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James81 · 04-21-2009, 02:10 PM

So, what *is* the problem, BW?

For every piece of advice given to you in this thread, you have rationalized it away.

I think the problem here is an issue of "want." You don't want to see a purpose in life, and thus you don't see a purpose in life. When you want to see a purpose for your life, a purpose will present itself.

I know that sounds hokey, but I'm speaking from experience. I know how easy it is to rationalize away advice. Because the ego seems to catch you (I've been there and am there now, actually). You get so smart and in learning all the different self help or psychological methods, everything people tells you suddenly becomes redundant and thus, because you already know what people are telling you, you disregard it.

The truth is, you aren't looking for an answer to your problems. You are looking for justification to act on what you already know. You want someone to convince you that a specific path is right for you (something nobody but YOU can do), because the many paths laid before you are overwhelming.

Here's the deal....I believe that Socrates said it best when he said something to the affect of: the wisest person realizes that he is truly ignorant. I'm facing that one myself, now. I've been at this self improvement thing for 2.5 years, and I've made some changes, but am still not where I truly want to be. But I've learned (and I continue to seek to learn) so much, that it seems like typical advice gets redundant.

And then I realized that I'm not seeking advice. None of us are. We're not looking for the KNOWLEDGE on how to change or to find meaning in life. We're looking for the inspiration to change. The inspiration to act.

Here's my advice to you (as it's the same thing I am currently doing myself): Set aside your preset notions of what you believe, and pick a path. Even if it seems wrong, try it. If it doesn't work, pick another path and try that. It's going to take time, and you aren't going to change overnight, but the truth is that in choosing the paths you take, you'll disocover that happiness and meaning aren't some destination in life. They are a process. A continual, renewable process. And they operate on a cycle.

04-21-2009, 02:10 PM	#49 (permalink)
James81 Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 12,690	So, what is the problem, BW? For every piece of advice given to you in this thread, you have rationalized it away. I think the problem here is an issue of "want." You don't want to see a purpose in life, and thus you don't see a purpose in life. When you want to see a purpose for your life, a purpose will present itself. I know that sounds hokey, but I'm speaking from experience. I know how easy it is to rationalize away advice. Because the ego seems to catch you (I've been there and am there now, actually). You get so smart and in learning all the different self help or psychological methods, everything people tells you suddenly becomes redundant and thus, because you already know what people are telling you, you disregard it. The truth is, you aren't looking for an answer to your problems. You are looking for justification to act on what you already know. You want someone to convince you that a specific path is right for you (something nobody but YOU can do), because the many paths laid before you are overwhelming. Here's the deal....I believe that Socrates said it best when he said something to the affect of: the wisest person realizes that he is truly ignorant. I'm facing that one myself, now. I've been at this self improvement thing for 2.5 years, and I've made some changes, but am still not where I truly want to be. But I've learned (and I continue to seek to learn) so much, that it seems like typical advice gets redundant. And then I realized that I'm not seeking advice. None of us are. We're not looking for the KNOWLEDGE on how to change or to find meaning in life. We're looking for the inspiration to change. The inspiration to act. Here's my advice to you (as it's the same thing I am currently doing myself): Set aside your preset notions of what you believe, and pick a path. Even if it seems wrong, try it. If it doesn't work, pick another path and try that. It's going to take time, and you aren't going to change overnight, but the truth is that in choosing the paths you take, you'll disocover that happiness and meaning aren't some destination in life. They are a process. A continual, renewable process. And they operate on a cycle.