Topic: Purpose of Life
Date: 20 September 2024
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Venue: AV Room
Attendance: 21 students
Objectives:
- To help students understand the concept of a “purpose-driven life.”
- To encourage self-reflection on individual strengths, values, and passions.
- To provide students with practical tools to discover their own life purpose.
- To highlight the connection between personal goals and broader societal impact.
Session Overview:
The facilitator opened the session by showing a short video from the movie Lakshya, which was followed by explaining what “purpose of life” means and discussing the importance of having a sense of purpose. It was explained that life purpose is the guiding compass that directs our decisions and actions. Students were encouraged to view life beyond material achievements, focusing on self-fulfillment, personal growth, and contributing to the well-being of others.
Further, the facilitator talked about why having a purpose in life is crucial. The facilitator shared research-backed benefits, including:
- Greater emotional well-being.
- Improved mental health.
- A stronger sense of direction and motivation.
- Resilience in the face of challenges.
- Better performance as a student
- Longevity of life
Another short video from the movie Lakshya was shown to emphasize the importance of a life purpose and for making the session relatable and entertaining for the students through the use of popular media. The confusion and frustration that can result from the lack of a life purpose was discussed, with potential consequences being aimlessness, conflict, depression, and existential crisis.
Following that, an important topic was introduced i.e. the difference between passion and purpose, as well as their interconnectedness. There was a lengthy discussion about finding and fostering your passion, how it is related to purpose, and how the assimilation of both can lead to a fulfilling life. The students were very interactive and shared their unique experiences to make the session richer.
A game called Purpose Charades was conducted after that, in which students were divided into two teams and they had to act out their purpose in life or their dream profession while their team members would guess what it is. The students enjoyed this activity immensely and it was ensured that everyone got a turn.
Moreover, the importance of values was emphasized in the session—how they are formed, influenced, and how they shape our decisions—and the Japanese concept of ikigai was introduced, with which a lot of students were already familiar with. They were shown a figure to help them find their ikigai and they were encouraged to do so.
The facilitator presented various methods for students to explore and discover their life’s purpose. Some key techniques included self-reflection, exploring values,
goal setting, trying new things, cultivating positive emotions like gratitude, and looking to their role models for inspiration.
Lastly, an activity called The Bucket List Challenge was conducted in which the students were required to create a ten-item bucket list and identify their core values from it, as well as explore their inner dreams and desires.
Throughout the session, students actively participated by asking questions, sharing personal stories, and engaging in discussions.
Conclusion
The session concluded with a reflective mood and the facilitator encouraged the students to continue exploring their passions and take proactive steps toward self-discovery and finding their personal purpose.
