What Is Our Purpose In Life?

[Andy4]

This is a potential can of worms, who fancies opening it?

What is our purpose in life? I'm going to deal with this subjectively, if this appears selfish of me then I apologise for it in advance.

I think our main purpose in life is to enjoy it. That is what I believe (my/your) God, the force that drives the universe wants us to do. We as humans just muddy the waters by over complicating everything.

To enjoy something you've got to feel good about it. If we ever lost the desire to feel good then the alcohol, drugs and many other industries would simply cease to exist.Some may say that this would be a good thing.However it still doesn't alter the fact that human beings will constantly look for ways, either natural or artificial of making themselves feel good or happier

If we accept this concept, even if it is only hypothetically then this prompts a futher question.

How can we discover more things that make us feel good or happier?

Most of our governments won't invest money in happiness research, they dont consider it an important enough topic, nothing new there then.But when you think about it if we were all a lot more content with our lot then the world as a whole would be a much safer, stabler and happier place to live in.

Anyway here are a few suggestions on how to feel good or happier:-

1.Be with someone that makes you laugh.

Many people post on this forum for relationship advice, the bottom line is this.If a person fails to make you happy, get rid of them. Having the right partner for you is critical to living a happy and fulfilling life.Irrespective of how attractive, successful, popular or rich a person is, all this pales into insignificance if they dont make you happy. Never be scared of being on your own, it's far better than being in a poor relationship.A poor relationship destroys all other aspects of your life, don't let it.

2.Do something that absorbs you.

Wether it's your job, a hobby, activities with the kids, it doesnt matter what it is if it absorbs you it will automaticaaly make you feel good.

3.Dont be too hard on yourself.

Send that self-critical voice that plagues us all from time to time to hell. Start praising yourself more, even for the little things, in fact wallow in self-praise, it will make you feel better about yourself.

4.Always have something to look forward to.

Hollidays, days/nights out are great for this.However the treat doesn't have to be this big even the little things, like having a pint whilst watching the footy or a bar of chocolate can have the same effect.

5.Do unconditional things for other people.

Apart from the immediate satisfaction that this will bring, giving always feels better than receiving, our actions both good and bad often come back to us. Do enough good things and your life will start to improve.

If you have any comments on the purpose of life or happiness, Id like to hear about them,If you've not posted much before, go on be a devil.

Take care,have a great weekend.

Regards,Andy

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Andy4

I think our main purpose in life is to enjoy it. That is what I believe (my/your) God, the force that drives the universe wants us to do. We as humans just muddy the waters by over complicating everything.

how come this sounds complicated to me? The universe wants me to figure out how to be happy by jumping through hoops - or by living the external way. It may be that the universe just wants us to get better at feeling and give up manipulating the world (inner and outer) to make us happy. The better we are at feeling the more naturally joy exists, imho. We don't have to try to do things that make us happy - because that is forcing things and also can cause us to not address something that isn't of the happy world. Once we do address all feelings, the joy can come out of not needing to be happy.

To enjoy something you've got to feel good about it. If we ever lost the desire to feel good then the alcohol, drugs and many other industries would simply cease to exist.Some may say that this would be a good thing.However it still doesn't alter the fact that human beings will constantly look for ways, either natural or artificial of making themselves feel good or happier

If we accept this concept, even if it is only hypothetically then this prompts a futher question.

How can we discover more things that make us feel good or happier?

It might be easier/simpler to just get better at feeling rather than to try feel a certain way. The thing that makes us sedate ourselves, with things we think make us feel good, is that we are afraid to feel whatever it is needs to be felt out. Alcohol and whatever is not an attempt to be happy, it's a way to cover up feelings and pretend we are happy. It gets suppressed and we do things to "feel good" instead of unsupressing things. We could end up avoiding what is natural to feel in hopes to be happy by forcing ourselves to be happy (or while under some form of sedation).

Maybe your points are good goals to produce happiness. Is that what will produce lasting joy of being though? Or is it more "doings" that are conditions that need to be met so happiness will be experienced (temporarily while the condition eexists)?

[UnleashReality]

To be and live unleashed.

alex
unleash reality

[Andy4]

Hi Wolfgang,

You sound a bit troubled by my post. I'm sorry and b4 you say it I'm not intending to patronise you,far from it.No-one is asking you to live externally, its what's on the inside that counts.

You call it manipulating I call it creating, trust me if you do not take control of your life then someone else will,that's a given.

If you dont try to make things better or happier then what's the point.It's not forcing it's just progressing and helping people to get a better life,that cant be wrong.

No-one is talking about sedation, it is just human nature to want to have a good time.

I do agree with you about people surpressing their inner feerlings that is wrong and no-one should use any stimulant to compensate for or to run away from their responsibilities.

Happiness is a personal thing and yet I think most of us want similar things.If you love and are loved then you are fortunate.

Regards,Andy.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by Andy4

Hi Wolfgang,

You sound a bit troubled by my post. I'm sorry and b4 you say it I'm not intending to patronise you,far from it.No-one is asking you to live externally, its what's on the inside that counts.

You call it manipulating I call it creating, trust me if you do not take control of your life then someone else will,that's a given.

The route to creating is non-manipulation. I'm just bringing up that there's an inner way and an external way. Some people, for example, say they are Christians, and follow what they "should" do and have know idea why they are doing the rules of religion except for some motivation that it's supposed to be the way to everlasting life or heaven or some sort of payout. It's the external way to do that - follow some guidelines that are spelled out.

Eventually one has to find their own way to do what keeps them at peace and find their way to joy. It probably will be the very things that get listed, but until someone feels internally why to do all that stuff it's just an external path - a going through the motions.

It may even get in the way of finding the internal path - all this listings of what to do to make everything better. All that can come naturally if one is able to listen to how they feel moment to moment. The way unfolds and there's no need to keep a list anywhere of what you are supposed to do that is suppose to make you happier. It's a natural way that will differ some between people and during different times of one's life.

If you dont try to make things better or happier then what's the point.It's not forcing it's just progressing and helping people to get a better life,that cant be wrong.

The route to better or happier is internally allowing what is, more than trying to make other things be what you think they should be.

No-one is talking about sedation, it is just human nature to want to have a good time.

I was posting my take on where alcohol, drugs and many other things fit in. It's sedation that people can apply without realizing they are chasing some sort of happiness by thinking "do what feel good". Sometimes it's addiction/sedation instead of real feeling joy.

I do agree with you about people surpressing their inner feerlings that is wrong and no-one should use any stimulant to compensate for or to run away from their responsibilities.

Happiness is a personal thing and yet I think most of us want similar things.If you love and are loved then you are fortunate.

[Eric Roosevelt]

Originally Posted by Andy4

Start praising yourself more, even for the little things, in fact wallow in self-praise, it will make you feel better about yourself.

I think a lot of people have a hard time with this one. When comparing successes to failures, most of us tend to enlarge the failures (both emotionally and intellectually), and shrink the successes. I don't know if this is just a learned habit, or if our brains are somehow wired to to focus on problems. I'm guessing it's a little bit of both. After all, we can learn from problems, whereas the things we're already successful at don't require as much attention.

In any case, I agree with the idea of praising ourselves more. There are a lot of pessimistic people out there who are doing much better than they think.

[Halffull]

I think it's really different from person to person. I know some people who's purpose is to create things, some people who's purpose is to connect with others, some who's purpose is to inspire others, some who's purpose is to do amazing activities... It's just a matter of finding what resonates with you.

[Andy4]

Hi Wolfgang,

Thanks for your reply, we have spoken quite a few times now and I enjoy our chats, you make a reference to the effectiveness of lists. All I will say is that they work for some people, my wife included and not for others.

Going back to the original theme of the post I think it's vital we try and enjoy ourselves as much as possible, there is a lot of unhappiness in this world and that is quite understandable but that makes it all the more important that we should cherish and crave the good times, the more we do this the more they will come to us.

Eric,

What you suggest is right we are programmed from a very early age to accept the negative. A U.S. study recently concluded that children under the age of seven were subjected to negative as opposed to positive statements from their parents on a ratio of 8 : 1

That is obscene but true we kill our kids with kindness and warnings but that is not wrong it is love, but to make them whole we must trust them a little more and give them praise and self-belief.

Halfull,

I like this post it is short and understated but oh so true, we are all different, and have different talents but Your statement about how a person should find out what resonates with them shows insight, nice one.

Regards,Andy.