Purpose temporarily shaken...

[Foggy]

In the last few days I've fallen into a heavily cynical pattern of thinking where I do not see the purpose to anything. It's very reminiscent of how I felt in High School, and I don't like it. I've had a very strong sense of purpose in the last half a year or so which has strengthened quite a bit over time, but suddenly I can't relate to it anymore. I feel like the only purpose I can relate to is the biological purpose of reproducing and then dying, and I don't find that very fulfilling at all.

Just voicing a concern. Anyone have similar experiences?

[SMA]

Hey, Foggy (interesting that your name is Foggy....);

I suspect that most half-way intelligent people go through stages like this at some point in their lives. If you're self-aware enough to wonder what your purpose is or find that you have one, it makes sense that there will be times when you question it or don't feel it.

Perhaps you are at a new stage and your purpose no longer suits your goals; perhaps you are simply experiencing normal doubt as a signal to go inside and do a little digging as to what you really want going forward...Remember that personal growth and development is like a spiral, and you will come around to the 'same' spot you were at before but with new insights which make everything appear different from your new perspective.

Just my thoughts. I may differ from you in that when I experience something 'negative' I will do whatever it takes to move past it, by looking at what is invloved and transforming as necessary - I personally do not enjoy the feelings you are describing, and the work required to move past them always opens up new doors for me, as if the feelings were a useful catalyst.

Not sure if this does anything for you, but hang in there nonetheless. What does 'just reproducing then dying' mean to you?...is it frightening, depressing, useless...?

SMA

[magi13]

i understand how you feel. all i can do when i feel that way is to reflect and meditate or visualize what i did that day or a day which i feel wonderful and have achieved something. i do visualize negative days also, in order to find ways to overcome the problem at hand but sometimes there are just times in which i don't know what to do.

i do not practice any religion, but i'm very good in making money for myself and others, anything other than that, i'm kind of a newbie.


i wonder what you or i can do in order to get away from boredom and depression.

my only theory is that, there is a parasite that infected us and we're doing our best to get rid of it but it comes back again from people who were infected every time we get rid of those parasites.

that's why when i'm bored, i research on such things. hehehe. i know it's probably boring and useless to others, but i find solace in being busy.

writing a book or making money is easy compared to dealing with boredom and depression.

[Susanna77]

Definetly yes. I think acceptance is the key. Accept that throughout your life you will go back to that place now and again. It doesn't feel nice, it's not comfortable and it's scary because you fear you may not go back to feeling that sense of purpose. Don't fight it. Accept it and it'll shift. I find it shifts quicker when I go with it.

Sleep lots, curl up in a ball and cry if you feel like it, withdraw from the world for couple of days...anything to go with the flow. Soon you'll be back to your old self.

Note: just my experience. do what's right for you.

[Bliss Sage]

Originally Posted by Foggy

In the last few days I've fallen into a heavily cynical pattern of thinking where I do not see the purpose to anything. It's very reminiscent of how I felt in High School, and I don't like it. I've had a very strong sense of purpose in the last half a year or so which has strengthened quite a bit over time, but suddenly I can't relate to it anymore. I feel like the only purpose I can relate to is the biological purpose of reproducing and then dying, and I don't find that very fulfilling at all.

Just voicing a concern. Anyone have similar experiences?

I am having it right now. It started about 2 weeks ago, I lapsed back into depression. For half a year I have had a very clear idea of what I was doing in this world and step-by-step seeing how to do it. But about 2 weeks ago I woke up sick and in despair and lost all care for everything and anything, and there was certain not even any point to biological reproduction either. The onset of my depression, besides my sickness, was accompanied by a deep-seated fear. Been working it out with my psychologist, but, while she can tell me my depression is anger at my immediate family members turned inward on myself, it doesn't seem like she can help me work it out, especially as I have to remain in contact all the time with those people.

I'm coming out of it now, but I still don't know...nothing in the world seems to have any importance, even if I try to make it have.

[SMA]

I'm sorry to hear this - I can imagine how difficult that is, and in fact have been there, although thankfully not recently.

Have you tried EFT? I'm not sure how open you are to it, but it is the most immediately effective tool I've found when dealing with powerful or subversive emotions...I had my doubts at first as to whether it is even a viable technique, but having experienced the results for myself a couple of years ago I can tell you it's remarkable and powerful.

SMA

[Daniel Birdick]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Anyone have similar experiences?

Yup, only I don’t call it cynicism, I call it facing reality. There is no purpose “out there”. The only purpose you’re going to find is the one you choose for yourself. That's where the clarity is.

[bbdream8]

Originally Posted by Foggy

In the last few days I've fallen into a heavily cynical pattern of thinking where I do not see the purpose to anything. It's very reminiscent of how I felt in High School, and I don't like it. I've had a very strong sense of purpose in the last half a year or so which has strengthened quite a bit over time, but suddenly I can't relate to it anymore. I feel like the only purpose I can relate to is the biological purpose of reproducing and then dying, and I don't find that very fulfilling at all.

Just voicing a concern. Anyone have similar experiences?

Hi Foggy,

It may help with you try to help others more. By helping others more you think more about them rather than yourself and this will give you the purpose of to help others more in life. Hope this help.

Cheers
Vincent
Personal Development Blogger