Need help brainstorming a life purpose

[CroMagna]

I read Steve's excellent article about how purpose yields motivation. I have brainstormed various ideas for my life's purpose. Here are three ideas I generated:

1. To live out my values to the fullest extent possible.

2. To destroy the inner enemy and the outer enemy. The inner enemy includes self-doubt, anger, fear, and lack of motivation. The outer enemy includes lack of social respect and herd conformity.

3. To help destroy sexual inequality particularly the sexual double standard.

None of these made me cry, but I found them all inspiring. The first one I liked because it could be immediately implemented and there's no limit on it. The last one I found scary and intimidating, so I thought it might be the best. It doesn't sound like ME though to be a social commentator or activist...

For some reason though, I'm still not motivated. I don't find myself bouncing out of bed and hunting for a high-paying job before work. I still have second thoughts about pursuing a career in finance. I'm not sure why I'm still not motivated. So maybe I need a stronger sense of purpose. Can someone please help me brainstorm a life purpose or provide insight into why I'm still not motivated or passionate?

[Trezker]

The first point should be part of anyones purpose.

The other two hints at issues you think are important but inversely. You have written them negatively. Your purpose should be to work for something positive, not against something negative. Never demonstrate against war, demonstrate for peace.

#2: To grow my inner strengths including self-confidence, love, courage and motivation. To practice social respect and individuality.

#3: To practice and teach sexual equality between men and women.

Don't you think that sounds much better?

[Jarrod]

'2. To destroy the inner enemy. The inner enemy includes self-doubt, anger, fear, and lack of motivation.

#2: To grow my inner strengths including self-confidence, love, courage and motivation.'

Paraphrased to just mention inner stuff.

You have to work on both really, not either.

[CroMagna]

Originally Posted by Trezker

The first point should be part of anyones purpose.

The other two hints at issues you think are important but inversely. You have written them negatively. Your purpose should be to work for something positive, not against something negative. Never demonstrate against war, demonstrate for peace.

#2: To grow my inner strengths including self-confidence, love, courage and motivation. To practice social respect and individuality.

#3: To practice and teach sexual equality between men and women.

Don't you think that sounds much better?

I like these better. Will I feel motivated to jump out of bed early and conquer the world once I read my true purpose? Or is it a situation where I just make my purpose as I go along?

[CroMagna]

Originally Posted by Jarrod

'2. To destroy the inner enemy. The inner enemy includes self-doubt, anger, fear, and lack of motivation.

#2: To grow my inner strengths including self-confidence, love, courage and motivation.'

Paraphrased to just mention inner stuff.

You have to work on both really, not either.

I'm not sure what you mean here. He did change both.

[Trezker]

I have no idea if my suggestions will work as your purpose. Just try it out. When you try something else just keep in mind to always write in positive terms.

Also, your purpose is something timeless, it is not bound by any form of expression. If you come up with for example "Blog about love and equality" and that works for you then you've probably just hit a local maximum. That's ok, just flow with that and you'll have lots of fun writing a blog for several months. But then you may start feeling you should do something more and you'll have to find some new statement that works for you.

BTW, you should not trust me on this, I haven't found my own purpose yet. I'm just explaining my perspective of what Mr Pavlina has written on the subject.

[Lanya]

I figured the point was to keep writing random ideas that popped into your head non-stop. And then the only time you stopped was when you write one that makes you cry, whether that takes 20 minutes, 3 hours, or 5 years (although for 5 years, I guess you gotta take a bathroom break or something).

But yeah, start with trying that 5-year marathon.