I tried "What is my true purpose in life?"

[Morningstar]

This is what I came up with in very little time:

1. To educate my kids
2. To make this world a better place
3. To be happy
4. To love myself
5. To leave a legacy
6. To understand
7. To heal myself
8. To heal others
9. To learn from my past lives
10. To heal the earth
11. To be a part of the One
12. To develop my psychic abilities
13. To use 100% of my brain
14. To teach French
15. To write
16. To speak publicly
17. To become famous
18. To be a leader
19. To be an artist
20. To be a dancer
21. To love and nurture the children I brought into this world
22. To let go of my children when they need to be independent
23. To let go
24. To be a part of the bigger picture
25. To live my life in complete honesty
26. To love completely and honestly
27. To

Number 25 is what really scared me and made me cry.
I am really confused though.
Would someone be so kind as to shed some light for me.
Thanks.
Claire

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Morningstar

25. To live my life in complete honesty

It probably made you cry because it is impossible... unless you want to be a social outcast...

There is such a thing as euphemism... which is a polite word for lying... or at least distorting the facts...

Someone said something to the effect that, "A world without euphemism would be a barbaric place..."

So, if I were you... I would reconsider item #25...

BTW... Congratulation for very lofty aspirations, goals and objectives...
.

[ginkgo]

Is it that alone? It could also be 27 and the whole process of coming up with these. Also does it mean honesty with other people? If so, then speak very little and carry a big stick. President Roosevelt said something like that (Speak softly and carry a big stick). Or does it mean to be honest with yourself. That is big because HONESTLY what are you certain of? You are certain that you will die but nothing else. You could die tomorrrow. That honesty is scary.

You have all these purposes but do you even know (HONESTLY SPEAKING) what you really are. Your purpose is to become what you truly are. Do you have any idea of what that is? Read the article on the site below to find out more about yourself. Socrates said "Know thyself." Shakespeare said this about honesty, "This above all else. To thine own self be true." As far as being part of the One, site below says "You are the One."

What is Enlightenment: Is It the Purpose of Human Life

[David365]

Try to define your purpose in life in one sentence, or at most a short paragraph. A list like this is just going to make you feel inadequate, confused and without any sort of clear path.

Drop nonsense like "to be happy" "to understand" "to heal the earth", start with more grounded things based on reality like "to educate my kids", "to teach French". David.

[Morningstar]

Thank you to David, Gingko and Shamou.
David, you are correct, I do feel inadequate at the moment.
The truth is I have no idea who I really am and what I truly want to do with my life. I also don't know how to go about finding the answers to those two questions.
I will read what you have reccommended gingko, and see if it gets me started.
Peace

[Catlover]

I'm wondering if your reaction to #25--to be honest--has to do with your feelings of inadequacy. Being honest would mean that you have to reveal that side of yourself along with all the other aspects.

I think it was very brave of you to share all of this here. In other words, it wasn't such a big step for you, so I suspect that you are close to getting the answers that you are seeking.

[Kaspian]

Re: #25 — I think that it's being honest with yourself that matters most.


What you just posted is 26 things that are important to you. If you had to narrow it down to 15, which ones would stay on the list? Make that list. What if you chose only 10? Would any of them change or combine? (Write this list down, too.) 6? (Write it.) 3? .... Just 1?

[David365]

I have three teenage daughters who have all had to made recent decisions about future college courses, which ultimately reflect future employment. Throughout our lives we make decisons which have a big impact on the direction our lives will take. Many never set goals, some know from a very early age what they want to do.
I'm 49 and will be the first to admit that chance and good fortune has played a large part in where I am now. I gradually learnt to set goals and formulate a purpose, but I don't think you can force the issue. Its like trying to be happy!! Focussing on what you can do, where you do find satisfaction, possible directions you could take. Don't get bogged down trying to answer questions that there may be no answer to.

[brooke]

Morningstar
I have to agree with David 365 that you can't force the issue. It's not that I disagree with Steve's method of discovering life's purpose. But sometimes things come step by step, over time, including understanding your purpose in life. Imagine that in the future you were going to become a huge advocate for breast cancer treatment, and this became your legacy. Chances are that if you don't have breast cancer right now, or have someone close to you suffering, you probably wouldn't accept that as your purpose right now.
I think the fact that the honesty one scared you and made you cry definitely holds significance, but no-one can really figure that out except you. Give yourself time to analyze and process how you feel about it, and you will get to the answer.
I truly believe that all of us do have divine purpose on this earth, and that we all have the potential to be greater than we can imagine. The key in the here and now is to learn to tap into your inner voice, intuition, inspiration, or whatever it is that you want to call it. Once you can be in tune with that inner voice, practice following and fine tuning it. I think Steve's method for discovering your lifes purpose is effective for many people, simply because it helps them tap into that part of themselves that possesses the true wisdom.
Good luck on your journey!
Brooke
ps I wrote an article awhile back on following your inner voice that may be helpful... Your Inner Voice Advice on Marriage, Life and More : Plain Advice