The following was written by COS Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) intern Rachel Martin. Learn more about the ELP here.
Like most young adults my age, I find myself faced with an unsettling mix of uncertainty, apprehension, and a glimmer of excitement for the not-too-distant future.
High school—check. College—check. Next up: finding a job! The path to becoming an independent adult in society is becoming a reality. As a recent graduate earning my associate degree from a technical college, I now have the certification to apply for further internship opportunities and full-time jobs. Let’s say I land the career of my dreams and absolutely love the work I’m doing.
Now what? You may be wondering about the purpose of that question, but before I explain, let’s consider a few more examples of what we call “milestones.”
Perhaps I meet the husband of my dreams and we begin our lives together. Now what? Maybe we start a family and raise our children in a beautiful home. Now what? We work hard so that we can live comfortably in retirement. Now what?
While these are all wonderful things to strive for, I must ask myself whether or not these milestones will ultimately give me meaning and fulfillment. I can plan every step of my life and set goals accordingly, but what happens when those plans fail? How will I be affected when I can’t meet the expectations I’ve placed on my “life plan?”
The reality is that we will not find lasting fulfillment in our short-term goals. While they may be well-defined and have good intentions behind them, we are all too familiar with the curveballs that life throws our way. So what must we do to find meaning and fulfillment despite setbacks or changes to our original plans?
The secret is this: the most worthwhile and meaningful goals can never truly be reached.
While this may sound discouraging or even pointless, trust the process! In the Emerging Leaders Program, we refer to these unattainable goals as our Transcendent THERE. It is something we continuously strive for because we recognize that who we are in the present can always be better. It guides our lives and reflects our personal growth, regardless of what happens to us.
In his famous book Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl writes, “A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the ‘why’ for his existence and will be able to bear almost any ‘how.’”
Whether you’re fresh out of college or newly retired from a successful career, it is never too late to determine your Transcendent THERE. It is never too late to set a navigation point that will direct the rest of your life and support those milestones as they come and go. No matter what happens, we march on with the certainty that we can endure life’s challenges with purpose.
