Just wondered. Some people seem to have a specific purpose and plan and others don't.

Me I have never had a purpose or direction and be glad when the whole shabang is over:)

me, purpose....of course - I'm a trainee terrorist :D but its a secret so don't tell the family ;)

robbie, that's so sad!

everyone has a purpose in life, but just don't know it.

my purpose is jujst to enjoy while I'm here - you're a long time dead!

My purpose is to raise my children to respect the planet and to put her gifts to the best possible use for their own benefit whilst maintaining that dimension of respect. To put back in what they get out and to have a whale of a time whilst they are at it.
I hope you find a porpose Robbie, I'm with teeb on this one.

Born, school work, die

I think my purpose is to annoy as many people as possible and I've also heard that my purpose may be to ruin men's lives and kill them (thanks again robbie!)

so nothing between schoolwork and die then?

Originally posted by CherryNicole
I think my purpose is to annoy as many people as possible and I've also heard that my purpose may be to ruin men's lives and kill them (thanks again robbie!)

I never said that you kill men:o

your purpose in life seems to be to make everyone happier :)

Originally posted by teeb
so nothing between schoolwork and die then?

Yes, sorry, a comma

Born, school, work, die

Originally posted by robbie
I never said that you kill men:o

your purpose in life seems to be to make everyone happier :)

awww robbie, it may be the purpose but I'm failing!

Since I was ten years old I've had a burning ambition to write a book, a novel. It has to be fiction. I've made several attempts to write one, but never quite made the grade. But I'm improving. That's been the one constant ambition in my life, and I've always considered that to be my purpose.

Originally posted by CherryNicole
awww robbie, it may be the purpose but I'm failing!


no you aren't:)

My purpose is to upset the liberals in this city and I promise to do my best to acheive it.:heyhey:
Seriously I dont have a set plan for life,you never know when it might end so whats the point?
I agree with teeb,live life to the full.:thumbsup:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 vv1-8

The opening lines were until recently my signature. Although no longer religious, I find this poem comforting.

robbie - you don't have to have game plan in life. I had one, until a few years ago when sudden ill health dramatically changed my life. Now I've stopped mapping out my life, and I seize the chance to live every day as it comes. I am learning to cast away my stones, as I face a time to lose. It is difficult, but I am comforted that even in a period of great uncertainty in my life, soon it will be a time to build up.

I am saddened to read that you will be glad when the whole shebang is over. I sense something may be missing in your life. Sounds like you've hit a really low period. If you too find this poem comforting, can you recognise what time it is in your life, and if so, what may follow?

My purpose, humm, I have goals that I want to achieve maybe combined they would define my purpose. Here is my list of things I want to achieve (in no specific order)

- Learn another language
- Master aikido
- Travel around the world
- Learn to play the guitar properly
- Climb a really large mountain
- Fall in love and start a family

Humm, i think thats all for now.

Originally posted by teeb
robbie, that's so sad!

everyone has a purpose in life, but just don't know it.

my purpose is jujst to enjoy while I'm here - you're a long time dead!

I disagree, no one has a purpose. Some people think they do but they're just kidding themselves. its all irrelevant in the scheme of things. So long as you remember that you'll be ok :hihi:

Why do you want a purpose anyway? It sounds a lot like responsibility to me. Better off being purposeless and enjoying yourself.

to be happy and make those i care about happy.
to fall head over heels in love.
to have someone fall head over heels in love with me.
to raise a family.
to have fun.
to know that when my judgement day comes i can look back on my life and know i tried my best.

i think life is an audition and it is our purpose to do enough to get through to the next round.

Lea x

Originally posted by redrobbo
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes chapter 3 vv1-8

Alternatively:

There is no convenient time to break your leg.
There is no convenient time to find your soul.
There is no convenient time to submit to force.
There is no convenient time to starve.
There is no convenient time to have a child.
There is no convenient time to lose your will.
There is no convenient time to have a flat tyre.

Skeleton Crew - You May Find a Bed

I think the purpose of life is the continuation of the spicies.
Everything points to this--- by the pleasure which is given to us by the urge to procreate and the care we take of our children. I think we are biologically programmed for this in order that we carry on existing. The urge to procreate is one of the strongest we have. Even though we now can choose to have children or not.

In the animal kingdom great lengths are taken to continue the species by the survival of the fittest and together with evolution they make sure they continue to produce young.

So I think my purpose was to make sure my children could grow up to be well balanced, happy individuals who could find their rightful place in the world, not cheat or steal or walk all over people as some do on their way to the top of the pile.

hazel

Originally posted by tim_rutter
Why do you want a purpose anyway? It sounds a lot like responsibility to me. Better off being purposeless and enjoying yourself.

I totally agree with this. Some people (moi? never... :suspect: ) spend so much time finding reasons and purposes for things that they forget to try to get something positive from whatever it is that comes at them.

Originally posted by hazel
I think the purpose of life is the continuation of the spicies.
Everything points to this--- by the pleasure which is given to us by the urge to procreate and the care we take of our children. I think we are biologically programmed for this in order that we carry on existing. The urge to procreate is one of the strongest we have. Even though we now can choose to have children or not.

In the animal kingdom great lengths are taken to continue the species by the survival of the fittest and together with evolution they make sure they continue to produce young.

So I think my purpose was to make sure my children could grow up to be well balanced, happy individuals who could find their rightful place in the world, not cheat or steal or walk all over people as some do on their way to the top of the pile.

hazel

I reiterate, why do you NEED a purpose. Can't we all just get on with the enjoying part without having to worrying about some purpose given to us by some higher power? It sounds all too much like work to me.

My personal aims in life are to enjoy myself, be happy, without causing too much irreversible damage to the world so that others can do the same. This is something that I have decided to do. It is not my purpose.

Originally posted by Lee1979
i think life is an audition and it is our purpose to do enough to get through to the next round.


I found your post very interesting and thought-provoking, Lee1979 - thank you, it made me think long and hard.

The concept of life being an 'audition' is an intriguing one - but it brings with it the judgement of 'pass' or 'fail'.

I've come to see this earthly life more as something to be experienced and learned from - a step on the path of spiritual growth. I believe this life is one of a number of cycles that the soul travels through, in the search for spiritual enlightenment. The ultimate 'goal' being reunion with God.

Thank you for raising this fascinating topic, Robbie - I hope you find what you're looking for in your life.

StarSparkle

Glad you found it interesting StarSparkle. I have a lot of ideas on what I think life is about, why we are here, what is our purpose etc. and being brough up a strict Catholic has made me question a lot of things.

In the end it all comes down to the same thing - to be happy.

In the end it all comes down to the same thing - to be happy.

Surly that is impossible. People have different ideas on what would make them happy which are bound to conflict with one another. However, being physically healthy makes me feel happy, but emotionally happy I think thats far to voliatile to ever be stable.

I hate these impossible questions that have infinite answers. I'd like standards and boundaries but that never works properly either. Aslong as we all contribute to society in some positive fashion i guess thats ok. But then, what would you call positive? Living in a capitalist society where greed, obsession, lies, deciet, and all the other horrible emotions are encouraged to supposidly enrich our lives with meaningless possessions doesnt seem right to me as a method of control. Neither does a communist structure since most people wouldn't do anything and would probably take from those that did. Surly the common goal of the human race would be to find out what all this -- life and stuff -- is about. ( I feel a sci-fi vibe coming on so I will take a step back.)

Hopefully when I die we will get to see the answers in the back of the Book Of Everything.

Originally posted by Lee1979
Glad you found it interesting StarSparkle. I have a lot of ideas on what I think life is about, why we are here, what is our purpose etc. and being brough up a strict Catholic has made me question a lot of things.

In the end it all comes down to the same thing - to be happy.

The thing I find with "happy" is that some of the people who have done the greatest things have been very unhappy people. Does this mean, despite their masterpieces, that they have failed in their purpose? Their inspiration came from the fact that they were unhappy.

If we were all content, the world would be pretty boring I think. I for one have a few unhappy incidents in my life that I cherish - they make you realise you're alive and not just a drone.

Unhappy brilliant people: Van Gogh, Newton (nasty bloke), Darwin (his wife and kids were killed I think), Beethoven?, there must be more but I'm not so hot on history. Someone help me out here.

happiness is a paroxysm, not a state.

my purpose: find the beauty in everything and love it.

many brilliant people were unhappy because they suffered from various forms of mental illness, which really can bring out the genius in some people, whilst crippling others.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
happiness is a paroxysm, not a state.

my purpose: find the beauty in everything and love it.

many brilliant people were unhappy because they suffered from various forms of mental illness, which really can bring out the genius in some people, whilst crippling others.


Isn't laugher a paroxysm? Happiness would be a state of mind wouldn't int? :confused:

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
happiness is a paroxysm, not a state.

my purpose: find the beauty in everything and love it.

many brilliant people were unhappy because they suffered from various forms of mental illness, which really can bring out the genius in some people, whilst crippling others.

I agree, I think what people are talking about here is contentment. That is an altogether different thing. You can be happy without being content and vice versa.

Happy not content: homeless person finds 200 quid

Content not happy: person with everything loses 200 quid.

i was talking personally.

as i listed before, all those things would make me happy and hopefully the people around me and i would feel like i have achieved something great and fulfilled a purpose. I don't really think anyone can ever be truly content and happy but my purpose, i believe is to try to be.

i do sort of agree with you tim - i don't cherish the unhappy incidents in my life but i learn from them and they have made part of who i am and i think i'm a better person for it.

Originally posted by thestruggle
Isn't laugher a paroxysm? Happiness would be a state of mind wouldn't int? :confused:

Yes a state of mind, but its a flush. How long after something makes you happy, are you still happy? Or is it just that you feel momentarily happy when you think of that thing?

For happiness to have any meaning, it must be thrown into relief by sadness - which is just as gripping and short lived.

These emotions that we really feel are tied to changes in blood and brain chemistry too. It's the mark of 'real' emotion that we actually feel in an altered state.

But these releases of neurotransmitters, enzymes, hormones etc peak and fade, peak and fade with each instigation.

Staying happy all the time is impossible, as you would deplete you stocks of chemicals beyond replenishment. Even it it was possible, it would end up as undifferentiated ennui with no unhappiness to compare it to.

Life itself is a process of change - everything is in a constant state of flux, so to live life in a constant state of happiness as an active feeling is surely not possible?

However, a background level of reasonable contentment seems attainable - serenity if you like - if you have a degree of faith in the universe that 'everything is unfolding as it should'?

Just some thoughts.

StarSparkle

so what are we saying here, our purpose is not to be happy, it is to achieve contentment? Surely this is desire rather than a purpose?

i don't think anyone would want to be constantly happy, its not in our nature. i just think my purpose is to try to be happy and make others around me happy.

I shall spend my life doing that so I know i have done my best in life.

Originally posted by robbie
Just wondered. Some people seem to have a specific purpose and plan and others don't.

Me I have never had a purpose or direction and be glad when the whole shabang is over:)

I'm the same really, no direction in life.. Just plodding along hoping to get it all over and done with.

Not suicidal though, don't worry about me on that score.

Originally posted by tim_rutter
so what are we saying here, our purpose is not to be happy, it is to achieve contentment? Surely this is desire rather than a purpose?

I believe our purpose here is to grow spiritually, to help our soul on its journey towards enlightenment, so that it will be re-absorbed with God.

That is the ultimate purpose.

On a more mundane level, I think we are here to reproduce, as well as to experience life, to learn from it, and to grow from it. And to increase our knowledge and understanding of the universe, particularly on a metaphysical level.

StarSparkle

PS ok, so I'm a bit pretentious - so what :cool:

Originally posted by StarSparkle
I believe our purpose here is to grow spiritually, to help our soul on its journey towards enlightenment, so that it will be re-absorbed with God.

That is the ultimate purpose.

On a more mundane level, I think we are here to reproduce, as well as to experience life, to learn from it, and to grow from it. And to increase our knowledge and understanding of the universe, particularly on a metaphysical level.

StarSparkle

PS ok, so I'm a bit pretentious - so what :cool:

Don't think your being pretentious. I do find the "God" notion a bit of hard one to understand, but lets not get into that debate.

Originally posted by robbie
Just wondered. Some people seem to have a specific purpose and plan and others don't.

Me I have never had a purpose or direction and be glad when the whole shabang is over:)

I havent read the rest of this thread, but wondered if anyone had heard or read the book 'Purpose driven life', it seemed to heve helped many people.

I myself have had no reason to read it, don't think i ever will, but i know it's helped many many people like robbbie.

robbie, give it a try.

Poppins

Sometimes, something happens to you and it feels so right that you rfealise that you have found your "purpose" It doesn't have to be something you spend hours cogitating, it just pops into your heart one day and you think and feel "yeah, this is it".

If I'm in the city centre I usually end up going in a south west direction as I live in Millhouses. I hope this helps.

Originally posted by poppins
I havent read the rest of this thread, but wondered if anyone had heard or read the book 'Purpose driven life', it seemed to heve helped many people.

I myself have had no reason to read it, don't think i ever will, but i know it's helped many many people like robbbie.

robbie, give it a try.

Poppins

Hi Poppins, I've heard of it but not read it.

Perhaps it's something I should add to my list of things to read!

If it's the one I'm thinking of I was a little concerned that it might be too oriented towards religion for em to be comfortable with - but, I guess I should read and find out!

A book I've mentioned before here is 'What shall I do with my life' by Po Bronson - that's an interesting collection of stories of people in the US, UK and Europe who've agreed to tell their story - some successes, some might be called failures, all are very interesting.

Joe

Originally posted by lizzmobile
Sometimes, something happens to you and it feels so right that you rfealise that you have found your "purpose" It doesn't have to be something you spend hours cogitating, it just pops into your heart one day and you think and feel "yeah, this is it".

Hi again!

Sounds like what Joseph Campbell called 'finding one's bliss'.

I have a rather interesting collection of short pieces by Joseph Campbell which are quite inspirational.

Joe

Originally posted by JoeP
Hi Poppins, I've heard of it but not read it.

Perhaps it's something I should add to my list of things to read!

If it's the one I'm thinking of I was a little concerned that it might be too oriented towards religion for em to be comfortable with - but, I guess I should read and find out!

A book I've mentioned before here is 'What shall I do with my life' by Po Bronson - that's an interesting collection of stories of people in the US, UK and Europe who've agreed to tell their story - some successes, some might be called failures, all are very interesting.

Joe


Yes Joe
Thats the reason i won't be reading it, bit too much religion, just going on what i've heard from other people

Originally posted by robbie
Just wondered. Some people seem to have a specific purpose and plan and others don't.

Me I have never had a purpose or direction and be glad when the whole shabang is over:)


Robbie

That's really sad! Are you ok?

I feel that not everyone needs to have a purpose and plan - the world is made up of all different people - some who are wanderers and some who are go getters... its nicer that way!

How old are you? The reason I ask is not to be patronising, but just to point out that everything changes and you never know what is round the corner..

I think the phrase is ‘work, buy, consume, die’!
Anyway, I’m with Phan on this. I know of people that have been through far less difficult times than myself who are more unhappy than me.

I look for the beauty in every physical thing and rip the **** out of every stupid comment made! It works for me! Oh I rip the **** out of what I say too, so don’t think I’m just got it in for other people.

As for a purpose; only someone else can know your purpose; look not within yourself but to the reflection of yourself in others.

Just because you may have a feeling of valuelessness about yourself it doesn’t mean that others do not value you and rely on you for their sense of self. Don’t expect, just give it out!

Originally posted by miniminch
I think the phrase is ‘work, buy, consume, die’!
Anyway, I’m with Phan on this. I know of people that have been through far less difficult times than myself who are more unhappy than me.

I look for the beauty in every physical thing and rip the **** out of every stupid comment made! It works for me! Oh I rip the **** out of what I say too, so don’t think I’m just got it in for other people.

As for a purpose; only someone else can know your purpose; look not within yourself but to the reflection of yourself in others.

Just because you may have a feeling of valuelessness about yourself it doesn’t mean that others do not value you and rely on you for their sense of self. Don’t expect, just give it out!

WELL SAID:clap:

Hi again Joe!! I'd be interested to read those writing, any more info? Also who is the chap you mentioned who spoke about finding one's bliss? TVM in advance

Robbie, is all this helping you in any way, shape or form?

Originally posted by Juicyb125
Robbie

That's really sad! Are you ok?

I feel that not everyone needs to have a purpose and plan - the world is made up of all different people - some who are wanderers and some who are go getters... its nicer that way!

How old are you? The reason I ask is not to be patronising, but just to point out that everything changes and you never know what is round the corner..

I'm fine chuck. No suicidal intentions whilst my parents are alive unfortunately. After that though maybe so;)

It's the prerogative of the young to squander their youth in feelings of hopelessness and disassociation while at the same time enjoying a life that one day they'll look back on fondly and say 'Them were the days'

I wouldn't be your age again for anything, I only needed to do it once. Now I look back on it with perspective and I remember the crap times too but I gotta tell you.....It was all worth it!

What are you scared of facing.......yourself? How scary are you?

*makes mental note to check out whereabouts of Freddie Krueger