To ask what is your purpose in life/your reason for living?

[Query45]

I’ve had a lot of free time on my hands recently which has had me thinking a lot. And I can’t seem to find my own personal answer to this, and just wondered what the answer is for others?

I think my soul chose this life to learn. I however want it over asap. (Yes, I am getting help.)
Thank you for this thread, it's interesting to see so many don't have a purpose. Before getting help I was reading a lot of self help books. They go on a lot about finding out what your purpose in life is. I felt wrong/bad that I hadn't found mine, but from this thread I see that's quite common and I'm not weird/wrong because of it!
Thank you all for sharing.

@DDIJ

Are you getting medical help for your mental health issues?

I didn't know I had any

Is there someone in your life who is stopping you doing the things you want to do? Do you think maybe you might benefit from a chat with someone at Women's Aid?

I think my purpose in life is to discover who I really am and the way to do that is by learning from life's experiences.

My philosophy is: To enjoy life as much as possible, whilst helping others to do the same.

My core job makes the world a better place and challenges me intellectually. I also volunteer to help the excluded and vulnerable. On top of that I have multiple hobbies which allow me to express my self artistically.

I've been through very dark times following life-changing injuries, and am in constant pain. But there is so much to love about life, and I'm better off than so many people - so can reach out a hand to them as well.

To crush [my] enemies, see them driven before [me], and to hear the lamentations of their women!

I just aim to enjoy life. Life is an amazing gift (metaphorically speaking, i’m not religious) and there are so many things that can so terribly wrong with it, enjoy what bits you can. My main ones are my children, who light up my life, and watching the changing of the seasons from crisp misty mornings to torrential grey downpours to bakingly hot summers. They all have something beautiful, and they all make me happy to be out experiencing them, and that never gets old.

I have a soft spot for Tim Minchin’s Storm, the end of which goes

“ Isn't this enough?
Just this world?
Just this beautiful, complex, wonderfully unfathomable, natural world?”

I used to live.

Since Covid, I just survive......................

DDIJ
I assumed that was the case based on what you post. I apologise if I am not correct.
Why can't you go for a walk then? Why do you think living in your car is so great?

I have a very specific purpose in life and that is to remove the stigma around genital herpes. It makes people very miserable and I can help make them feel better. I can't cure cancer or sort the environment but I can do this so that's what I do.

BadLad, I might crush some enemies but I don't have the same talent for it.

To research, to learn about stuff. To figure out more about the problems there are (even if I can't usually solve them).

I don’t have a purpose and don’t think I need one in that sense of the word. ( don’t mean I don’t have a purpose in a negative depressive type statement, just that I don’t need a purpose , I just Am )

I don’t EVER think about the meaning of life / why we are here etc

I am very content with day to day life, and just get on with things , parenting , family life etc.

Just living life without any thought of the meaning of life.

I think too much looking into these types of thoughts can bog some people down

Crush my enemies , brilliant !

Well my last DC is leaving home soon so I’m looking forward to finding a new purpose and verve for life as the last quarter century has been putting DC first/ revolving around them.

When I was younger my purpose was to build a career in the field of my choice and be successful and help everyone around me that needed help. Life beat me around and I couldn't really achieve any of my ambitions and now a couple of decades later my sole purpose in life is to love , protect and safeguard my DD and give her the best possible start I can. If I didn't have my DD, I think my purpose in life would have been to just survive and fill my days with things that will give me momentary happiness, as the alternative would devastate my parents who are still alive.

I don't need a purpose or reason. Smacks of determinism to me with all the baggage behind it.

There is no point. But as long as I am here I will help as many others and myself to have a happy life.

I know without doubt my purpose in life is twofold - to always be learning and to always be creating.

If I’m not learning, or creating art or writing, I feel like o have fallen off my path.

For me, ‘purpose’ is different to the ‘things I do’ in life like raising children, having my career etc. Those are sometimes means to achieving my purpose, but not always.

@Prettybluepigeons

DDIJ I assumed that was the case based on what you post. I apologise if I am not correct. Why can't you go for a walk then? Why do you think living in your car is so great?

Well, that's derailed the thread for me. I'm more interested in DDIJ than my purpose.

Difficult. Now that my children need me less I don't see a logical point or purpose to my existence.

Because I have very young children, they are my purpose.

I'm in my 70s, have quite severe physical disability, can only walk short distances (ie within my home) with a walking frame, and have a fair amount of pain. Despite the above, having considered the alternative, my purpose in life is to keep going. As long as my laptop is working, I feel connected to friends and the world

However, dementia is a whole other ball game. I am phobic about the idea of getting it and although my friends assure me I still have all my marbles, at the first sign I will take myself to Dignitas in Switzerland. I've been saving for a long time and have enough stashed at home so I can pick it up and go if I feel like it's time.

multiple purposes (purpoise?)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-53760503/dolphin-stampede-wows-whale-watchers

I don't think anyone needs a purpose in life, or needs to worry if they feel they have no purpose in life.

We are human BEINGS not DOINGS. We just are.

Just about most things - I aim low. I think my life is as valuable as the tree growing outside my window, and I hold trees in very high esteem! So I live simply and being, existing, is enough meaning for me.

100% agree @Chicchicchicchiclana