What's the Purpose of Life?

[MrPlum]

I created this topic after speaking to a friend who is going through a difficult time and is suffering from depression. It's a question that I suspect all of us have asked at one time or another. Perhaps after a painful divorce, the loss of a loved one, feeling alone and isolated or just becoming bored with bars and birds. How many times do we have to listen to the same joke?

I think a lack of purpose can afflict ex-pats more than others. They are often retired with little to do and separated from close family.

I've tried to create a poll with various suggestions. As usual, if your notion isn't listed, then please feel free to comment.

So, folks. Does your life have any purpose? If not, what would give it purpose?

[STEVE G]

According to my boss, the purpose of my life is to fix airplanes at five o'clock on a saturday morning!

[Spitfire]

Not sure about 'purpose', but like/agree with a few of the options MrP. However, as I get older, I do sometimes consider that I would like it to have some 'meaning' or 'point' and it to be 'worth' something other than material aquisition through system obedience or selfish excess of recreational stimulus, which probably brings me full circle back to some of the poll choices.

[Farang]

42

[DSB]

42

Ah, Hitchiker's guide to the galaxy?

It could be 42 years earning beer tokens!

[Vital Spark]

I'm going for the 'happy' option as it encompasses some of the other options. I feel happy when I help others, and I'm obviously happy when I'm healthy.

I feel extremely privileged to have already found my soulmate - and that reallly adds to the feeling of happiness.

VS

[PeteC]

"Happy" is a very broad concept and can be interpreted by many of the other choices, as well as the defining personality of Snow White's other six friends.

Seriously, a sense of purpose is not instilled by others unless one is weak minded. Sure, a person going through a rough time needs some compassion. However, I've found in many instances that a good kick in the butt is much more helpful than hand holding which some (perhaps many) like to milk. They like the attention, pity and sympathy.

You bob and weave with the punches and if hit, get up off the floor and try again. Another way of saying it is that you play the hand you're dealt, my Mom's favourite comment.

Purpose in life has to be self defined and self motivated. If you can't find it quickly after a crisis, you have to keep looking until you do, and have some kind of inner strength to get you through it all. The worst thing to do is listen to someone who's counseling you to do something you don't feel comfortable with. You have to trust your own instincts and intelligence.

For me, I've found it helpful to drastically change geographic locations even if just for a short while. Get away from the environment where the life crisis happened, clear your mind and recharge your batteries. Then attack life the best you can.

When it comes to Thailand, I reference a book from the 80's entitled something like, "Smart Women, Bad Choices". Spot on as well defining some crisis driven male individuals here who bounce into a relationship without due diligence and patience. They live a life in continuous crisis and then end up like the last choice on the poll, or worse. Pete

[PeteC]

VS, I was writing as you were posting. My reply is not based upon your reply, but on the overall theme of the thread. I tell you this based upon my "woman driver" comment of a few weeks ago! Pete

[STEVE G]

Here is a quote from the Dalai Lama on the subject that I rather agree with and I'm sure he's thought about it a lot more than I have:

“I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.”

[tarakandi]

To be happy,

I am happy

To be healthy wealthy and wise,

I am reasonable healthy,wealthy and wise

My sense of purpose comes from my work

I enjoy my work and it has enabled my to stay here for the last 23 years

I found my soulmate a long time ago

[Sydney Jed]

Dalai Lama philosopy teaches us that if we aren't happy with ourselves..how on earth can we be happy with anyone else?It reflects and shows in everything we do,say and act in our behaviour in every day life..this shows our 'real worth'..and our others value us!

[PeteC]

I agree with what the DL says, Steve. It's just like the Christmas giving/receiving example.

However, the world is filled with examples of people being used and abused based upon their good nature. Naive, blind, gullible....whatever description society labels them with.

Having a few snarling Alsatians by your side sure "helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter." Pete

[Johan]

There is just no sense of life, do what you want to do and that's it. We are not here for something special, we are just the evolution of some bacterias millions of years ago.

We can conclude, be happy is enough. The more ignorant you are, the happier you are.

[Randy Cornhole]

We live we die thats it!

There is no special purpose. Its just happens to be scientific fate that we are even here at all.

Look for a hidden meaning if you feel the need but my advice would be just to live the life that satisfies you best. For you get only one.

Our problem as humans is that our brain has given us the power of thought therefore we feel the need to quantify everything. To give shit meaning. Why?

Can we not just accept that we are here for a short time and live it with others happily.

Well the truth is we can't and that's been our biggest problem all along...

[lindosfan1]

Randy