I get it, this take might raise eyebrows, but hear me out. I'm not dismissing life's purpose. It can be chaotic, and sometimes like a child being told no, all we want to do is yell, "It's not fair!"
Well, guess what? It isn't. The people I truly admire—the ones who are genuinely successful—reject the notion that every setback and failure serves a higher purpose. Many have overcome tragedies that would leave most “paralyzed.”
As a society, we've overused the belief that “everything happens for a reason” to absurd levels. It's not that "reason" has no place in our lives, but we often use it as an excuse to avoid growth. We seek it in the wrong places—fate, a divine plan, or some universal force that knows what's best. What if it's none of the above?
I get that we use this phrase to find comfort and meaning in senseless events. But I've always found it unsettling and selfish to believe life's heartaches and losses are merely lessons meant for us to learn. Is a failed business, a severe illness, or the loss of a loved one just about our personal growth?
Life is about creating meaning, not finding reasons.
Switching from reason to meaning is profound. It's about being accountable for our healing, growth, and how we bring lasting value despite the pain. Creating meaning exists without needing a reason.
Bad things don't happen for understandable reasons, but that doesn't mean we're powerless. We give meaning to our experiences—with or without reason.
Let’s stop waiting for a reason to reveal itself; start creating value from what happened. Transform despair into hope, failure into success.
Ultimately, it's about looking back with gratitude—not at the unfair events that hit us, but at the chance to forge a new path forward.
That's about as fair as life gets.