Do you have purpose in life? It’s everything. Without purpose, we have no compass. Without a compass, we are left without morals, and without morals, we begin to behave recklessly. We make poor decisions. We treat people carelessly. We harm the environment, ourselves, and everyone around us.

Before we can discuss how to uncover or define purpose in life, it’s important to establish that having purpose is a prerequisite for contentment. A person grounded in purpose is also grounded in values, and a moral creature is, ultimately, a happy creature.

So, how do we find or divine purpose? The answer lies beyond the confines of employment, vocation, or even identity. Purpose refers to the reason for your existence—the reason you’re here on this earth.

At first glance, the idea of purpose seems almost absurd. Considering how small we are in relation to the vastness of the universe, suggesting that we each have a divine or cosmic purpose might seem boastful. Whether you subscribe to religion or some greater cosmic idea is beside the point. Your purpose starts within you, not outside you, not from a deity or cultural stand-in.

You are purpose enough.

That’s where we begin. No one else in the universe is as invested in your existence as you are. This realization places a burden on you—a great responsibility to ensure that your actions mean something, that your life means something. You have a vital role to play in your community, and if you fulfill that role, your impact will ripple outward positively. If you neglect it, your impact will echo negatively.

Understanding this weight is what gives life its significance. When you embrace your purpose, you start to see how your actions and decisions affect others. As you empathize with the struggles of others, you begin to recognize the power you have to either magnify hardship or alleviate suffering. You hold this power as an individual—you, personally, have the ability to change the lives of those around you.

This understanding is the foundation of purpose. At some point, everyone realizes that their existence matters, even if they haven’t fully embraced the responsibility that comes with it. You might chase personal success at the expense of others, but the weight of your existence will catch up with you. The consequences of your careless actions—your moral cuts—will return as life’s lessons. And the hope is that when they do, it’s not too late to atone or change course.

Purpose doesn’t magically appear when you realize your life matters. It has always been there. The key is understanding that purpose is tied to your recognition of your impact on others.

This is where contentment comes in. Your choices, and how they affect others, accumulate over time. If you live carelessly and without purpose, your community, and the world at large, will reflect this carelessness back to you. On the other hand, when you realize that your choices matter and start living in a way that benefits those around you, you’ll experience fulfillment that runs deeper than momentary satisfaction.

As you age, the choices you’ve made will shape how the world treats you. This is sometimes called karma—good things happen to good people. But really, it’s about understanding that people who live purposefully and consciously tend not to be treated carelessly by others.

Living with purpose means you’ve contributed meaningfully to your community. You’ve acted with integrity, with an understanding of the effort and sacrifice required. This brings an emotional reward: “I did what I could. I acted as best I could. I left this place better than I found it.” This sense of pride in your actions is both selfish and selfless. It benefits you emotionally and spiritually, but it also benefits the community around you.

This brings us to another crucial element of purpose: hard work, sacrifice, and dedication. When you understand that you have value in the world and that your actions contribute to either positive or negative outcomes, you begin to appreciate the importance of effort. You see the necessity of education and transparency because without these, you cannot fully understand how your actions affect others.

Education and transparency lead to growth, and this growth informs your values. These values, in turn, guide your daily decisions—from how you treat the people around you to how you conduct your work. Your values shape the thousands of micro-decisions you make every day, often unconsciously, much like breathing.

Even though many of your decisions may seem automatic, they are still rooted in your value system and sense of purpose. This understanding provides scaffolding for your life. The decisions you make today will shape your world two or three years down the road—who you spend time with, what work you do, and how you impact your community. All of these things are influenced by your sense of purpose.

There’s one more critical piece to consider: you are a role model. Whether you realize it or not, others observe your actions and are influenced by them. Many people lack access to the education or understanding needed to realize that even small actions can have significant effects. This makes them impressionable and vulnerable to following those without purpose. It’s crucial to recognize that your decisions, purposeful or not, can guide others—sometimes down a path of carelessness.

If you live with purpose, grounded in values and a clear understanding of your impact on others, you will inspire others to do the same. But if you don’t, your actions may lead others astray. Which person do you want to be?

In the end, it all comes down to this: you are enough. Your existence has meaning. Your choices have weight. Live with purpose, keep learning, and strive to impact the world around you positively.