The mind and the emotions meet—
each filled with meaning.
Because there is meaning, there is purpose.
Because there is purpose, there is meaning.
Purpose arises from meaning.
Purpose is the way to know meaning.
The meaning behind purpose is outside:
excluded, beyond, forgotten.
The meaning behind meaning is inside:
included, within, remembered.
Emotions remind us that both are—
and are not.
Mind reminds us that meaning
is easily forgotten.
* * *
The mind and heart converge in thought,
Where meaning blooms and purpose is sought.
In growth they stretch, a shared ascent,
Each fills the other, ever bent.
Purpose is born from meaning’s thread,
A quiet truth the heart has said.
And meaning, too, by purpose stands,
Both built on shifting, unseen sands.
For meaning lies in what's inside,
In quiet places we often hide.
Yet purpose drifts in realms afar,
Beyond our reach, like a distant star.
Emotions speak the truth we know,
That both exist and both must go.
A fleeting dance of joy and grief,
A tug that questions our belief.
The mind forgets, as minds will do,
The edges soft, the vision skewed.
Yet in the heart, a deeper light,
That remembers what the mind denies.
Purpose, a path we walk with care,
Meaning, the breath that fills the air.
Two forces meeting, and apart,
Bound together within the heart.
* * *
Once, in a faraway land, there was a wise old tree at the heart of an ancient forest. This tree, known as the Tree of Thought, had roots that stretched deep into the earth and branches that reached high into the sky. Its leaves shimmered with every thought and every feeling that passed through the minds and hearts of the creatures who lived nearby.
The tree was said to hold the secret to life's greatest mystery: the connection between meaning and purpose.
One crisp morning, a young traveler named Elara arrived at the tree. She had journeyed through mountains and valleys, seeking the answer to a question that had weighed on her heart for as long as she could remember: What is the purpose of life?
The old tree spoke, its voice soft yet clear, like the whisper of the wind.
"Meaning and purpose are not separate, dear traveler," it said. "They meet, they grow, and they expand, like two rivers flowing into one. And because there is meaning, there is purpose. And because there is purpose, there is meaning."
Elara listened intently, but the words felt confusing, like puzzle pieces that didn’t quite fit. She asked the tree, "But how can I know what my purpose is?"
The tree swayed gently in the breeze, as if considering her question. "Purpose arises from meaning," it explained. "When you seek meaning in your heart and your mind, you will find purpose. And it is through purpose that you will come to understand meaning."
"But what if I can’t see the meaning?" Elara asked, her brow furrowed in thought.
The tree’s leaves rustled softly, and the voice grew quieter, more contemplative. "The meaning behind purpose is often hidden, forgotten, and beyond your reach," it said. "It lies outside of you, waiting to be rediscovered. But the meaning behind meaning… that lies within you, always with you. It is inside, it is remembered, and it is where you will find the answers you seek."
Elara thought about this for a long while, but still, a part of her felt unsure. "How can I remember something I don’t even know?" she asked.
The tree smiled with a deep, knowing wisdom. "Emotions, dear child, are your reminder. They show you that you both are and are not—that you are part of the larger whole, and yet, at times, you feel disconnected. These feelings help you navigate the dance between meaning and purpose."
"And the mind?" Elara asked. "What part does it play?"
"The mind," the tree answered, "is the keeper of all things. It reminds you that meaning can easily be forgotten. It is your mind that may wander, lost in thoughts, distracted by the world around you. But when you return to your heart, you will find meaning again, and with it, purpose."
With a newfound understanding, Elara sat beneath the tree, feeling both small and vast at the same time. She realized that her purpose was not a single, grand answer to be found, but a journey—one that grew from the meanings she discovered, from the emotions that guided her, and from the moments when she remembered.
As the sun set, casting long shadows over the forest, Elara understood: The path to purpose was always within her reach—hidden in plain sight, waiting to be noticed, remembered, and lived.
And so, with the whispers of the Tree of Thought in her heart, she set forth once more, ready to discover the meaning behind every step she took.
* * *
In a quiet village nestled between rolling hills and misty valleys, there lived a young woman named Lyra, whose heart and mind were constantly at odds. She had always felt that there was something missing in her life—an invisible thread that, when found, would pull her into the very center of herself. She was driven by a restless energy, searching for both meaning and purpose, but they seemed as elusive as the wind that danced through the tall grasses.
One evening, as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink, Lyra wandered into the woods behind her cottage. She had done this many times before, walking in solitude, hoping for clarity. The path was overgrown with wildflowers, the scent of jasmine and earth thick in the air. The trees whispered secrets in the wind, secrets Lyra could never quite understand.
As she walked, her mind buzzed with questions. What is my purpose? she asked herself. What am I meant to do in this world? The questions circled in her thoughts, sharp and insistent. Is it to help others? To create something beautiful? To simply be?
The path seemed endless, winding through the forest, the trees growing thicker, the light dimmer. But then, as if guided by some unseen force, Lyra came upon a clearing. In the center stood an ancient stone fountain, its surface covered in moss. The water bubbled softly, catching the last rays of the fading sun.
Lyra approached the fountain, her thoughts still swirling. She knelt beside it, gazing into the reflection. There, in the rippling water, she saw not just her face, but the glimmer of something deeper—something she could not put into words. It was as if the water itself held the answers she sought, though they remained just beyond her reach.
And then, in a quiet voice, something inside her spoke—a voice not of thought, but of feeling. It was a truth that rose from her heart, gentle but undeniable.
Purpose is not a destination, Lyra. It is the way you move through the world, the care you take with each step. It is the love you give, the quiet moments you share with others, the joy in small things. Purpose is not found; it is lived.
Her heart swelled with a warmth she had never known before, a sense of peace that came from understanding. For the first time, Lyra realized that purpose was not a fixed point on the horizon, a goal to be achieved. It was in the journey, in the moments of connection, in the way she breathed life into the world around her.
But then, as her heart calmed, another thought drifted through her mind. But what about meaning?
And the voice inside her replied once more.
Meaning is found in what lies within you. It is the quiet voice that speaks when you stop searching for answers, the spark of understanding that lives in the deepest parts of yourself. Meaning is not something you chase; it is something you remember.
Lyra stood up, the words sinking into her soul. She realized that meaning was already a part of her, woven into the very fabric of her being. It was not something she could grasp with her mind or hold in her hands. It was something felt, something known in the silence between thoughts, in the stillness of the heart.
As she turned to leave the clearing, Lyra felt a deep sense of both release and connection. Meaning and purpose were not two separate things, but two forces that worked together, like a dance. Sometimes they led her forward, sometimes they pulled her back. Sometimes they were clear, and sometimes they were shrouded in mystery. But always, they moved together, bound in the deepest corners of the heart.
And as she made her way back home, the sun dipping below the horizon, she knew that the dance would continue, a rhythm that would carry her through the rest of her days, ever searching, ever living.
* * *
Bridging the gap between divine omniscience
and mortal awareness.
Find your truth. Know your mind. Follow your heart. Love eternal will not be denied. Discernment is an integral part of self-mastery. You may share this post on a non-commercial basis, the author and URL to be included. Please note … posts are continually being edited. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2025 C.G. Garant.
