Aristotle assumes that all our actions aim at an ultimate end:  happiness. 

Let’s assume he’s right.  Our purpose is to find happiness.

According to Aristotle, a life of happiness and excellence lies in fulfilling functions that we love and that make full use of our virtues.  This is the universe’s purpose for each of us.  The universe wants us to find our purpose, to live our dream, and will conspire to make our dream come true.

I picture the flow of the world like the flow of rushing water - it’s a bitch if you fight it, but when you move towards your dream, it’s your biggest ally.

More Anna on Aristotle:

“All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind.”  Don’t work against the flow.  Work because you want to, because it is your purpose, and the universe will push you forward.  Whatever the meaning of your life is, you’re meant to live it 24/7, not between 5 and 10 pm.

“The young are permanently in a state resembling intoxication.”  I love this analogy.  In an earlier post I wrote that young people are more likely to hold the belief that they can, and should, be doing something that they are passionate about. 

Young people (and drunken people) have fewer inhibitions.  They make grand claims about their presents and their futures without thought to how and when.  How did you picture the future when you were five, 10, and 15 (or drunk)?  What did you love doing when you were 12? 

“The greatest virtues are those which are most useful to other persons.”  Our purpose is to find happiness by making use of our virtues, those virtues that are useful to other people.  Imagine every one of us fulfilling functions that we love and that are useful to one another.

Do or create something of value, whether you bring clean energy to remote communities or write 30 Rock.  And don’t underestimate the simple value of your happiness and the effect it has on the rest of the world, whatever it is you do.

Get involved.  Leave comments.  Give advice.  Ask for advice.