Anybody found their life purpose?

[timebomb]

Does life really have a purpose? Or are we born, live, and die just for the sake of it? If we are really here for something, how do we find out about it?

[faithsdaddy]

We can only guess...

Religion will say that you should follow their god and their rules and that somehow everything will work out.

I think life is a learning experience. The thing is, although we have life lessons, how we learn them is up to us. There are clues, you just have to be 'open' to them. Meditation (done properly) will definitely help, church- not so much.

[Andrew Gubb]

I'm finding higher and higher aspects of myself to express. I feel a big creative potential behind me and I trust that the events that depend on me will be revealed in time.

[NewSimon]

I've come up with a life purpose message but I can't connect it with what I should be doing with my life. Perhaps it's just an ideal?

[James81]

Oh, you're talking my language!

I've distinguished a lot of stuff about myself this year, and all of it ties together really nicely. Some very powerful things to distinguish for yourself, it would seem to me, would be purpose, contribution, expression, and your source of power.

Those things have had very powerful effects on me at a deeply emotional level.

The thing about purpose was, I was heading towards that path where I saw literally no real, all-encompassing meaning or purpose to anything. It all just sort of seemed bleak to me...like why the hell even bother? Ya know?

The first step toward realizing my purpose involved me coming to terms with and accepting the idea that there *might* not be any all-encompassing purpose to things and, even if there is one such purpose, it's not necessarily useful to me as an individual because it's probably "too high to reach" so to speak.

Once I accepted that...came to terms with it on an emotional level....my own life purpose (one that is very powerfully inspiring to me) just sort of *bleeped* onto my radar and I became aware of it very quickly.

[gene2009]

Be happy, this is a purpose of the life as for me. And try to do something good for other people. Probable, our earth life if one part of the no stopping game, or just an universal dark joke, who knows
I personally like Chan Buddhism, but i'm not a buddhist.

[alexb5784]

I've been "searching for myself" since 2005 and have already discovered my life purpose. It wasn't until the end of this year that I've gotten truly serious about following it.

Last week after a series of events, I came to the realization that it was time for me break my old commitment to find myself because the goal has been achieved. The hardest part about letting go of an old commitment is facing what your life will be like once you start on a new path. A lot of things in my life have been falling apart, it's been very stressful, but I know that it's all happening because I'm on a new life path.

I thought that when I was finally ready to start living on purpose, things would be extremely easy. But it's actually been hard because my life is turning upside down. However, I know that the old habits and situations of my life have to die so that the new people, places, and opportunities can come in.

And while I'm not in a very good mood right now (stress b/c of something not working out), I know it's happening for my own good. There's a blessing waiting for me around the corner. Ask me how I feel in two weeks and I bet I'll be happy as hell

But for right now, I'm mad ....but only for a temporary time.

[vartann]

The only purpose of Life is realizing all-encompassing Love -or "Ocean of Quiddity" if you hanker for a simile).

Now i guess what you meant is "has anyone reached fulfilling implementation" ??.

[pjhaggerty]

It seems that people who search for purpose tend to fall into one of two camps

1st: the zen people: life has no purpose, just enjoy the moment/be happy

2nd: the mastery people: the purpose of life is to grow.

oh, and I guess we can't forget the evolutionary biology folks who say 'the purpose of life is to reproduce itself"

Ultimately though, if you feel your life lacks purpose, resolving the question 'what is the purpose of life' might not necessarily leave you feeling any more purpose in your life. If you find yourself asking this question and if I were advising you, I'd tell you to track what you were doing each time this question comes up and see if you notice any common threads. That will probably be of more help to you in understanding and avoiding that purposeless feeling.

[James81]

Originally Posted by pjhaggerty

Ultimately though, if you feel your life lacks purpose, resolving the question 'what is the purpose of life' might not necessarily leave you feeling any more purpose in your life.

That's because questions like "what's the purpose of life" and/or "why are we here?" are not questions that we as individuals are really wanting answered. If we wanted to answer that, we would've answered it a long time ago.

When you ask those questions, what you are *really* asking is: "What is the purpose of my life?" and/or "Why am I here?"

And I can garauntee you that if you answer *those* questions for yourself, and are truly inspired by the answer, it'll not only fill you up with purpose, but it'll spray out of you like a fountain because you can't contain it.

[pjhaggerty]

Originally Posted by James81

And I can garauntee you that if you answer *those* questions for yourself, and are truly inspired by the answer, it'll not only fill you up with purpose, but it'll spray out of you like a fountain because you can't contain it.

I'm not necessarily sure that's true.

Just because somebody finds answers to these questions and is inspired in the moment by the answers doesn't necessarily mean that will transform into long lasting motivation.

Perhaps their inspiration will putter out after two or three days and a month later they'll find themselves asking 'what was my life purpose again?"

Inspiration does not equal long-term change.

To use anecdotal evidence: Look how many people are truly inspired after a tony robbins seminar. How many of them are still chugging away 2 months later?

How many people have been inspired by a diet? How many are still on it two months later.

I don't doubt their inspiration. I just think that great inspiration doesn't necessarily transform into great motivation for the long term.

[wolfgang]

There is no way to purpose, purpose is the way.

In general I found my purpose. It is to remind myself to be conscious and aware. It's very simple and easy. To see if I can look on the bright side of life, even when it's ugly and full of complaints. Continual in the moment practice along the way, now. Without needing to know if I "got there" or not.

Life is perfect in this way: it is always tending toward perfection. It can not be perfect right now because then it would be static and being static would not be perfect. So the only way to perfection is through continual perfecting, or polishing. Everyone does this, regardless of what you may think. Even an strung out addict is doing their best to be better in their own way as much as they know how.

But if you are looking for specifics, that would be a different question. To be motivated for a certain kind of life's work or major goals, is not what I take the OP's question to be. And also a folly to depend happiness on external circumstances.

[James81]

Originally Posted by pjhaggerty

I'm not necessarily sure that's true.

Just because somebody finds answers to these questions and is inspired in the moment by the answers doesn't necessarily mean that will transform into long lasting motivation.

Perhaps their inspiration will putter out after two or three days and a month later they'll find themselves asking 'what was my life purpose again?"

Inspiration does not equal long-term change.

To use anecdotal evidence: Look how many people are truly inspired after a tony robbins seminar. How many of them are still chugging away 2 months later?

How many people have been inspired by a diet? How many are still on it two months later.

I don't doubt their inspiration. I just think that great inspiration doesn't necessarily transform into great motivation for the long term.

Well, I'm speaking from personal experience, so that's why I attach my money-back garauntee to it.

The thing about my own situation is that there were a lot of different factors that came into play with it. There was the "clearing of my past" so to speak (in which I examined and managed certain aspects of my past that were activating me still in my present...and also recognizing thought patterns, beliefs, values, etc.), there was the finding inspiration in my present and feeling that over a longer period of time, there was distinguishing my contribution and my strengths (as well as what I felt were my limitations and weaknesses) and then....at the end of all that, I distinguished my purpose--which was born from true internal inspiration.

I'm not saying that everybody who does this must follow the same path that I did to get to it, I'm just saying that I don't know if it is as simple as just thinking about what a good purpose might be. I think that all that stuff I did before I came to my purpose fueled the "inspiration" that my purpose was born out of.

And the interesting thing about THAT is, it wasn't like it was a *new* purpose for me in that from that moment on I lived for that purpose. Actually, I think because it was born out of true inspiration (rather than thinking it out of me), I began to see how my entire life up to this point has been serving that purpose.

So, in that vein, while I distinguished that purpose about a month or two ago now, I've seen that purpose at work in me my whole life...I just didn't become aware of it until recently.

I'd call that a long term solution. And I'm just as excited and empowered by it now as I was the moment I distinguished it.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

Well, I'm speaking from personal experience, so that's why I attach my money-back garauntee to it.

Another great epigram! You are a machine.

How long ago did I distinguish my life purpose (To be a Joy Activist)? I can't remember. It still lights me up and has me dancing on air.

I think one's life purpose is not THE TRUTH about life or what it means in any objective sense; it's a stand one takes for being in their life.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Angela

Another great epigram! You are a machine.

How long ago did I distinguish my life purpose (To be a Joy Activist)? I can't remember. It still lights me up and has me dancing on air.

I think one's life purpose is not THE TRUTH about life or what it means in any objective sense; it's a stand one takes for being in their life.

You are the queen of using words that make me seek out a dictionary. So, a fringe benefit of our friendship is an expanded vocabulary.

And yeah, I agree with that last statement. Purpose is personal.

[bullard123]

Life is a probationary period to determine where you will live for eternity...And that is up to the person who is living. Straight and narrow is the road that leads to everlasting life and there and very few who find it. Broad and wide is the road that leds to destruction and there are many on that road.(Quote from Jesus) Life only begins when u die...Because thats when eternity starts. So which path wil you choose? The choice is up to each person that is living

[MernaThrone]

Sometimes the life purpose finds you and that was me - both times. I was a hair dresser for over 20 years and salon owner. Love it and worked very hard. Then a series of bad health issues took over my life and I had to 'start over'....

Long story short, I have been in the personal growth industry since, accidently, 2004...I know with every cell of my body and each breath that I take I am in the precise place for me!

I loved doing hair, but wouldn't go back for anything. During those years I began my sobriety as well and now clean/sober for 25 years as of Jan 1.

Life evolves and shows us a path, but we have to be open to seeing it and following it even through difficult times.

Was it easy - NO Way, but I have some amazing moments too. It isn't usually so cut and dry when finding a purpose and wish I could write a time line here of events, but not enough room.

Merna

[Kurtzilla]

Follow your passions and your purpose in life, will fall into place.

[Nimue]

To live. Obviously

The purpose of my life, as in what I am to become, or as in what gives meaning to it?
To the first, I knew since the nursery school. I had written it on a paper: "artist, mage, scientist"
Today I study science, I'm starting to sell paintings and keep exploring the paranormal (the last, not professionally!)

The purpose of my life, as in what gives meaning to it, varies in every period of my life, but in general: to love and be loved, to create, to learn, to find the beauty in everything, and enjoy good stories from books or movies.
It's the simple things that make me feel that life is nice to live.

Nice thread, it makes one think

[cacheborn]

Yup. Writing.

[bullard123]

Life is also a gift...God gives each of us a measure of days to use the gifts he has given us. Some people dedicate their lives to help others and make others happy

[faithsdaddy]

Originally Posted by bullard123

Life is a probationary period to determine where you will live for eternity...And that is up to the person who is living. Straight and narrow is the road that leads to everlasting life and there and very few who find it. Broad and wide is the road that leds to destruction and there are many on that road.(Quote from Jesus) Life only begins when u die...Because thats when eternity starts. So which path wil you choose? The choice is up to each person that is living

All sounds hunky dory, but it's a bit vague isn't it. What are you actually saying?

Quotes are all well and good, but they're so impersonal. Convince us

[MichaelAnthonyVet]

I think life purposes can change. What may be our purpose and fill our lives when we're in our twenties, may be different than our thirties, forties, and fifties. I think it's constantly changing, and even if it's the same job, life goes through cycles and our purposes change with the cycles.

[relaXman]

I found it, but then I lost it

[AngelPsychic444]

I found a great book that really helps called "Soul-Purpose: Discovering and fullfilling your destiny" by Mark Thurston Ph.D.

After reading this book, I DID find my soul purpose for this lifetime. One little tip I can give you is....9 times out of 10 it's staring you right in the face... and you don't know it.

Get the book, it only cost me $6.99 it's a paperback, you could probably get it for less these days. This book really did it for me!

[NewSimon]

I'm going to recommend Brad Swift's Life on Purpose - Six passages to an Inspired Life. I like the way it's written. He discusses your 'inherited purpose' which is the purpose you are currently living, which is not the purpose you probably wanted. He also says that your purpose is a cup and your life is the water that is shaped by it - not the other way round.

I managed to come up with a purpose message from reading this, although I still think it is passion you must find and purpose will come from this.

[jasmineY]

My life purpose at the moment is to stay happy and do things that add joy to my life like try to make people happy too. Also sometimes I decide not to have a life purpose for awhile…it's really up to yourself.

[Mondrian]

I made a start on looking at some of my beliefs about my life purpose and there were some very likely suggestions in these as to why I have not been finding or feeling a life purpose for a while.

One problem belief here is perhaps thinking that life purpose is a never-changing kind of thing. If one also believes that in life one needs to grow and change radically then there is a conflict of beliefs because the latter will require a change in purpose and so both finding purpose and growing could both be thwarted for a while.

[StephanieMarigold]

My life purpose is to look within and become the best person I am capable of becoming. A tall order perhaps, but one worthwhile.

I follow the Golden Rule (to the best of my ability), I try to be a good friend and I don't tell people how to live their lives unless I worry that they might potentially do something harmful to themselves or others.

[givejonadollar]

My life purpose is Women.

Without them, there would be no purpose.