Purpose-finding.

[Dulma]

How can I?

How did you?

The 20 minute thing hasn't worked for me at this stage.

[supertom]

It takes a while, took me a few weeks to figure it out. If your serious than you should try the "life on purpose" book.

[The Cloud]

How can you know you have one if you don't know what it is?

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

How can you know you have one if you don't know what it is?

Because I know.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by supertom

It takes a while, took me a few weeks to figure it out. If your serious than you should try the "life on purpose" book.

I imagine you mean the one Steve wrote about a few posts ago. I'll do it.

And a few weeks? That's great!

[OptimistPrime]

Originally Posted by Dulma

How can I?

How did you?

The 20 minute thing hasn't worked for me at this stage.

It took me 10 years to figure out my purpose. Or rather, it took me 3 years to find it, and then another 7 and 1/2 years to accept it, because I thought it was too simple and too good to be true, basically. So if I have any advice, it would be to be careful not to be so pessimistic as to look right past something that seems too simple/good to be true.

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by Dulma

Because I know.

Why do you want it, then?

[Swifthawk]

Originally Posted by Dulma

How can I?

How did you?

The 20 minute thing hasn't worked for me at this stage.

I think it is something that takes an extremely long time. There are times when a person believes they have found their purpose only to find out years later their views have changed.

I think it is important to realize this and take your time in each different pursuit. I'm trying to do this right now, just learning all I can from what I have decided to do at the moment, instead of constantly looking for a purpose.

I'm sure it will come, and if I'm experienced enough, I will be able to take it on with a fearless attitude.

[neilpage]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

How can you know you have one if you don't know what it is?

YES? Please... Who determines what Purpose ????? Define please?
I'm freaking confused ? PURPOSE? in what to live?
to find road on which I must chose? on which life I must live... yes. I do not understand this simple question... WHERES' MY PURPOSE
SO... No purpose I am appointed to I remain aimlessly lost? gezz. I don't know I wish you to explain this purpose!

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

Why do you want it, then?

See: Steve Pavlina articles on purpose and why it matters.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by neilpage

YES? Please... Who determines what Purpose ????? Define please?
I'm freaking confused ? PURPOSE? in what to live?
to find road on which I must chose? on which life I must live... yes. I do not understand this simple question... WHERES' MY PURPOSE
SO... No purpose I am appointed to I remain aimlessly lost? gezz. I don't know I wish you to explain this purpose!

Purpose is just a path, a focus. It's your contribution to humanity or your expression of human creative potential. I'm not sure if we're born with a specific purpose - each one of us - or if we craft one for ourselves. I tend to think it's the former. But either way, idleness and aimless drifting are difficult for human beings to live without falling into unconsciousness or negativity, I think. Purpose directs your mind to meaning and fulfillment

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by Dulma

See: Steve Pavlina articles on purpose and why it matters.

I didn't want to know what Steve had to say on it.

Anyway, if you already have a purpose, then what are you looking for? I get it that maybe you're looking for purpose as a thing that you can have without knowing what it is, and you're trying to figure out what it is.

That doesn't sound right to me, though, because purpose is its content; if you don't know what it is, you don't have it, because knowing what it is is how you have it.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by The Cloud

I didn't want to know what Steve had to say on it.

Anyway, if you already have a purpose, then what are you looking for? I get it that maybe you're looking for purpose as a thing that you can have without knowing what it is, and you're trying to figure out what it is.

That doesn't sound right to me, though, because purpose is its content; if you don't know what it is, you don't have it, because knowing what it is is how you have it.

I look at it as more of a treasure hunt.

[Laurenaus]

Dulma from what I've seen in your posts you seem to enjoy coaching, and inspiring people and getting people out of "stuck mode" to see a different perspective. Your posts have the tone of a life coach.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by Laurenaus

Dulma from what I've seen in your posts you seem to enjoy coaching, and inspiring people and getting people out of "stuck mode" to see a different perspective. Your posts have the tone of a life coach.

Astute observation I do feel like I need to get some more things within myself and my life together before committing wholehearted - rather than just via forums - to inspiring others.

You're absolutely right though, I really enjoy sharing things I've learned.

[Michael Chui]

Originally Posted by neilpage

YES? Please... Who determines what Purpose ????? Define please?
I'm freaking confused ? PURPOSE? in what to live?
to find road on which I must chose? on which life I must live... yes. I do not understand this simple question... WHERES' MY PURPOSE
SO... No purpose I am appointed to I remain aimlessly lost? gezz. I don't know I wish you to explain this purpose!

YouTube - ‪Avenue Q - Purpose‬‏

[The Cloud]

Originally Posted by Dulma

Because I know.

Then you already have the treasure.

[James81]

Take a look at your past and see if you see any common themes to everything you've done. I tend to believe that a personal life purpose is something you unconsciously fulfill until you become consciously aware of it.

So, I'd start by looking at the various experiences you've had in your life and see if there is anything in common with them.

[neilpage]

Originally Posted by Dulma

Purpose is just a path, a focus. It's your contribution to humanity or your expression of human creative potential. I'm not sure if we're born with a specific purpose - each one of us - or if we craft one for ourselves. I tend to think it's the former. But either way, idleness and aimless drifting are difficult for human beings to live without falling into unconsciousness or negativity, I think. Purpose directs your mind to meaning and fulfillment

THAT'S WAS COOL!
Perhaps My Ideals have changed.

[neilpage]

Originally Posted by Michael Chui

YouTube - ‪Avenue Q - Purpose‬‏

*WIPES TEARS*

THIS IS EVEN COOLER!

I THANKYOU MUCH!

[N64]

Purpose is just a path, a focus. It's your contribution to humanity or your expression of human creative potential. I'm not sure if we're born with a specific purpose - each one of us - or if we craft one for ourselves. I tend to think it's the former. But either way, idleness and aimless drifting are difficult for human beings to live without falling into unconsciousness or negativity, I think. Purpose directs your mind to meaning and fulfillment

How about this perspective- Life purpose as a cup, and life itself as the fluid the cup holds? In other words, the life purpose is the structure that gives meaning to life itself? ( it's the representation from Life on purpose book)

[nietsdoen]

Hmm, how DID I find my life's purpose?

I opened my arms to the Universe's love, accepted myself, gravitated to wherever intuition led me, and floated along.

Then I got a free reading from one of Erin's padawans (trainees) and asked her what it was. When she told me, in my head I was like, "oh, that? yeah, I knew that".

I can't imagine my answer will be very helpful in your quest, because I can't quite explain it myself. Anyway, I'm not sure how spiritual you are. Even if you're not at all spiritual, I think intuition is a great way to find your purpose (deep down somewhere you probably know). If you want a rational way, I think Steve has a book recommendation up.

Oh, and if you want to know how long it took: I started wanting to find my life's purpose at age 15 or so (2-2.5 years ago), trying every free method I could find and coming to nothing. My purpose came to me in the recent past (as long ago as the end of 2010 and as recently as last week). I wasn't looking for it. What allowed it to come to me at this point in my life were the relevant revelations and experiences I've had.

[Karanime]

Honestly, the short answer is drugs.

I don't actually recommend this route, though. It's a slippery slope for a lot of people. Best not to try it.

What I do recommend is an excellent exercise regimen, as well as eating foods that make you feel good. These two things combined can create a natural "high" similar to the one that led to my finding my purpose. It will take a bit of intense introspection, however. Practice meditation in order to do this. Memory recall is very important, otherwise you may not be able to find the pattern that leads to your purpose.

Alternatively, just try a lot of different things. Be incredibly open. Try everything you can. Rule nothing out, even though you feel fear. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Somewhere, in this constantly trying and learning and experiencing, you will stumble upon your purpose.

[Maya2066]

For me it was like a treasure hunt. I read a lot of books on personal development and experienced different paths until things started to "click". Some paths led to nowhere, but through the experience I learned a lot about myself and it helped me later on to clarify my purpose. You have to remain opened to what and where the Universe will lead to. It helps a lot also to meditate regularly and ask the question to the Creator.

[Cochonette]

When I did the 20-minute thing, my life purpose was kinda complicated. But I realized that it's actually extremely simple for me, and it's a purpose that I think we all share: Love. I like that it's captured in one word. It's easy to come back to, like breath. And it's a concept I can understand very broadly, intricately, as well as simply. It's a concept that pervades my entire life, my very existence. It's something fundamental enough to call a Life Purpose, and it's a word I can rest assured that will always be intensely meaningful for me.

[MartaA]

Originally Posted by Dulma

How can I?

How did you?

The 20 minute thing hasn't worked for me at this stage.

What do you love to do?
What is that you'd be able to do non stop and not get tired to?
What inspires you to talk about?
What would you talk about all day with your closest friends if you could?
How would your perfect life be if there were no limits?
What have you learnt in your life that you'd love to share?

The answers to those questions, if answered from the heart and not from the mind, point you to your purpose.

I'm sure you'll find it. But be aware that many times we know our purpose deep inside but we avoid to aknowlegde it because it is too scary to engage with it. For many it is easier to just keep dreaming about it.

[MartaA]

Originally Posted by Swifthawk

I think it is something that takes an extremely long time. There are times when a person believes they have found their purpose only to find out years later their views have changed.

I think it is important to realize this and take your time in each different pursuit. I'm trying to do this right now, just learning all I can from what I have decided to do at the moment, instead of constantly looking for a purpose.

I'm sure it will come, and if I'm experienced enough, I will be able to take it on with a fearless attitude.

I can't agree with that.

First, your purpose is not "something to achieve" nor anything static. Your purpose if a meaningful and soulful direction of your life that makes you grow and lets you share and give the best of yourself. And then you live, you grow, you learn, and your direction changes, always purposefully. So, of course, change is a big deal on purposeful lifes. But there is always a core intention in it that remains constant. It is just beautiful.

And the second thing is about the "fearless attitude". I have found no one yet, client, friend and myself included, that is fearless to take the steps our purpose ask us to take. It takes courage, commitment and an amazing dose of trust in your higher self, the universe, God, or whatever you call that what is bigger than us (I know that is not gramatically correct -sorry. I don't know how to write it). And fear is there until the very moment you take the action that is required, just to find yourself afterwards thinking... "is this what I was so afraid of???" .

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by MartaA

What do you love to do?
What is that you'd be able to do non stop and not get tired to?
What inspires you to talk about?
What would you talk about all day with your closest friends if you could?
How would your perfect life be if there were no limits?
What have you learnt in your life that you'd love to share?

The answers to those questions, if answered from the heart and not from the mind, point you to your purpose.

I'm sure you'll find it. But be aware that many times we know our purpose deep inside but we avoid to aknowlegde it because it is too scary to engage with it. For many it is easier to just keep dreaming about it.

This is a tremendously good push in the right direction. Gracias.

[herefornoreason]

“What is my true purpose in life?”
- Answered by <anonymous>

1. There is no god or other omniscient being with purposeful intent for humans. Therefore, I have no preordained true purpose in life.
2. There may be a functionally omniscient being, possibly responsible for some or all of “creation”. However, I in particular was never formed with any particular true purpose in mind. I am a lab experiment, not even necessarily a featured ant in the formicary. I therefore have no true purpose in life.
3. Assuming a “god” type of scheme in this life: I have made note of an uncanny number of experiences in my life in which I develop a true passionate aim, only to be followed in time by complete destruction of my goals and utter failure in pursuit of such aim. Because of the number of these experiences, and because of the coverage of these across the major areas of life such as friendships, intimate relationships, physical goals, career goals, spiritual goals, and artistic goals, I can only assume that my purpose in life is to endure, and possibly completely self-destruct, through suffering very particular shames and personal disasters, as opposed to suffering external physical hardships.
4. There is a “god” type of structure to this life, and I am in Hell. Therefore, my purpose is to suffer a lifetime of relentless personal failure, rejection, dissolution of personal beliefs in family, self, governments, etc. Additionally, I am to suffer the discovery that the institutions of this life are themselves, purposeless, full of lies and illusions, and maddeningly irreparable. The answer as to why I am condemned to suffer this particular Hell is deliberately hidden from me as part of my punishment.
5. My purpose in life is to fail repeatedly, in very particular ways, because I am a type of “lab rat” for unseen overseers.
6. I once had a purpose in this life. Because I failed in one or more tests of character at some critical points in time, I have been abandoned, functionally severed and left to drift aimless, unprotected, and guideless through the remainder of this corporeal life until I expire.
7. My purpose in this life is to strive to support my fellow humans in any way I can, no matter how menially or undignified, while being starved of any true and lasting successes in any area of life: family, intimate relationships, career, etc. To this point in my life, I have failed and do not improve, as my life further humiliates and estranges me from all friendships and meaningful relationships, and even from confidence and stability in my very self.
8. Assuming this life is ordained by a “god” type being or beings: My purpose in this life was to bear out and prove certain points of character from the random assemblage that is “me”. Having shown to this point in this life to be lacking in any qualities sought after by my overlords, my remaining purpose is to encounter and become conscious of my failings, enough to agree with my own condemnation and annihilation at the end of this life.
9. This is Hell. It is full of lies, full of deceptions, and full of lying and deceiving beings, most of whom do not know that this is Hell, and that they too are here to suffer. My particular purpose is to suffer not only the realization of my own powerlessness, futility, cowardice and inadequacy, but to suffer also the horror of discovering the falsity of the very life around me which I was first made to believe I was to strive to champion.
10. Assuming that this life is ordained and set in motion by a “god” or by godlike beings: In this life, many different kinds of beings are present. Some are favored to be followed by the “gods”. Others are “props”, here for the sole purpose of interacting and providing meaning, through their actions and through their circumstances, for those who are favored. I am a prop, purposeless in and of myself.
11. My purpose in this life is to repeatedly strive and fail, and to discover the utter absence of my own power and control. This is to occur while being forced to observe the power and control other humans around me have in their particular lives. The reason for this is unknown.
12. My purpose in this life is to slowly diminish in character and relevance over time. The reason is unknown or is deliberately hidden from me.
13. My purpose in this life is to love myself as my neighbor.
14. My purpose in this life is to come to know that there is no such thing as love, as honor, as truth, etc. My purpose is to come to learn that these are constructs that humans teach themselves and delude themselves into believing. Most appear to find “success in life” through adopting these false constructs. But my purpose is to see that these constructs are false, and possibly to indict all of humanity with my discoveries.
15. My purpose in this life is to suffer.
16. My purpose in this life is to suffer in particular non-physical ways, all due to having pissed off some entity that I am barred from remembering. I am also barred from knowing what was my transgression toward this entity.
17. My purpose in this life is to come to full self-knowledge and to subsequently condemn myself as a worthless being.
18. My purpose in this life is to watch others succeed at their lives, while I gradually but definitely diminish in character, and come to fail at even basic and common human achievements in this life.
19. My purpose in this life is to desire, and to subsequently starve for want of everything desired.
20. I am a “god”. My purpose in this life is to learn the flaws of this World which I have had at least a hand in creating, and subsequently to answer to charges of all the suffering, inequality and injustice I have unleashed herein by my carelessness and hubris.
21. The purpose of my particular life is some type of punishment. In the early part of my life, I was to acquire hope, much as I observed those around me acquire hope for their lives. Now and for some time since, I am to experience the loss of all hope acquired. The reason for this is unknown.

If anyone can point out which of the above came from the "inner voice" I was looking for, please do tell !!

[MartaA]

Herefornoreason -

Your life is the perfect mirror of what you have inside you. And all I see in your post is negativity, deception and lack of trust. So no wonder your life will reflect that.

It is imposible to find your purpose from that place. You need a detached and clear mind to connect to your truly self.

Change your inner feelings and thoughts and you'll change your life. And from there, and from love, you'll get your answers.

Trust and let go.