What is my purpose if I only feel sadness?

Hawzah News Agency - Question: I’m a young guy dealing with a lot of sadness. I live with constant anxiety and a feeling of emptiness. Sometimes, I tell myself that my very existence is just a mistake. Why am I here? Who brought me into this world? And why does it feel like nobody ever listens to my opinions?

Answer:

You need to switch up your mindset and your daily routine by taking action. Try doing these things:

1. Keep yourself busy with something active—like taking a walk in a park or garden!
2. Find a quiet spot to just chill and relax, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
3. Look at the beauty in nature and reflect on the absolute greatness of its Creator.
4. Get some exercise, like swimming or playing a sport.
5. Read some comic books, or whatever uplifting material fits your vibe.
6. Dedicate an hour every single day to dua (supplication). Really reflect on what you are asking for, and try to do this late at night (after midnight) or right before sunrise.
7. Hang out with your good, positive friends.
8. Go visit your family and relatives.
9. Grab a small notebook and write down the letters B and G. Try to monitor yourself from the moment you wake up. If you commit a bad deed (God forbid), put a tally under the letter B. Whenever you do a good deed, put a mark under the letter G. This self-awareness will make you feel great about your positive actions, and it will motivate you to level up what pleases Allah and cut down on what displeases Him.

You also need to make some firm resolutions:

1. Decide to be humble in your life. Think about it: without humbleness, the clouds, oceans, trees, plants, and flowers wouldn’t bring us any joy or pleasure.
2. Value knowledge and those who teach it (scholars). Knowledge is light, and without scholars, life would just be dark.
3. Stay pious! Stay away from sins, because sinners end up exposing themselves without even realizing it.
4. Keep smiling, even if you have to “fake it 'til you make it” at the beginning.
5. Love goodness! Love has always been the greatest foundation for a good life. Why wouldn’t we love the things that bring us to life? Religion and faith are literally built on a pure heart and a love for good.

Once you commit to being humble, loving knowledge and scholars, avoiding unlawful (haram) things, smiling at people, and loving goodness, you will definitely find happiness because you will finally understand the purpose of your existence.

Don’t sleep on the power of deep concentration during prayer! If your heart isn’t fully awake while you are praying, your prayer is just a series of empty, meaningless movements. Think of your heart as the ultimate airport in your existence—make sure the plane of faith lands there safely! The heart is the pathway to Allah; if you fill it with anything other than Allah, it will get you nowhere.

You need to reach a state where your heart is so tuned in that when you raise your hands and make this dua, you truly feel it: “O my Lord, to You I offer my existence which is from You.”

After taking all these steps, you will reach a level where you can say in your supplications exactly what Imam Ali (s) said: “O my Lord, it is enough honor for me to be Your slave and enough pride for me that You are my Lord. O my Lord, You are as I like, so make me as You like!”

Bro, your existence is not a mistake. You are a gift from Allah, the One and Only. I pray that, with Allah’s help, you can successfully and happily crush this sadness and leave all your pain and emptiness behind. And when you win this battle, please reach back and guide others who are struggling with melancholy, because rescuing them is an incredibly great and noble deed.

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Source: "For a better future" by Hussain Ansariyan , Q23