Finding Meaning and Purpose

Until I undertook coach training, I had never paused to reflect deeply on meaning and purpose. As a yoga practitioner, I had studied yogic philosophy and glimpsed Vedanta, yet the Western framing of these questions was new to me.

In the West, “the meaning of life” implies that life must have a definable purpose—often treated as a puzzle with one right answer. In the East, the focus shifts inward: less about meaning as a definition, more about realizing the nature of reality and the Self. As Shankaracharya reminds us, life simply is—its depth is to be experienced, not explained.

Here lies the gap: the West looks outward, asking What should I do?—career, vocation, achievement. The East looks inward, asking Who am I?—emphasizing self-discovery.

I’ve come to see it this way: when the West asks “What is the meaning of life?”, the East replies, “First, know who is asking.”

And what about true nature? At the deepest level, traditions like Vedanta say it is the same for all—pure awareness. Yet it expresses uniquely in each of us, like the same sunlight shining through different stained-glass windows. The essence is universal, but its colors—our gifts, vocations, and ways of being—are distinct.

Coaching, to me, bridges these two worlds. It invites us to know our true nature and let it flow outward in service. In serving others, we discover meaning. In knowing ourselves, we find peace. Together, they bring inner happiness.

What’s your take—do you resonate more with “What should I do?” or “Who am I?”