What is the purpose of life?

You are showing signs of clinical depression. Talk to someone trained to help you sort things out.

Sounds like you got it figured out. :-)

You are in for a big surprise and it sounds as though you know this is coming. Think about it, you can’t take it with you when you go. So the question becomes “what is truly important to you”? That is the million dollar question. Pretend you have one week left to live…think hard about it…real REAL hard and there you will find your answer. It’s different for everybody…best wishes to you!

Find happiness in your days and the little things and your accomplishments. Sit and ask yourself what puts a true smile on your face ever. Push yourself, face your fears, fall in love, follow your dreams- that stuff is the “purpose” of life. If you think more than that (like I do) you’ll hate life because outside of finding that kind of happiness I don’t think there is a purpose to life except to obtain infinite freedom which is ultimately death.

To fulfill one’s self-interest and goals in life. If you don’t like your life now; don’t sit around do nothing go find something new to do.

I think it’s to love others

Biologically, the purpose of life, is to continue to exist. In the structured, elemental chemical form that we call life. So procreation is your biological purpose, and this is it as far as the genome and the system of life is concerned.

But if it’s so simple, then what’s the “meaning” of it all? Meaning is something we create – and I think that is quite liberating. Because it ultimately means you get to decide your own purpose.

The purpose I have decided is to help others, whether I’ll succeed or not – and to what degree remains to be seen. But, this is my purpose – what is the purpose to your life?

(Reply to first poster: not enough information or symptoms in the above to safely make that guess, at least not in my book – or the DSM-IV (Diagnostical and Statistical Manual).

Lucille: loving others is ultimately a good purpose – and by loving others you also love yourself, directly or indirectly.

@gailcalled:though my nickname may point to depression but i assure you i am far away from clinical depression, why cant we wonder about life without being depressed/suicidal!
@cruiser: interesting point… i do have alot of things that i truely care for… but even that duznt make me want to go thro all the hassle
@onesecondregrets: i had a friend who told me the exact thing… find happiness through the little things in life…. ive been trying that since yest nto be honest it did work… i was exhilirated.. but by evening today… am bak to point zero…

to have a purposeful life

you can always tell the new guys

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be. ~Grandma Moses

You choose to repeat
As you know life is how you want it to be.
It’s not my fault that you choose a boring office jobs that pays well instead of choosing something more exciting with less money
And is no ones fault that your relationships are based on falsity(understanding in every situation is something false).True friends and family aren’t there to support you or something like this,they are in your life to help you make the right decision for way(that’s way true friends fight,hurt themselves etc sometimes and they always forgive themselves and start again)
And it’s no ones fault that you don’t try new things

It sounds like your education was lacking in the arts. The arts teach us how to appreciate beauty and truth and how to celebrate that. Take some classes. The world is far more intriguing than you understand. Investigate it. And leave it better than you found it.

Love this one…pretty much sums it up!

Eating, loving, singing and digesting are, in truth, the four acts of the comic opera known as life, and they pass like bubbles of a bottle of champagne. Whoever lets them break without having enjoyed them is a complete fool. ~Gioacchino Rossini

When you start to recognize moments of happiness and pause to really appreciate them you will have more desire for life. I think most people find this as they get older. When I was young I kind of felt like you, but as I got older I began to appreciate smaller things.

I also became more particular with relationships, and truly am surrounded by people who make me happy. When my husband comes home at night calling my name, kisses me hello, and tells me whatever he wants to share with me I am still thrilled after 17 years of marriage to see him, in fact I love it more than I did our beginning years of marriage when I took things more for granted.

Lastly, things that have to do with the senses, great music, the arts, natural beauty, comfortable bed at night, all have become more appreciated. My parents used to take me travelling and I could care less about the snow capped mountains or beautiful ocean. Now, I have developed an awe of these things. Brings me peace and tranquility.

@lucillelucillelucille I would agree with you there and only add to be loved as well. Nothing feels better than to know you are loved and that is what I call living! ;)

@anhidonic22 : Of course we can wonder about everything. His details sounded like they were coming from a depressed person, in my opinion.

And you said that you had a good day yesterday by trying some new approaches; however, ”.. but by evening today… am bak to point zero…” That does not sound very incouraging for you, either.

Edt: I just did some research on Anhedonia; the medical consensus is that it a major contributor to depression and difficult to correct.

@anhidonic22 That’s why, as gailcalled said you may be clinically depressed. I find those things in my day when I can but end up the same as you do at the end of the day, when I’m alone, etc…and though I’ve not seen a doctor I know I’ve been depressed for almost two years now. If it’s possible I really suggest get help, antidepressants, therapy, etc but once you start “wondering” about the purpose, I don’t think you ever retreat. I’m sorry.

@mrgenevan: its not about not liking my life, its about ultimate self-satisfaction.
@lucillelucillelucille: i LOVE others more than u can imagine… i became a doctor for others!!
@phoebusg: aaaah… am starting to realize that am in need for some soul-searching….
@Christian95: by repeating i dnt mean the actual routine of life… i mean the basic biological idea of life… its not about boredom infact my job is quite intriguing.. its no1s fault this is a discussion am not blaming anything on anyone
@stump: art is the only thing i cannot withstand lol!
@BoBo1946 : will get there…. hopefully…. jus need to figure out how….

The purpose of life is to not waste it. Do everything. See everything. Experience all that you can. Don’t let years slip by doing just what you are supposed to do.

I think that being a part of a web of people you care about is very important. Life is made important when you matter to people, the more, the better. People come to depend on you and you on them, and you end up basking in this hammock network under the tropical sun. It’s warm and satisfying like a cat lying in the sun.

News flash! Are you a doctor?

No matter. You should be connected. You have a loving family. You serve many people. You hold a job that is important to most communities (unless you work for a large practice and are just a wage slave, like most of us).

And yet, you are not connected. Not in that satisfying way through which you know you matter. Part of it is love—you do not mention a partner. Part of it—I don’t know how to say. It’s just this feeling like there are strings from your heart to everyone else’s heart. It’s not restricting. It’s actually freeing. It helps you know who you are.

But maybe…. have you ever lived in other countries? Perhaps doing something like going to Haiti would help. You sound blocked in your connections somehow, and it seems like a spiritual thing (well, that’s what spirituality is: feeling connections). You hold yourself back? There’s this psychic distance. I don’t know. I’m making this up. But it’s as if you are an observer, not really one who participates.

You’re not going to find any meaning until you lose this distance between you and others.

I actually have to agree with @anhidonic22 and I am asking the very same question many times. How weird it may sound to some of you, I actually believe there is no purpose. With that said it doesn’t stop me from trying to lead my life as good as possible. I am a part of evolution, just a stupid mammal that do my thing and when I go, I go. But I enjoy being here. Does this make any sense?

@wundayatta: love it love it love it love it loving how u structured ur wordings…..

‘Part of it is love—you do not mention a partner. Part of it—I don’t know how to say. It’s just this feeling like there are strings from your heart to everyone else’s heart. It’s not restricting. It’s actually freeing. It helps you know who you are.’

i do have a bf, long distance tho,,,,, hes faaar faaar away in a different continent…n i love him very very much… my friends too… too far away…. n eversinc i moved in here i cant seeem to get over being so far away from them n am incapable of making new friendships…. about spirtuality…. sometimes i think its part of my faith… like am lacking a connection with god….

@jazzjeppe: where were u my friend…. same train of thoughts… welcome to my world…

@anhidonic22 I’ve been here all the time and I will be here as long as I am needed. Drop me a PM if you wish.

the purpose is to find meaning for yourself and to develop it and to help others.

Anhedonia; part of a much longer article (one of dozens);

“Anhedonia: Loss of the capacity to experience pleasure. The inability to gain pleasure from normally pleasurable experiences. Anhedonia is a core clinical feature of depression, schizophrenia, and some other mental illnesses.

An anhedonic mother finds no joy from playing with her baby. An anhedonic football fan is not excited when his team wins. An anhedonic teenager feels no pleasure from passing the driving test.

“Anhedonia” is derived from the Greek “a-” (without) “hedone” (pleasure, delight).”

@anhidonic22 you will….everyone has been down that road more than once!

@anhidonic22 Personally, I can’t make myself feel a connection with any kind of “higher power,” but if you can, many people do report that God helps them feel connected even when they are far away. Maybe this can help—remember that you really are connected even though you are far away. People do keep you in their hearts. Maybe you can picture that, and it could warm you—depends on your imagination, I guess. That piece of software doesn’t run on my operating system, I’m afraid.

I don’t know why you are far away, but on another question this morning (I don’t remember where, but you can read it on my blog), I wrote that I felt people make the most sense in their home context. That’s because you know what to do, and you have a set of relationships that help you do that.

I divided people up into citizens and ambassadors. Ambassadors have to be prepared to be lonely because they are out of their context. Citizens are cradled in the proper context.

An ambassador’s life is hard, and it essentially requires that you reach out to the local people. It requires that you explain your culture to the locals. This is just as true with a person from Connecticut moving to Texas as it is a person from the US moving to Somalia.

You have left your context behind, and have to make new sense of your current context. If you can’t do that, you will be left irrelevant; without meaning. Even if you do stuff to help people, you are at a distance that keeps you from that which you want.

I’m sorry, but you have to reach out to people and you have to make friends. Have people to dinner with you or go to their houses. Hang out with people. Don’t worry about making a fool of yourself. Just do it. Be who you are, only in this new place, and see how it shakes out. You are an ambassador, so you are the representative of your people. Use that as a tool to facilitate. Hell, hold a talk about what it is like at home, and let people eat your food. I don’t know.

One last thought. Are you drinking? Alone? Or doing something else repetitive in order to kill the pain? Beware if you are. That keeps you alone and disconnected. It’s counterproductive.

You’re sure as hell not going to find it here. Only you can decide what the purpose of your life is – a good first step would be to turn off the computer, and stop wasting your time asking pointless questions like “what is the purpose of life?”

I never think about a purpose, I just think about enjoying life.

to get a lurve on this question!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

loll…just kidding, we must always keep life in perspective. After all, go to down to the cancer center and visit people with real problems. Watch the pain and suffering that the people of Haiti are going through. The malnounished people in Bangladesh. The oppressed in Iran.

The “small stuff,” don’t sweat it…

After giving this thought, thank your “lucky stars” that you have been so blessed and enjoy everyday that you are allowed to wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why not try something different, wire me all your cash an then get a job in Ronnie D’s, marry the girl on the other checkout, have 3–4 kids and live life on the breadline.

Everyday is different andloads of fun!....

The purpose of life is to learn to spell.

@susanc yeah, now that is real important in the scheme of things!

@syzygy2600 personally, thought it was an excellent question!!!!!!!!!!!!

The purpose of life is to make this journey easier and more enjoyable to those around you.
To love and be loved.

To find something worth living for. For me, the reason why I get up every morning and continue to laugh, cry, and live life is Jesus. He is the only one that can give you true fulfillment. I hope and pray that one day you may fully understand how much He loves you and cares for you. If you have any questions, just let me know. Otherwise, I’ll be praying for you : ).

Personally, I’m an anhedonic gambler.
I’d thought about becoming an anhedonic murderer, but just couldn’t see the point.
Might try anhedonic suicide bombing next week….....

@TehRoflMobile – couldn’t agree more.

Live – Learn – Love

@anhidonic22 – Joking aside, was wondering if you have anyone with which to share your success on an emotional/affectionate level?

Also how are you defining success?

I find myself waking up every morning and thinking exactly the same thing, but myself and my family live on the breadline, if my job goes (which is in engineering, and on its arse in the uk), our house will most probably go with it. But that doesn’t worry me one bit because, as long as I have family that loves me, I know I’ll always have a roof over my head.

So it maybe that your deluding yourself about success?

Maybe you should look at the other successes you’ve already achieved and concentrate on those. For instance, it would appear that your very successful in friendship and love, and that this love and friendship is recipricated. Why not let the work successes take a back seat. I know that I always complain about not having enough money, but its not money that I want, Its time with my family, the paradox is, that I have to work to have time with my family. Its annoying sometimes how this fictional game of manopoly that we participate in takes control of our lives and blinds us on a daily basis from the true purpose of life which for me is to live, learn and love.

If there is an afterlife, then the only reason to be hear is for the experience.

Maybe individuality is the gift of life, a soul trapped inside a body with individual thoughts and feelings. Maybe on the other side of life there is no individual thought, no privacy of the mind, a Borg-like collective conciousness, a soup of raging emotions that only a short stint on this plane of existance can give you the tools to navigate.

Or maybe I’ve just lost my mind….........

In any case, I hope you find your answer.

Peace out, an I’ll see you on the dark side ;-)

Anhedonia, that sums me up.

@stranger_in_a_strange_land: If I have read your earlier answers correctly, your depression is causal and situational and completely understandable.

If the purpose of human life has nothing to do with instinctive maintenance, then I don’t get it either. It all seems so pointless at times, and even in my better moments I ask myself what’s the point of bothering.
If happiness really is that ten minutes every morning of smoking a cig and drinking strong coffee, then it’s all just sad. Of course that may just be me. I really don’t know.
Fuck, kill and die, metaphorically, and then not so much, I suppose.

@Symbeline I know just what you mean. Cigs, espresso and scotch. It all seems so pointless. Time for another valium. ((hugs))

@gailcalled : yup, thats the definition! its why i picked it :)
@wundayatta : luvin ur blog so far jus need more tiiiiime to read it all :) i feel like u understaaaand me! am home-sick all the time n i do think its time to open up to the new ppl… n btw… i do not drink, smoke have sex or gamble….
@Pazza: i like the “wiring u my cash part” lol! unfortunately i need to be responsible i cnt jus go completely crazy lol…. live learn and love….
@kittymr92: yup…. next step is to work on my faith…
@Symbeline: here i thought that am the only one wondering…..

Life is a promise. Fulfill it! —Mother Theresa