When we delve into fantastical stories of fiction, be it through movies or books or video games, we accept that there is probably going to be some sort of plot. The story has a beginning an end, and the events between are a means of guiding the protagonist to said end. One of the most rewarding experiences when enjoying a complex, well-constructed work of fiction is going back, re-experiencing the story, and noticing all of the little details that guided the protagonist to the end. For example, let’s take a look at The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, my personal favorite Zelda game, mostly for sentimental reasons. (The following may contain spoilers.) Toward the beginning of the game, the sister of the protagonist, Link, is kidnapped from their home island. Driven by a desire to save her, Link joins up with some pirates, the leader of whom is known as Tetra, as a means to get to the island where she’s being held. On said island, it’s revealed that Ganondorf, the evil antagonist of the series, has returned to make yet another attempt at ruling the world. Yadda yadda yadda, fast forward a few hours, Link defeats Ganondorf, the world is saved. In the plot of the game, it’s clear that Link’s sister’s kidnapping served the purpose of getting Link off of his home island, discovering Ganondorf, and ultimately defeating him and saving the world. As such, the Link at the end of the game can look back to the beginning of the narrative and feel content, with his sister now safe, that her kidnapping ultimately served a good purpose. (End of spoilers.) Retrospective logic stating “I’m glad [event] happened, because it brought me to where I am today” becomes a problem, however, when people try to apply it at the outset of their problems. Be it breakups, bad grades, job losses, or countless other unfortunate situations, people like to look at their misfortune at the time when they occur and tell themselves, “It’s okay, everything happens for a reason.”
This phrase is as pervasive as they come. It’s an attempt to apply some undefined purpose to events so as to rationalize why such an event would occur in the first place. It’s used to comfort, telling those in dark times to keep their head up and keep pushing forward, and while I admire the sentiment of the phrase, I cannot help but be bothered by it.
No occurrence in the universe has an innate purpose. Additionally, the universe is (most likely) not the brainchild of some cosmic life author who constructs a plot for all of us to follow. The wind does not blow in a certain direction with the purpose of propelling a ship, the sun does not fuse hydrogen into helium with the purpose of producing light and heat for us living beings on earth, and a former significant other did not break up with their former partner with the purpose of guiding them to their soulmate (a concept I also despise, but that’s for another time). None of these actions happened for a reason; they simply happened because that’s how events played out. Any and all perceived purpose of any event in life is retroactively fitted to that experience.
Many people are bothered by the notion that their lives and the events that occur therein have no innate purpose, but here’s the thing: it’s okay. It’s okay for two reasons. First, being purposeless is not the same as being meaningless. Second, having no innate purpose is not that same as being without purpose altogether. It’s true that the events of your life may not have purposefully lead you to where you are today, but that doesn’t mean those events were unimportant. Your life is a spectacular coincidence in this vast and irrational universe, but the minute blip in time that is your life can be deeply influential to those around you.
The truth is, virtually nothing happens for a reason. You didn’t even happen for a reason, but here’s the good news: having no innate purpose means that your life’s purpose is whatever you want it to be. If you want your life’s purpose to be helping starving children worldwide, so be it! If you want your life’s purpose to be creating one of the most groundbreaking and medium-defining films in history, then make is so! If you want your life’s purpose to be making the world a better place for everyone you encounter, that’s a wonderful purpose! You are the creator of your life’s purpose, so promise me one thing: make it a good one.
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