He is quoted saying, “He who has a “why” to live can bear almost any “how.” He also stressed that life is driven by an inherent force called the “will to power.” This is not a thirst for domination but a deep desire to grow, create, and impose meaning on the world.

Unlike the view that we have the will to survive, Nietzsche argued that humans thrive when they struggle toward self-overcoming and personal mastery. This is within the journey to find personal purpose on your own, not waiting for meaning to be given to you.

This article may strike you as opinionated, but it is meant to provide a perspective based on many observations and conclusions made by many individuals. Even though I reference beneficial resources, including the Bible, I feel somewhat unworthy of suggesting this collection of wisdom, for I am a student of life myself.

This discussion is also rooted in the Christian faith, which I have thought a lot about whether to include. But I think the roads of thought lead back to it when discussing living a fulfilling life with significant meaning. Besides, I think we are in a period within our “state of affairs” where we can find great value by integrating it into our discussion.

However, whether you’re religious or not, Christian or not, agnostic or atheist, it is essential to draw conclusions about what is important to you and to suggest that there are deeper levels within life’s experiences and practices that generate more profound satisfaction and fulfillment.

The other intent of the article is to suggest or propose that there is a perspective on what is truly important and matters most in life: how to prioritize your efforts no matter what point in life you find yourself.

 As a Wealth Advisor who provides purpose-driven planning for clients, I encounter and help many people nearing or entering retirement. Over many years of experience, I have developed a systematized process to explore this critical subject: a client’s life and purpose.

“But looking deeper into what matters is not material purchases

or what we own; what we seek as humans are Love, Acceptance, Purpose, and Meaning.”

One issue to address is not whether they can retire but what they will pursue when they retire. The answer goes deeper than planning to play golf three times a week and take a trip to Europe every other year. Or, if practicing professionals or business owners are in the earlier stages of their lives, how do they further enrich their lives along the way, bringing in greater meaning and purpose?

This is a profound subject among professionals, including sports professionals and certainly business owners who have spent most of their adult life building a business and creating a thriving organization, then facing the optimal time to exit their business or profession and begin a new chapter in their life.

 Running a company or practicing a profession is a substantial portion of their purpose and reason for existence, and now they face the reality of transitioning out of that part of their life. How does one transition from such a significant period in life and continue into the next chapter, thriving in happiness, personal growth, and purpose?

As I mentioned earlier, much has been written about this subject. You can find plenty of modern writings to help you along the way, which I will provide you with and reference throughout this article. Let us also not forget that guidance on this subject is found in the Bible. There is plenty of guidance given in the beautiful books of the Old Testament and the Gospels.

We live in an age of a paradox. We now have an enormous amount of book material accumulated throughout the ages. Additionally, a mountain of video materials related to this subject can be found on portals such as YouTube, Rumble, and Vimeo. Yet, depression, suicide, emotional emptiness, and feelings of void in our lives are very prevalent. This can be attributed to social media and other conditions within our current culture that have deteriorated our well-being and increased our lack of direction, purpose, and meaning. Narcissism is everywhere. We are drawn inward and focused on ourselves. 

Yet, the more materialistic and self-centered we become, the unhappier we are. Many folks can appear to have it so good, only to discover that they sabotaged their fantastic position in life with reckless or destructive behavior, and possibly compromising their careers, family, friendships, etc. We can witness many people who may find themselves in a very favorable financial position, only to squander the wealth, inheritance, windfall, etc., in the pursuit of short-term satisfaction or pleasures, withering it away. – leading to a lot of fun and misery.

But looking deeper into what matters is not material purchases or what we own; what we seek as humans are Love, Acceptance, Purpose, and Meaning.

The Five Levels of Life Fulfillment and Purpose

Level 1 – Instant Gratification and the Materialistic Mindset

In examining the Hierarchy of Life Fulfillment and Purpose, as I have provided in the illustration below, the bottom of the pyramid is the least helpful state of mind and behavior that brings enjoyment- materialistic living or purchases – owning more things. Life’s satisfaction in this realm tends to be short-lived and lacks purpose; you tend to compare what you have with everyone else. It becomes all about you and instant gratification.

Behavior centered on materialistic endeavors, purchases, and lifestyles brings the least happiness and is a self-centered mindset. In the race for more, meaning more possessions and status, we chase a mirage that promises fulfillment or happiness but rarely delivers. Materialistic purchases or mindsets tend to bring the person’s focus inward.

Many times, people may be fortunate enough to inherit or experience a financial windfall that leads them on a rampage of expenditures on material items, trips, and other luxury items, only to find that a year or two later, they are out of money and out of happiness. The experience is short-lived.

Level 2 – Personal Achievement, Health, Physical Condition, and the Pursuit of Passions

The next stage in the hierarchy is personal achievement, health and physical condition, and pursuit of passions. This stage is leaps and bounds more relevant to the contribution of life fulfillment than materialistic endeavors and instant gratification. It is where we pursue achievements and personal growth in our abilities in our personal lives – our vocations, our passions and hobbies, and our success and growth in our chosen professions or careers.

Personal growth and achievement can be an exciting and rewarding pursuit. We can be dedicated life-long students of learning and applying processes and systems to become our best.

In an article following this one, I offer a potentially useful tool or system to help you set your goals for improvement and achievement and do so in a way that aligns with your values.

There are mountains of books written on the subject. Because this is an area of interest of mine, a great book that stands out in my mind and should be on the bookshelf of every individual aspiring for self-improvement and success is “The Five Pieces to the Life Puzzle” by Jim Rohn.

 Jim asserts that we need to master the fundamentals of life to bring happiness and life-changing results.  These basic principles are our philosophy, attitude, activity, results, and lifestyle.

Our personal philosophy—beliefs and values—is the foundation of all actions. It is the blueprint that shapes how we view the world, make decisions, and respond to challenges. A clear, sound philosophy provides direction. It influences every other aspect of our lives, from our attitudes to our actions. Without it, we risk living reactively rather than proactively. Our “personal philosophy” must also align with our determined values.

Our attitude. Attitude is how you interpret and react to your circumstances. Rohn emphasizes that a positive, resilient attitude is crucial for overcoming obstacles and maintaining motivation. As the late Paul J. Meyer said, “When you’re at the top, attitude is everything. When you’re at the bottom, attitude is everything.” I have listed a “strong foundation of Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence ” at the bottom of the pyramid illustration. Having a strong self-awareness and emotional intelligence significantly impacts your growth as a person. 

Activity – Without action, ideas and beliefs remain abstract. Activity refers to the consistent, purposeful actions you take toward your goals. Effective activity involves setting clear, achievable goals and developing disciplined habits. Consistency in action is essential; success is the product of daily efforts rather than occasional bursts of enthusiasm. In other words, success is a byproduct of action.

Results – Results are the measurable outcomes of your actions. They provide feedback, showing whether your philosophy, attitude, and activities align with your goals. You can change your results by adjusting your approach and refining your strategy.  Results also provide motivation and validate the processes you’ve put into place.

Lifestyle – Lifestyle is the result—a manifestation of your internal philosophy, attitude, activities, and the results they yield. It represents the quality and balance of your life, including your relationships, health, and overall fulfillment.

Health – Another area to note, which was just mentioned in the prior paragraph, pertains to our health. I included it as a significant factor in the second tier of the pyramid. There are instances with our health that we can’t control. However, it is an important area of focus and a significant development that we are addressing as a country. Without optimal health, we may face obstacles to accomplishing our goals and living the ideal lifestyle. It makes sense to advocate integrating a routine or practice to optimize your health and physical condition.

Pursuing Our Passions – It’s often helpful to identify your passions and pursue and develop them throughout your life. I took up the guitar when I was twelve, and it’s been a passion ever since. I love and enjoy it if I’m not doing other essential things. You can identify and pursue passions later in life, especially before transitioning out of your career or business and into retirement. There are all kinds of instructional and informational videos on portals, such as YouTube, Rumble, and Vimeo that provide an endless sea of instructional and how-to videos that enable one to immerse oneself in whatever passion one decides. It is an incredible time in which we live.

I grouped all of these critical factors in the second stage of the hierarchy because they are all important areas to focus on in creating competence, confidence, personal accomplishments, and significance.

But it’s the “Why” behind “What” we pursue that matters. “Winning the gold medal isn’t great because of the medal. The greatness lies in the person you become; the one meant to make a difference in the lives of others, the one who sacrificed themselves to learn and grow and become someone they never knew they could become.” 3 When you strive to be number one through a self-centered mindset, it can be a barrier to extraordinary performance. Focusing too much on yourself can narrow your focus away from what’s essential and foster insecurities.

Don’t aim at success – the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you will miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued: it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. – Dr. Victor Frankl, holocaust survivor and author of the book “Man’s Search for Meaning.”

I recommend reading Jim Murphy’s book Inner Excellence, which is subtitled “Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and The Best Possible Life.” The book discusses several factors in the first and second levels of the hierarchy in depth. It also presents a perspective on pursuing excellence and fulfilling life by embracing a selfless mindset.

 Jim Murphy states, “Be aware of an “Affluenza” virus. This is where we get locked into winning because we fear losing. It is a façade of what appears to be a true dream. “Affluenza” idolizes five things: Possessions, Achievements, Looks (Physical appearance), Money, and Status. The virus injects you with the constant desire to gain more and compare yourself with others, leading to a state where you’re never satisfied.” Jim Murray points out that the problem isn’t the components in the virus themselves – the money, achievements, possessions, status, etc., it places trust and identity in transient and unstable things.4

Jim Murphy makes a great observation that the real problem occurs when those external things become your ultimate treasure because your heart will follow. The focus of your strongest desires molds you to have the characteristics of that which you desire, which are all fleeting. A heart built on temporary things will have insecurity as a constant companion.5  

It’s “Looking for Love in all the wrong places.”

It isn’t about comparing yourself to others or whether you’re the best; instead, it focuses on growing as a person and your talents and abilities. Do it to gain quality-of-life experiences and utilize what God gave you to the best of your abilities.

As I mentioned, we strive for Love, acceptance, purpose, and meaning, which bring us to the higher levels of the Hierarchy.

This is where our love for Christ generates our compassion, meaning, and actions, and it is where one’s significance is manifested.

Level 3 – Our Strong Bond & Relationships with Family and Friends

Our emotional bonds and relationships with our family and friends are the next stage in life fulfillment and purpose that is of greater significance. We also require authentic selflessness, genuine care for others, and dedication to building relationships. It is where we seriously practice our virtues and exercise our moral character. Our values should be related to enhancing the quality of our bond, family, friendships, and support for our fellow man. Leading with the heart and deepening our relationships takes work and dedication. It is a “go-giver” attitude.

This is where we dedicate ourselves to selflessness, love, taking an interest, and doing good for others—genuine concern for other people instead of selfishness and indifference. The more we dedicate ourselves to others and do it out of love from our hearts, the more we are rewarded with life fulfillment and purpose. Additionally, it requires us to build ourselves into having strong pillars of character, knowing and living by virtues, knowing what values are important to us, and living a life that focuses on them and sticks to them.

Level 4 – Making a Positive Difference for Other People, Community, and Society – Recently, I completed a social media post referencing Mother Teresa’s quote: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

 If we look at Mother Teresa’s wisdom through a Christian lens, small acts of great love align perfectly with how Jesus taught us to live—through humility, kindness, and service to others.

Some of the most beautiful moments in life aren’t found in grand achievements or standing ovations. They’re in the quiet, unseen acts of kindness—the moments where we choose to show up for someone, not because we have to, but because we care.

This level of the hierarchy is found above the level of “our bond and relationships with our family and friends,” not because your family and friends aren’t as important, but rather because it is an area of focus in life that requires more genuine acts of love and your desire to make a positive impact on other people’s lives that you may not even know. The only way we know to do that is with heartfelt love and the love of Christ.

Making a difference for others out of compassion aligns perfectly with how Jesus taught us to live  – through humility, kindness, and service to others, not for status or recognition.

John 13:14-15 (NIV) – Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

John 13:34-35 (NIV) – A New Commandment
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

During the Last Supper, Jesus commands love and demonstrates it by washing His disciples’ feet and preparing them for His ultimate sacrifice. His words emphasize:
       • Loving one another as He loves us (John 13:34-35, John 15:12)
       • Serving one another humbly (John 13:14-15)
       • Sacrificial love (John 15:13)
       • Unity through love (John 17:20-23)

Mother Teresa lived by the words of Jesus: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Making a positive difference for others doesn’t have to be in giant steps. It can be in small steps or in small acts of kindness, but doing so out of divine love.

Feeding the Hungry – Buying an extra meal for a homeless person or supporting a local food pantry.

Donating Clothes with Prayer – Before giving away items, pray that they bless the person who receives them.

Writing a Note of Encouragement – A handwritten note to a pastor, a church volunteer, or someone going through a tough time.

Offering a Ride to Church – Helping someone attend worship who otherwise wouldn’t have a way to get there.

Singing Worship for Someone in Need – Visiting a nursing home or hospital and sharing hymns or worship songs with those who feel alone.

Mentoring younger people to help them be inspired or open their minds to virtuous possibilities

Encourage and serve others – Look for ways to support and uplift those around you.

Acts of Kindness: Pay for the coffee of the person in the car behind you in the drive-thru and leave before they can thank you. Doing random acts of kindness for someone you know can’t repay you teaches you to love other souls around you.

Serving in a non-profit that advances the betterment of mankind

In a world that glorifies big wins and loud successes, we sometimes forget that real, transformative love is often found in the slightest, most ordinary moments.

Building your bonds within your community – We need community as individuals. Life is not meant to be a solo journey. We gain more by serving others, listening to others, and learning from them. Further, spiritual transformation happens best in relationships, where people can encourage, challenge, and support one another. Relationships require effort, but they are essential for spiritual maturity. Ask yourself, how are the bonds in your community? Is there room for growth? Are there study groups at your church or synagogue that you can get involved with? This type of involvement is where you may find priceless relationships and tremendous spiritual growth.

The Top of The Hierarchy Pyramid

Level 5 – A Strong Relationship with God: Knowing and Loving the Lord

This is the top level of the pyramid, where the most important things are located, and this is the root of genuine fulfillment and purpose. No matter where you are in life, knowing the Lord, building faith in the Lord, and knowing that all good things come from him and that he listens to you builds your purpose for truly loving others, a reason for achieving, a reason for making a difference, and a reason for being, and being a reflection of him is one of the greatest gifts given to you.

This subject is a mountain of ponderance and a learning journey, but it is tremendous, rewarding, and glorious.

“Purpose” is manifested from spiritual growth. Spiritual growth happens through changes manifested by consistent daily habits of prayer and study, which are applied to serving others, making a difference for other people and ourselves, and doing it all because of your ever-growing love for the Lord and realizing all of the blessings given to you because of his love for you. Yes, he does.

But this is a consistent effort. There are periods of doubt, setbacks, and challenges. But walking through your journey with deep faith, knowing his glory, makes it so much easier, joyful, and meaningful.

James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that testing your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Sure, we all look for that magical single sermon or speech on faith that will completely change our lives. But true change happens through consistent prayer, study, community, and service.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

What’s great about this verse in the scriptures is that it reminds us that faithfulness, not speed or immediate success, truly matters in the Christian journey.

The book The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg is a very insightful resource on this subject. It presents many areas, action steps for spiritual growth, and obstacles that may keep you from growing spiritually.

There is a chapter on living unhurriedly, addressing a major issue in modern spiritual health, and slowing down. Slowing down is not about doing less but about living more fully in the presence of God. “Hurry is the enemy of spiritual health.”

Ortberg stresses that spiritual maturity is not about outward behavior but inward transformation. That’s a great point. Also note that spiritual growth is not about rule-keeping but rather internal transformation, as opposed to external righteousness (which the Pharisees focused on).

Your growth in a Faith-driven life requires endurance. In the book “The Life You’ve Always Wanted”, the author suggests some practical steps for developing spiritual endurance:

1. Keep your focus on Jesus – The Key to endurance is fixing our eyes on Christ rather than circumstances. Jesus himself endured suffering and hardship but remained faithful. Find strength in your struggles.

2. Establish Sustainable Spiritual Habits – Endurance is built through daily spiritual disciplines such as regular prayer, reading scripture, fellowship with other believers, and serving others with a humble heart.

3. Find Strength in Community—Surrounding oneself with encouraging believers helps sustain faith during difficult seasons. Being part of a Christian community provides support, prayer, and accountability. The author urges readers not to isolate themselves during struggles but to seek encouragement from others.

4. Embrace Rest and Renewal – Endurance does not mean constant effort without rest. Emphasize the importance of the Sabbath, solitude, and margin in life. Jesus himself took time to withdraw and rest.

5. Remember God’s Faithfulness—Reflect on past moments when God has been faithful. This will encourage you during tough times.

What’s the reward for endurance in your spiritual journey? Spiritual growth inspires profound joy and prepares you for more significant challenges and resilience.

Pursuing spiritual growth is an incredible journey that deepens your life’s fulfillment. I might add, that you should look up the “Beatitudes” that Jesus proclaimed in the “Sermon on the Mount.” Learn the Beatitudes and know what they mean. They are an excellent guide.

Please don’t take this article as a lecture on your own journey. I’m simply hoping to give you a constructive perspective on what matters most in life and how you can perhaps pursue disciplines and action steps to give yourself a glorious, fulfilling life with greater purpose if that is what you’re seeking.

The good news is that we can change ourselves no matter our age or stage of life.  Many relatively recent discoveries in the field of Neuroscience have made that conclusion. In the Book titled, “Inner Excellence”, the author Jim Murphy references studies that conclude that our brains continuously evolve. Unlike the traditional suggestion that our brains are like machines, they don’t change once they form.1 Perhaps the adage, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” isn’t true for someone willing to change, prioritize, and focus.

Dr. Kurt Fischer, director of the Mind, Brain, and Education Program at Harvard University, referenced a study that suggests that the mind is remarkably plastic. Whether in middle or old age, it’s still adapting very actively to its environment.2 Unlike previously suggested, new brain cells are being created over our entire lifetime through neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is a term assigned to the conclusion of how the brain physically recreates and reorganizes in response to the environment. We learn and adapt to different experiences. Further, the brain changes its physical connections and behavior in response to new information.

The bottom line is that using the excuse that we are too old to change or “I’m too set in my ways” is not a valid excuse for not reorganizing our lives, changing our behavior, or realigning our priorities. So, “where there is a will, there is a way,” correct? Realizing and pursuing our potential and purpose is a journey with growth and setbacks. But in the end, it is well worth all of it, especially when we realize and pursue what really matters.

If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact me at [email protected]

I hope you found that helpful or informative.

Footnotes:

  1. “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy
  2. “Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy
  3.  “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy, Chapter 1, page 15.
  4. “Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy, Chapter 1, pages 6-9.
  5. “Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy