I'm with evergrn on this. I've noticed that this site feels like it's populated mostly by Americans. That's a good thing. But I'm English, yeah and like the English do, I'm about to rain on the parade.
The reason I think nationality is relevant is that one thing that is seen celebrated much more across the Atlantic from me is what we'd call emotionalism. TV presenters are repeatedly seen fishing to get the tears welling for the camera, some American TV presenters are like vampires for it. Over here we're not so sure about it. You must have heard the expression "stiff upper lip" which refers to importance of not making public emotional outbursts, adults are more looked at as people who don't cry about it, they get on with what needs to be done. You could quote the "don't cry over spilled milk" ethic. You don't burst into tears, you get a cloth.
Now I'm pretty sure this won't be met with much warmth and I'm not totally trying to make a judgement call here except to make the observation that values are a learned thing, not an absolute matter.
It's also true that New Age sentiments have made much more progress in the states than over here. I think it's safe to assume it's for just the reasons I've mentioned.
My doubt revolves around the fact that the life purposes I have seen named are far from personal. They represent just the kind of absolutist view of highest moral good that you'd learn if you were exposed to a lot of New Age material. I mean, as highest purposes go, it's all sounding derivative of idealism to me.
It also sounds, like too many New Age adherents do, sanctimonious and presumptuous, as if to suggest that all normal people are not struck by these same thoughts.
Do you think that soldiers are not driven by precisely the same human mechanism which wishes to make the world a better, safer place for creative souls?
Just like evergrn suggest, it matter not a bit how altruistic your dream is. There is a whole body of ethics devoted to the realisation that principles are utterly useless and void. You're beliefs and ideas pale when set against the question of what you're actually doing.
One could argue the "war on terrorism", a ridiculous oxymoron in itself as there are clearly only wars OF terrorism, was set into action under the auspices of this very same ethic. Well, that and our respective heads of state wanting to make history and be remembered for making tough decisions that is. They certainly mentioned it enough.
I have all sorts of extremely impressive sounding ideas about what I want to do, but without an organised plan of action. Amongst which, this is part of the plan, to clarify and explain beliefs and, in particular, dismantle the bogus ethics on which so much social life is founded.
1.You know what I'd like to do? Enlighten and liberate everybody, every living thing in fact, on the globe.
2.Arrange a world-party and invite everybody, everything to it.
3.Have an introduce yourself to a stranger day.
4.Return the earth to the state it was in when we humans found it: Eden.
5.Encourage people to believe that what you're looking for is not something you can put in a bank, or your house, or find on the Internet. The gold you're looking for is found in the eyes of the person nearest to you.
6.Encourage people to believe he next person you pass in the street is your best friend. Why? Because if there's a crisis you may have to rely on that person to save your life, no matter what they look like.
7.Shatter aspiration. They say enlightenment is the greatest disappointment. One of the reasons for this is the first moment I had a completely clear mind, I very quickly realised that for all the time I had wasted thinking I was special, wanting to be special, wanting to do something special, in fact, what I will always be, is a completely ordinary human being, just like you.
You know whose aspirations I most respect? Road sweepers. The people who take out the trash. The people who clean. Not just for themselves, but for others. One of the most impressive things a stranger did for me when I first met him in a house we were about to share was wash my plate. You want an ambition that's truly meaningful? Buy yourself a floor brush.
As for enlightening the world, I told a friend about this and he said "But you don't need to, everybody is already free".
The point is, how easy it is sit here in front of the PC and make up the most lofty ambition I can dream up. If you're not doing it, it's just doo doo.
I respect the lady who serves my coffee in the morning. A cheerful and friendly service is what you need to achieve. In the end, the person who was best servant is made king.
Interestingly, Tim Berners Lee the man who invented the World Wide Web, the internet standards which allow you to have web sites like this one, regards himself as a public servant. Now that IS inspiring news! He didn't even ask for any money... now look at it... the world wide web.
Tim Berners-Lee