I feel like I am lacking a sense of purpose in my life, and wonder how other people feel about this. What is it that makes your life meaningful?
Obviously, I know that a lot of people will say their dc, and I get that. I do get a sense of purpose from my dd and I'm immensely proud of the person that she is becoming. She brings me enormous joy. However, somehow, that isn't enough.
I guess others will refer to their jobs or voluntary work. I have a demanding job in a sector that makes a positive difference to people's lives, but as I'm in a senior manager role, I don't get much contact with the people who benefit. Obviously, I do have the opportunity to have a direct impact on the staff in my team, and I try very hard to create a positive working environment for them. But again, work doesn't seem to be quite enough.
I also volunteer regularly. I enjoy it and get a sense of achievement from it, but again, it doesn't fill the gap.
I try to be a good friend and I do a lot for my ageing parents. All rewarding, but still, I feel some kind of emptiness.
I have experimented with religion over the years. I know that this gives many people a sense of meaning and I'd love to be a believer, but I just can't buy into it. None of the main religions are believable to me, no matter how hard I try.
It isn't that my life is empty. I am actually quite busy. In many ways, I know that I'm really lucky, and I'm grateful for what I've got. I have everything that I need. I just have this ever-present gnawing sense of emptiness, a sense that I was supposed to do something more with my life. I just don't know what.
Does anyone else feel like this? Am I just looking for something that doesn't exist? How can I shake this?