How do you live a life that matters?

If anything at all, Generation Y and Generation Z want to “make a difference” with their existence. They want a purpose-driven life that helps them make a good living and contribute to society. As the saying goes, “a meaningful life is always better than a long one”, and these new generations seem to have taken this rather seriously. Today’s generation is anything but money-driven. They don’t believe in going on with the standard motions of life. They all share a similar vision, and that is to develop a sustainable and comfortable life for the current as well as for future generations.

In the book, The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change, Adam Braun, elaborates the journey of a young, tenacious and passionate man who turned a mere sum of $25 into more than 200 schools around the world. This book also illuminates the guiding principles of making a successful and significant life.

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If you’re someone who has ever dared to ask, “Does my life matter?”, then these four practices will guide you towards creating a life that really does “matter”:

Change the way you think

Rigor mortis of the mind is one of the biggest hurdles of life. We often get too comfortable with our routine that the thought of bringing about even a single change can make us nervous. The essence of living a meaningful life is to transform yourself by delving into new ideals and by embracing new attitudes so that you are able to create significant moments in your life, making each day count.

Find a purpose

“I believe there's a calling for all of us. I know that every human being has value and purpose. The real work of our lives is to become aware. And awakened. To answer the call.” – Oprah Winfrey

What do you feel passionate about? Find a cause that you truly care about. It could be anything from raising awareness on banning the killing of stray dogs to creating a platform to counsel farmers affected by climate change. Build your life around a cause that makes you tick. It should be something that you live with every day. A profound passion for a cause or a purpose can give you the courage to achieve even the impossible. You need to have a conviction for your purpose and feed this conviction every day.

Dream big and keep expanding your vision

If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, you’re definitely not dreaming well. These quotes might just help you find a new perspective. Having a big vision is one of the primary drivers to living a significant life. Finding a purpose and working towards its fulfilment is not enough. Be content and challenge yourself to discover new methods that will help you create a better and bigger impact with your efforts. Always be grateful for what you have achieved and keep asking for more. You'll be amazed to see how far your vision can take you.

Surround yourself with people who can mentor you

You’ll find many who would do everything to discourage you from following your passion, but only a few who would help you achieve your goals. Perhaps, it is important to surround yourself with people who radiate positivity and enthusiasm. Human interactions is an important part of any journey, and being around meaningful and encouraging people will give you the courage to keep building new paths every day, making your belief much stronger with each passing day.

In the end, it is important to realise that the meaning of significance is different for each of us. It is not about personal accomplishment, but about finding moments that espouse value, positivity and meaning to your everyday life. Following these tips will put you on the path of living a life that matters, but finding a goal that completely changes your story is something you need to figure out first.