Dealing with "Having a purpose"

For many people the "all-in" moment comes only when they are exhausted of resources. My recent enlightenment from the works of "Alba Emoting" and "Guy Kawasaki" suggest that such bitter "all-in" experiences are a consequence of improper handling of resources and not understanding thyself. The worst of all not giving time to understand thyself. One way or the other we all have our "all-in" moments, the best way to deal with it is to exit in grace by knowing when. And it is as simple and as rhetoric as "Having a purpose".

Taking a leaf from Robert Kowasaki's book "Rich Dad and Poor Dad", it all starts with writing what we want, why we want and how we want it. I would have cared less about this a couple of months ago and would have even jeered at someone who talked in this fashion. However, looking back at epic heros of Indian mythology and recent idols from various sports, I realize that they indeed have a check list of how to act and when to act.

In a more recent past, like last week, during my PhD committee meetings one of the advisor asked me - " What is the final objective of your PhD thesis". I stated it in the most diplomatic way possible and to please atleast 3 of the 5 of the committee members. However, listening to those recordings of the meetings, I wondered if that question had any deeper meaning. I truly believe it does. I took one whole week to read literature and come up with more explanations of why I was doing that research. In the process I understood that its ME who has to understand what I want and its me who has to DO work to satisfy myself. Once the question was clear in my head, the experimental design was as simple as getting it done. I cannot stress less on how humbling the experience was.

In principle 'having a purpose' is very simple "Know what you want and get it". Once this is established then comes the blank book of life, on Either enjoy the fruits or enjoy the journey, either ways start the journey rather than sit back and complain. Going by Stephen Covey's principles, we can categorize mortals into four kinds based on their view of the above statement viz. doomed mortals, ordinary mortals, striving mortals and blessed mortals. Doomed mortals have an easy way of criticizing others, belittling others and faking authority of subject. But in the time of "all-in" moment all they have is a little hope and lot of pressure. Ordinary mortals (including myself) this would bring up questions of ethics, history and other non-relevant questions that could cut me slack and give me time to relax and rewind. For part of the striving mortals (future me!!) it would be coming with a list of what you want and playing the never satisfying game of balancing our needs, wants and list goes on........ For the blessed mortals, I dont know..... wish someone could fill into this.