Discover Your Cosmic Values: A Guide to Purpose and Meaning HBR, November 17, 2023 Ever wonder if there’s more to life than the daily grind? You’re not alone. We all crave purpose and meaning. The good news is, there are cosmic values that can guide you to a life of fulfillment. This isn’t some new age mumbo jumbo. Cosmic values have been around for ages, helping humans find meaning since the dawn of time. They represent eternal truths about love, growth, contribution, and more. The problem is, in today’s fast-paced world, these values often get buried under the crushing weight of societal expectations and mundane responsibilities. But you have the power to rediscover your cosmic values and align your life with what really matters. Doing so will bring you the richness, meaning, and purpose you’ve been searching for. It won’t necessarily be easy, but it will be worth it. Are you ready to embark on a journey to your most authentic self? To find your own true north and start living a life of meaning? Then read on, friend. This guide will show you the way. What Are Cosmic Values? Cosmic values refer to life’s deepest principles and purposes that transcend our individual existences. They represent ultimate truths and the meaning of life that remain constant across cultures and time. Some examples of cosmic values include: Love: The unconditional caring for others and desire for their well-being. Love is the glue that binds humanity together. Truth: The honesty and integrity in one’s thoughts, words, and deeds. Truth allows us to build trust and meaningful relationships. Beauty: The appreciation of excellence, harmony, and creativity in all spheres of life. Beauty nourishes the human spirit. Justice: The fair, equitable, and compassionate treatment of all people. Justice creates the conditions for human dignity and flourishing. Freedom: The liberty to think, act, and pursue happiness and purpose. Freedom allows us to achieve our highest potentials. Discovering and aligning your life with these profound principles can lead to a deep sense of meaning, fulfillment, and connection to something greater than yourself. They represent the shared ideals that lift us up and move us forward together as a society. So reflect on what really matters to you – what stirs your soul and gives you a sense of purpose. Those are your cosmic values, your inner compasses guiding you to your best self and a life well lived. Follow them and find your meaning. Identifying Your Core Cosmic Values To uncover your core cosmic values, do some soul-searching. Reflect on what really matters to you and gives your life deep meaning. Some questions to ponder: What do you care most passionately about? Things like family, creativity, nature, learning, spirituality, justice, etc. If you only had 6 months to live, how would you spend your time? This can reveal what’s most precious to you. What are your natural gifts, talents and strengths? Our cosmic values are often tied to how we can best contribute value to the world. What topics do you love discussing? Our core values frequently align with subjects that spark our curiosity and enthusiasm. Review your life’s highlights. Look for common themes in your most meaningful moments, peak experiences and proudest achievements. These provide clues to your cosmic values. After reflection, identify 3-5 values that are most significant and resonant for you. These form the foundation of your purpose and guide you to meaningful pursuits. Some examples include: Love and relationships. Making genuine heart connections with others. Growth and learning. Expanding your mind and evolving into your highest potential. Creativity. Expressing yourself through artistic pursuits and innovative ideas. Service. Improving lives and making a positive difference in the world however you can. Your core cosmic values are your North Star. Refer back to them whenever you feel lost or unsure of your direction. They will illuminate your path ahead. Living in Alignment With Your Cosmic Values Living in alignment with your cosmic values means making choices each day that honor your deepest purpose and meaning. This isn’t about striving for perfection or judging yourself for mistakes and missteps. Rather, it’s about cultivating an ongoing practice of self-reflection and consciously choosing the path that resonates most with your soul. Be authentic and truthful Stop pretending to be someone you’re not just to please others or fit in. Speak your truth with compassion, even if it’s not what people want to hear. Your authentic self is the only thing you have to offer the world. Follow your inner guidance Pay attention to the quiet voice within that gently guides you one way or the other. This is your intuition, and it will never lead you astray. Learn to differentiate it from the loud voice of ego and fear. Your intuition comes through as a soft knowing, a feeling of rightness and peace. Do what you love Make time each day to do things that energize and inspire you. Engage in work, hobbies, social interactions, and acts of service that light you up. Don’t waste time on things that drain you just out of obligation. Your purpose is found in the overlap between what you’re good at, what you love, and what the world needs. Spread kindness Make a habit of performing small acts of kindness each day. Smile at strangers, compliment others, volunteer your time or skills, donate unused items, call a friend or family member just to say you care. Spreading kindness is one of the most powerful ways to live in alignment with your higher purpose. Take care of yourself Honor your physical and emotional needs so you can show up fully for life’s purpose. Maintain a healthy diet, stay active, limit harmful habits, engage in self-care practices like meditation or yoga, and make time for fun and play. Your ability to achieve your cosmic purpose relies on the wellbeing of your mind, body, and spirit. Benefits of Connecting With Your Cosmic Purpose Connecting with your cosmic purpose—the deeper reason for your existence—provides profound benefits. Improved Well-Being When you tap into why you’re really here, you gain a sense of meaning and fulfillment that promotes inner peace and contentment. Studies show people with purpose and meaning in their lives tend to be happier and healthier. They experience less anxiety, depression, and stress. Stronger Motivation Knowing your cosmic purpose ignites your passion and drive. You feel motivated to get out of bed in the morning and make a difference. Purpose gives you the courage and determination to push through obstacles and setbacks. With purpose comes vision—the ability to see your life and the world through the lens of your deepest values and aims. Clearer Direction Your cosmic purpose points you to your true north, providing guidance and direction. It helps make difficult decisions easier by highlighting what really matters. When faced with life’s crossroads, your purpose steers you down the path of greatest meaning and impact. Deeper Fulfillment Living in alignment with your purpose leads to a profound sense of fulfillment that transcends mundane measures of success or material gain. You feel you are actualizing your full potential and honoring the reason you came into this life. Each step toward your purpose feels nourishing and inspiring. Discovering and living your cosmic purpose is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. While the path may not always be clear or easy, the rewards of purpose and meaning are well worth the effort. Your purpose will lead you to your best self and guide you to make a difference in your own unique way. Finding Meaning Through Cosmic Values Finding meaning through cosmic values involves connecting to something greater than yourself. As humans, we all seek purpose and meaning in our lives. One way to find meaning is by identifying your core values and living in alignment with them. Explore Your Own Values What really matters to you? What are your priorities, passions and principles? Some common cosmic values include: Love – Caring for others, kindness, compassion Truth – Honesty, integrity, authenticity Justice – Fairness, equality Beauty – Creativity, artistry, harmony Think about which values light you up or motivate you. They may relate to relationships, personal growth, nature, spirituality or society. Write down 3 to 5 core values that are meaningful to you. Align Your Actions Now, consider how well your daily actions align with your values. Are there any activities that contradict what really matters to you? Make a plan to reduce or eliminate them. Instead, incorporate more actions that nurture your values. For example, if love and relationships are important to you, spend more quality time connecting with friends and family. If justice matters, look for volunteer opportunities in your area to support a good cause. When you live according to your values, you’ll feel a deeper sense of meaning and purpose. Contribute to the Greater Good Discovering your cosmic values also involves realizing you’re part of something bigger than yourself. Look for ways to contribute to your community that make a positive difference in the lives of others. This could be through random acts of kindness each day, volunteering your time or skills for a local charity or making sustainable lifestyle changes to benefit the planet. Aligning your life with your core values and contributing to the greater good leads to a sense of meaning and purpose. You’ll discover that living according to your cosmic values is the path to your best, most fulfilling life. Conclusion So there you have it, a few ways to tap into your cosmic values and discover your greater purpose. Ultimately, you have to do the inner work – reflect, meditate, observe how you can contribute value to the world in a meaningful way. Don’t get bogged down in the mundane day-to-day stuff and lose sight of the bigger picture. You’re here for a reason, and the world needs what you have to offer. Once you align with your cosmic values and purpose, life just flows. You’ll feel more at peace, connected, and on the right path. Keep exploring, the journey is worth it. You’ve got this! Now go out there and shine your light. The world is waiting. Blog