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Wellbeing: A Central Purpose in Life

Ultimate Questions

Consider these questions:

These are deep and complex philosophical questions with no clear answers. For example, some people believe that the purpose of life can and should be derived from some religious scriptures. Others, such as existentialist, believes that there is no inherent meaning to existence but an individual can and must choose his or her own purpose.

A Pragmatic Answer Based on the Facts of Life

Wellism’s approach to these questions starts by pointing out these two facts:

  • Every individual has needs and desires.
  • Every individual wants these needs and desires to be met and achieved.

Why does an individual want their needs to be met? Because this is fundamental human nature. Needs such as food, security, freedom, connection, and enjoyment are universal needs shared by everyone.

And why does an individual want their desires to be met? Because they believe this will help them meet their needs. They view a desire as a means to satisfy one or more needs (even if they don’t explicitly or consciously think in these terms).

So, given these facts, we can also say:

  • Every individual has a goal: to satisfy their needs and desires.
  • Therefore, (at least part of) an individual’s chosen purpose in life is to satisfy their needs and desires.

Additionally, we can also say, with almost complete certainty:

  • A central component of life’s purpose is: to live.

Why? Because it doesn’t make sense to become alive just to immediately die after that. In fact, everyone wants to live (except for people who are experiencing excruciating suffering that cannot be relieved).

Given these pretty clear statements, Wellism’s approach to the questions of life’s meaning is not to try finding the Ultimate Definitive Answer to these questions, as it may be impossible to know. Instead, we can focus on what we do know: that we can help ourselves and others to live and to achieve needs and desires—though with some important caveats, and from a much broader and more holistic perspective than focusing only an individual’s needs (as will be explained below).

In this way, we avoid getting bogged down in potentiallyendless and unresolvable philosophical debates about the meaning and purpose of life.

Holistic Wellbeing as a Central Purpose in Life

Remember the connection between needs and wellbeing (see here):

The level of an individual’s wellbeing is determined by the extent that the individual’s needs are satisfied.

So by focusing on enhancing wellbeing, Wellism aims to help individuals fulfill their needs, and thus fulfill at least part of their life’s purpose.

Therefore, Wellism chooses this main assertion:

The central value and organizing principle of people and societies should be wellbeing.

Important Caveat

We mentioned above that Wellism’s aim of helping individuals fulfill their needs and desires has important caveats.

The main caveat is that Wellism’s purpose is to enhance wellbeing—everyone’s wellbeing, not just a particular individual’s wellbeing. Therefore, if an individual’s desire comes at the expense of the wellbeing of others, Wellism does not aim to help that individual fulfill that desire.

In fact, if an individual has a desire to deliberately harm others, Wellism has the following aims:

  • Protecting the Innocent: Helping people to avoid harm from others. This includes, among other things, supporting justified self-defense, as well as systems of legal protection and law enforcement.
  • Promoting Positive Change: Act to change harmful behaviors and their underlying mentality. This involves educating the public about Wellism’s values and promoting better ways of interacting, such as respectful discussion and Compassionate Communication.

Wellbeing Is Sufficiently Meaningful and Comprehensive

One might wonder: That’s it? The purpose of life is “merely” to satisfy human needs and desire? And to take care of wellbeing? Isn’t there more to life? Isn’t there some Grander-than-life Ultimate Purpose?

First, note that achieving wellbeing and meeting our needs is very comprehensive and holistic. The list of universal human needs includes not only basic needs such as food and safety, and social needs such as connection and affection, but also high-level needs such as self-actualization, spiritual goals, and a sense of purpose which is often obtained by belonging to a cause greater than oneself. Wellbeing in all its forms, as defined here, can be claimed to be broad enough to encompass whatever additional purposes one might choose to add to one’s life.

But still one might argue: Suppose there is a divine Creator, and the purpose of life, as commanded by this Creator, is that we do his will. Ok, but we can still say: If this is what you believe, and you desire to do his will, then that’s one of your desires, and Wellism can help you achieve that – of course so long as that’s not at the expense of the wellbeing of others.

And what if one’s religion teaches certain “divine commandments”, and those conflict with Wellism’s values? For that – read Wellism’s answer here.

Next Steps

TBD