The Fish That Wanted The Ocean

Searching for purpose in a “better” place

Photo by Matt Hardy on Unsplash

There’s a scene in the Pixar movie “Soul” that lingers with me.

In this scene, a character shares a story with the main protagonist who has been searching for a meaningful life.

The story goes that a younger fish swims up to an older fish and asks, “Excuse me, I’m looking for this thing called the ocean.”

“The ocean? You’re in the ocean.” The older fish scoffs

“This isn’t the ocean. This is water. What I want is the ocean” The younger fish dismisses.

This story has resonated with me ever since I’ve seen the movie.

Truth is, we all have been or still are the younger fish. Searching for the greener grass, searching for meaning, searching for that better place. When you may already be there.

I think today I still struggle with finding my purpose and sometimes I think I have to escape where I am at, to find it. I am still that fish believing that the place I am at is plain, salted water when in reality it is the ocean. This is the reality and I could start here to create a better life and find meaning.

Earlier, I looked at my cluttered desk and said, “When I get my new place, I am going to get a new desk.”

I realize I sound dumb.

A new desk won’t solve my lazy mess.

But I like to fool myself into the belief that a new desk, a new place, or a new setting will fix all the issues. That somehow the “ocean” is the answer to every problem.

I am starting to realize I am already in the ocean and change starts here.