To find yourself, think for yourself"

-Socrates

If we indiscriminately allow the external world to overpower our inner workings, we are at risk of losing our way. Others, in turn, are deprived of our best and most valuable "inventions", qualities, contributions, opinions, and ideas. It's often those ideas that have great value to improve the human condition and are not necessarily rooted in economic return.

Fulfillment and meaning can be found in action which is performed as a reward in its self. Abundance comes from such a state, as it is less of an effort to maintain such experiences and easier for you to keep creating value for others. Wisdom comes from experiencing ourselves in such situations which lead us to self-knowledge and self-expression. All this can be fueled by just one courageous, persistent and at times patient action to listen to the voice within.

"If you go outward, the journey is endless. However, inward, is just a moment. "

Your life experiences will lead you to your truths and the truth keeps evolving as you move through life and interact with others. We are not only free to potentially create our own subjective meaning and purpose, but we are expected to do so for the sake of others and betterment of our world and our species.

I wished for a long time that I could come up with a life plan, much the same way as I would come up with a work-out plan, meal plan or career plan. 

If you want to guarantee that you get lost or take the "long way" home, then you start out with the wrong assumptions.

Sadhguru, a spiritual yogic leader who is known for exploring the scientific methods for self-transformation,  has a great story that makes a similar point:

"Someone who once came looking for Isha Yoga Centre asked a local boy, how far the centre is. The boy said 24,996 miles. The man was aghast. The boy told him the way you are going that is how far it is. However, if you turn around, it is just 4 miles.If you go outward, the journey is endless. However, inward, is just a moment."

-Sadhguru, Inner Engineering: A yogi’s guide to joy