A question on "finding your purpose"

[Alphathree33]

I've spent a good deal of time on an elusive activity called "finding my purpose".

You can read about it on ten dozen different websites. It boils down to defining what you are all about and molding your life's goals and activities around that.

It all sounds very logical, but I'm REALLY struggling with it.

The conclusion I've come to is that, like anyone, I'm a very dynamic person and I can't seem to fit myself inside the "box" of a particular purpose. Today I might really enjoy playing a good computer game, tomorrow I might really enjoy going skiing, the day after I might really enjoy a quiet night with my girlfriend.

To that end, writing a "purpose" or "mission" for my life has become almost impossible. I'm beginning to wonder if this is really a worthwhile exercise.

I'm fairly good at setting and reaching goals and I've been doing that for years. But my goals never have a higher purpose other than the goal itself.

So on the one hand, living aimlessly (with goals, but without a real purpose) doesn't seem very productive. But trying to find a particular "purpose" for which to live has been an impossible task.

Does anyone have an insight?

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Just do your best and go where life takes you. As long as that place isn't drunk in an alley, of course.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Just do your best and go where life takes you. As long as that place isn't drunk in an alley, of course.

But how can you trust life to simply "take you" wherever is best for you?

That's how people end up in miserable circumstances and simply "hope" to get out of them. I might as well become a religious person.

I'm not saying my circumstances are miserable, I'm just saying that that seems like a silly way to live.

 

[JohnCU]

who cares as long as you're happy?

 

[atybimf]

fuck it. do what you want, when you want. it works for me..

 

[gamepad]

go go church.

/thread

 

[bsobel]

Go see 'Avenue Q'

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'm a fence-sitting agnostic so I don't have faith in any higher purpose, even though I like the idea of one.

I have to settle for the adage that "life's a journey not a destination" though it's less comforting than thinking there is something you're "meant" to do.

Oh well, at least I'm not drunk in an alley, yet.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Just do your best and go where life takes you. As long as that place isn't drunk in an alley, of course.

But how can you trust life to simply "take you" wherever is best for you?

That's how people end up in miserable circumstances and simply "hope" to get out of them. I might as well become a religious person.

I'm not saying my circumstances are miserable, I'm just saying that that seems like a silly way to live.

Obviously you have to take SOME control, but for a smart person you'll easily stay out of miserable circumstances. If life drops you into a relationship with a heroine-addict, surely you'd be smart enough to take some control.

For the most part, however, life is great for those of us that let go of the wheel. I'm currently working on my PhD. That's where life took me. I didn't exactly aspire to this.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Walk the earth like Kane from Kung Fu.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
I've spent a good deal of time on an elusive activity called "finding my purpose".

You can read about it on ten dozen different websites. It boils down to defining what you are all about and molding your life's goals and activities around that.

It all sounds very logical, but I'm REALLY struggling with it.

The conclusion I've come to is that, like anyone, I'm a very dynamic person and I can't seem to fit myself inside the "box" of a particular purpose. Today I might really enjoy playing a good computer game, tomorrow I might really enjoy going skiing, the day after I might really enjoy a quiet night with my girlfriend.

To that end, writing a "purpose" or "mission" for my life has become almost impossible. I'm beginning to wonder if this is really a worthwhile exercise.

I'm fairly good at setting and reaching goals and I've been doing that for years. But my goals never have a higher purpose other than the goal itself.

So on the one hand, living aimlessly (with goals, but without a real purpose) doesn't seem very productive. But trying to find a particular "purpose" for which to live has been an impossible task.

Does anyone have an insight?

are you reading The Pathfinder? Sounds exactly like that book is trying to do.
I heard it was a great book to help you find the career you want but it seems to be all about finding who you are. I mean, sure, I guess thats helpful, but its not helping me figure out what job i want.

i mean, i'm still not far into it yet, but as i flip through the chapters, it all seesm to be just about all that feel good bs.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
Just do your best and go where life takes you. As long as that place isn't drunk in an alley, of course.

so you basically believe in fate or destiny?

 

[BoomerD]

Sometimes life is a mystery...Why does it lead you into a certain path?

When you're young, it's often very difficult to see where you're going, except for the next stepping stone along that path.

As you get older, (and hopefully wiser) you may be able to see more of the path you're on, and some of the branches that lead off of it.

I'm certainly on a MUCH different path than I was when I was young. I was actually quite content working heavy construction for over 30 years...till that path crumbled under my feet and I got hurt at work...never to return.

Nowadays, I'm a full-time student for the first time since I dropped out of high school to enlist in the Marine Corps. in 1970. I'm finding I actually ENJOY going to school, instead of hating every day like I did way back then. This path has some interesting branches as well, but I have to get to the end of this main branch (My AS degree) before I decide which side path to take.

For now, all you can do is go on with your life, testing the paths that branch off to see where they lead, and whether that's something you might want to follow. Often, the path you end up on isn't really one of your choosing, but instead, it chooses you...


How's that for wisdom of the ages...:roll:

Just go and roll with the punches. to me, it seems like the only following that chooses you is the religious ones...or so it seems. Personally, I often doubt that people are "called" into those professions, but it MIGHT be true...
While I admit you can't always just drift along aimlessly, (you should have some kind of idea where you want to end up) often, all you can do is let things progress as they will, while trying to make intelligent decisions/choices along the way...and let life take you where it wants...

 

[Crono]

There is 1 purpose that everyone and everything shares: to glorify God. That purpose can be divided in two: those who glorify God willingly, and those who glorify God unwillingly. The Bible gives many examples of this. A clear Old Testament example is the story of the Exodus. Moses willingly submitted to God, followed the plan that God revealed to him, and was and will be rewarded in eternity future. The Pharaoh, on the other hand, despite the petitions of Moses and the many signs performed, refused to obey God and refused to acknowledge Him for who He was. Pharaoh was destroyed physically, and because of his refusal to repent of his sins, will be pay his debt of sin in Hell forever. Even though Pharaoh disobeyed God and was an unrighteous (unsaved) person who committed many evil acts, God used him to bring about His will. Even though there are dark points on the grand painting that is all of creation and history, it doesn't diminish the beauty of the painting as a whole when standing back to see its entirety. But it is far better to be a bright point on the painting serving a special purpose by the design of the painter than to be the dark point in a dingy portion of the painting, though both points are serving the authors plan. Or to use another metaphor, it is far better to be the sword or tool used by the hero in a novel, than be the sword or tool used by the villain. Both serve the purpose of the writer, but only one is exalted at the end of the story, while one is put to shame.

There is only 1 overarching purpose in life, but there are 2 sides; even those who claim not to be on a side, by their non-participation, benefit only one side (Evil). Both sides have their soldiers under one Commander in Chief, and each soldier has his or her own duties to accomplish in the war. Before asking yourself what human purpose you can find in life, ask yourself "What side am I serving?", and "Who is my commander?". If you are serving the wrong side, if you are at war with the only good and true Commander, than you need to surrender to Him, make peace with Him, and He will guide you and reward you both now and to an even greater extent when the war is over. The only way to make peace with Him is to admit that you are in rebellion, turn away from your sin, and come to Him with a humble and open heart, and receive the gift of salvation, the payment that He paid in order to free you from the clutches of the enemy: He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the only sinless One, to die on the cross for your sins.

There is no lasting value or benefit in the goals of men for themselves, there is a little benefit in the goals of men for others, but there is eternal benefit in accomplishing the will of the Father by turning to Him and obeying Him. One of the most prominent themes or principles in all of the Bible is this (and there is no better example of it then Jesus): Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

 

[BoomerD]

/me runs to put on the flame-proof suit after that post...then drags out the lawnchair.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

how old are you?

Have you ever sat and meditated about this?

Some people take longer to find there purpose than others. Some never find it ....like constipated vigalante....simply going through life wherever the winds blow them. Never really living.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
I've spent a good deal of time on an elusive activity called "finding my purpose".

You can read about it on ten dozen different websites. It boils down to defining what you are all about and molding your life's goals and activities around that.

It all sounds very logical, but I'm REALLY struggling with it.

The conclusion I've come to is that, like anyone, I'm a very dynamic person and I can't seem to fit myself inside the "box" of a particular purpose. Today I might really enjoy playing a good computer game, tomorrow I might really enjoy going skiing, the day after I might really enjoy a quiet night with my girlfriend.

To that end, writing a "purpose" or "mission" for my life has become almost impossible. I'm beginning to wonder if this is really a worthwhile exercise.

I'm fairly good at setting and reaching goals and I've been doing that for years. But my goals never have a higher purpose other than the goal itself.

So on the one hand, living aimlessly (with goals, but without a real purpose) doesn't seem very productive. But trying to find a particular "purpose" for which to live has been an impossible task.

Does anyone have an insight?

i've been searching for years, and have yet to find it. latest games/toys/gadgets get old faster and faster

<------------- Drifting thru life

 

[jhu]

be fruitful and multiply

 

[BoomerD]

He who dies with the most toys...still dies?

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: JEDI

i've been searching for years, and have yet to find it. latest games/toys/gadgets get old faster and faster

<------------- Drifting thru life

Read The Book of Ecclesiastes (only 12 short chapters, and the whole thing is on that link - use the "next" button to go to the next chapter). Solomon was a man who had the wisdom, wealth, and power to get anything he wanted, to do anything he wanted, but what he found through his experimentation and observation is that nothing "under the sun" (Ecclesiastes is the original source of the phrase) is of any lasting value. Everything in the physical world ("under the sun") is vanity or meaningless - unless you know God. Nothing in this world lasts, and nothing you do of your own merit for human gain will last, but God - the very Creator of time and space, the heavens and the earth- and His own are eternal.

 

[Crono]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
He who dies with the most toys...still dies?

Exactly. Wealthy people through the centuries died and were buried with their wealth. You can't take your stuff with you.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 

[BoomerD]

Hey...keep me out of your magical sky-fairy stories...:roll:

 

[Madwand1]

The purpose or meaning of your life is one of the big questions, and you should doubt nearly everyone who claims to have the answers or a process for determining the answers for your life.

On the subtext -- whether such a question can or should be answered rationally, I'd answer that life is big enough to deserve all your faculties. Using your heart and intuition together with reason seem to me to be more fruitful in life than trying to do everything using reason alone.

 

[Saint Nick]

Right now I'm trying to just do what makes me happy. I get discouraged, but there is always something to look forward to.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

there is no purpose, if you are searching you are just wasting valuable time
if you have 'found' it, you are just brainwashed/delusional/or trying really hard to convice yourself