What is the purpose of your life?

LadyMacBeth_

I don't mean what is the meaning of life, because I don't know if there is one. I mean what do you feel is most important to achieve or to feel or do in this life?

For me, life is about love and hedonism, the pursuit of pleasure, and trying to minimise any negative actions towards other people. Be good to others when I can, mainly I just try not to be a d1ck though. Learning is important to me too, learning about whatever interests me.

I used to be very ambitious and concerned about my career but due to health problems I have adopted a more relaxed attitude. Now, when I see people killing themselves at work I can't really see the point or the purpose, maybe if you're a doctor or a surgeon, but if you have a general office job I don't see the need to take it so seriously. Others will disagree of course and take pleasure in their work and in doing a good job.

So, AHers, what gets you out of bed in the morning? What makes life worthwhile?

myshirt

What's the question caller?

Allinall

Don't know about anyone else, but for me it's 100% to find a winner at Royal Ascot.

Nothing else matters.

Nabber

Purpose of life is to die. It's your only guarantee

RobertKK

To enjoy it with the least stress possible.

Jim Bob Scratcher

Alcohol

I think most human beings try to live like filter-feeders, such as mussels; we absorb the world around us: good experiences, bad experiences; acquire facts, develop skills and disregard destructive impulses, and hopefully, at the end of our lives, leave the environment in an improved, pure, more desirable state than it was when we started.

Despite all the destruction that we commit as a species, I think this is the main objective of human beings, whether conscious or not.

I wouldn't say happiness is the main purpose of most people's lives, happiness is just the state of mind that gives you the fuel, the capacity, to do your life's work, to be that filter-feeder, and leave the world better than how you found it.

tupenny

Gonna sound pathetic I know but for me the only point of it all is my daughter..
Only reason I work is for to provide her with life's essentials and happy memories.
I def don't take work too seriously ("work to live" and all that) and i suppose just be a good person overall!

greencap

Some kind of growth maybe.

Cycle of births and deaths. One day I'll get out of the game, stop taking on bodies, and stay in the spirit realm.

Xaracatz

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I think most human beings try to live like filter-feeders, such as mussels; we absorb the world around us: good experiences, bad experiences; acquire facts, develop skills and disregard destructive impulses, and hopefully, at the end of our lives, leave the environment in an improved, pure, more desirable state than it was when we started.

Despite all the destruction that we commit as a species, I think this is the main objective of human beings, whether conscious or not.

I wouldn't say happiness is the main purpose of most people's lives, happiness is just the state of mind that gives you the fuel, the capacity, to do your life's work, to be that filter-feeder, and leave the world better than how you found it.

I like that a lot.

And happiness is a happy by product.

I would say that giving a smile to somebody on the street can help with their good experiences, and yours too. More fuel to want to, and enjoy working to, filter-feed.

The Backwards Man

It's all about the three ETs

Enough Tennent's

Enough turf

Enough time to enjoy both

Stheno

Allinall wrote: »

Don't know about anyone else, but for me it's 100% to find a winner at Royal Ascot.

Nothing else matters.

I had two today, taj marakesh and sioux nation

And three that placed

Mech1

Lady is a tramp

To be my most authentic self.

I'm well on my way there, I've the most amazing psychotherapist in the world, and the more we work together, the more the world becomes full of colour rather than shades of black and white and grey.

It's exciting and terrifying, to wake up to the real world just as amazing as it is. But definitely more exciting than terrifying.

I'm constantly astounded at how many people go through their lives so unaware of and oblivious to reality. I know it all too well; I was one of them for far too long! I was functional; high-flying career, relationship, baby, all of the rest. But I was so far removed from the person I actually am ... or rather, the person I've potential to be. I was like this effigy of other peoples' expectations of who I should/could be, with so little of ME in there. Not any more.

I'm much better as the real me, and the best ME that I can be.

Well I love my job so I dont feel I live to work or work to just live. I'd like to leave the world a little better for people powerless to help themselves, and if I do that I'll be happy with myself.

Junkyard Tom

To cocoon myself in duct tape, of course.

Oink

Asked my mum who told me to go ask my wife who told me gowayouttathat and take out the bins.

I didn't take out the bins.

TomSweeney

To wake up tomorrow morning ...

Johngoose

To surround myself with good people and avoid the dickheads out there.Im also getting good at ignoring bitchy comments from people who I have no respect for to begin with.For me it's family and friends. I don't have time for negative people who are negative influences any more, they are like black clouds.

Mister Vain

I think the real purpose of anyone’s life is to be fully involved in living. Try to be present for the journey and fully embrace it. So many of us walk through life, feeling numb and desperate for a deeper connection, but aren’t sure how to get it. Maybe the problem isn’t that you don’t know what your purpose is; the problem is the way you are trying to find your purpose.

jobbridge4life

To be good, and to be loved.

If I can honestly say that I achieved those on my death bed then I shall be content.

BorneTobyWilde

TO find the one person who made it all worth while.

feargale

The purpose of life is to have a big crowd at your funeral.

Archeron

To post in this exact thread.



Aaaaaahhhhh

Agricola

feargale wrote: »

The purpose of life is to have a big crowd at your funeral.

Yep, that and hoarding a good few quid throughout your life to leave to relatives. Especially true of batchelors/spinsters. You might have been a horrid hoor all your life, but leave a lump sum to a nephew somewhere and you've instantly achieved legendary status and the promise of manys the anniversary mass said for you!

lukesmom

To raise my children to the best of my ability.
To make sure other children are being brought up without abuse and neglect. To also intervene when they aren't. To help families struggling.

LadyMacBeth_

Agricola wrote: »

Yep, that and hoarding a good few quid throughout your life to leave to relatives. Especially true of batchelors/spinsters. You might have been a horrid hoor all your life, but leave a lump sum to a nephew somewhere and you've instantly achieved legendary status and the promise of manys the anniversary mass said for you!

Being forgotten when I die is one of my biggest fears, not actually the dying part. Better start hoarding my money away now so people will remember me :P

Oink

Sometimes I remember that we're just a bunch of atoms floating in space and that with enough perspective, none of this is worth a rat's fart. "Oh some random collection of atoms just went kaboom in that tiny, tiny, tiiiiny galaxy in that corner. Was that a planet? A star? Who knows. Ah well."

On better days I genuinely think it must all be about love somehow. Not just romantic love, just a love of all things, which explains everything.

Then I remember things like Syria and what the fck do I know.

All I have is Mrs Oink, Oink Junior, and Oink Junior Jr.

Donald Trump

The Donald has two purposes in life

1) Banging fine beatches
2) Pressing that big nuke button to destroy the planet so that I can take you all with me when the heart attack kicks in and I'm just about to die. Just for the craic

LadyMacBeth_

Donald Trump wrote: »

The Donald has two purposes in life

1) Banging fine beatches
2) Pressing that big nuke button to destroy the planet so that I can take you all with me when the heart attack kicks in and I'm just about to die. Just for the craic

Isn't your main purpose to build a wall? :P

Donald Trump

LadyMacBeth_ wrote: »

Isn't your main purpose to build a wall? :P

Ah I'm just being eccentric and going mental to keep you on your feet. My latest scheme is to build it from Solar panels to make it cheaper for Mexico to pay for it.

(Don't tell anyone but I get a lot of my ideas from watching reruns of Pinky and the Brain)

Canis Lupus

I want to constantly improve in the computer games I play. Nothing makes me happier than to see the lamentations of kids half my age when I crush them.

Git gud scrub.

Flibble

According to an astrologer I'm here to learn how to maintain boundaries and my own identity in relationships with people.

Doing pretty well with that so far, I think my life is all about living from the heart. Take care of myself first, then family, then others. When empathy is so strong it becomes a toxic thing, it's easy to forget the order of that. So I'm learning to control it so I can still help the people around me without sacrificing my own needs.

It's so difficult!!!

Canis Lupus

Flibble wrote: »

According to an astrologer I'm here to learn how to maintain boundaries and my own identity in relationships with people.

Doing pretty well with that so far, I think my life is all about living from the heart. Take care of myself first, then family, then others. When empathy is so strong it becomes a toxic thing, it's easy to forget the order of that. So I'm learning to control it so I can still help the people around me without sacrificing my own needs.

It's so difficult!!!

What's your astrologer charging? I'll tell you meaningless bullsh*t for half whatever they're charging!

Flibble

Canis Lupus wrote: »

What's your astrologer charging? I'll tell you meaningless bullsh*t for half whatever they're charging!

Regardless of if you dislike astrology, twas true for me & I'd already identified it as a theme in my life, so :P

pangbang

The purpose of life is to attain immortality.

Seeing as we haven't found the elixir of life yet, immortality is achieved through children. Tied to that is gaining the resources necessary to provide your children with the means to successfully reproduce and carry on your genetic immortality.

Everything is geared toward it, from the reward of a thrilling orgasm to the satisfaction of a better job/house/partner etc. Going against the grain means elimination.

Pretty dry reality, but it is what it is

Watching Emmerdale at 2pm during a weekday is a sign that somethings fundamentally fupped. Suppose nature never went away, we've just gotten very good at ignoring it.

RobbingBandit

Donald Trump wrote: »

The Donald has two purposes in life

1) Banging fine beatches
2) Pressing that big nuke button to destroy the planet so that I can take you all with me when the heart attack kicks in and I'm just about to die. Just for the craic

Keeping your hair on must be a priority.

my purpose is self loathing, and before I die I'd like to commit genocide.

Canis Lupus

Flibble wrote: »

Regardless of if you dislike astrology, twas true for me & I'd already identified it as a theme in my life, so :P

Astrologer tells people what they want to hear shocker

Mutant z

To enjoy it as much as possible while you can.

Jobs OXO

Pummelling and atin' vag

Canis Lupus

RobbingBandit wrote: »

my purpose is self loathing, and before I die I'd like to commit genocide.

Now that's a goal to aspire to. Do you have any thoughts on what country, race or religion you want to try and exterminate and how will go about the process?

RobbingBandit

I'm not racist I'm xenophobic I hate everyone and everything. Might start with earthworms creepy wigglers, as to how I'm gonna do the dew that's classified.

shamrock55

Not to take life too seriously,and to raise my kids the best way I can

Inc0nnu

This post is gonna be super cynical but anyway, the way I see it, the purpose of life for every single creature on earth is survival of themselves and the species. That's it. You're born, you survive long enough to pass on your genetic information and then you die. Why would humans be any different from everything else? The belief that humans aren't subject to the same meaning as every other creature is kind of arrogant imo.

I also think trying to persue happiness is a pointless endevour. I don't think it's possible to totally happy with what you have. The best example for this that I can think of is the fact that we live in the greatest time in human history in terms of wealth and quality of living, and yet so many people are dissatisfied/depressed/anxious. Making happiness the meaning of life is setting yourself up for dissapointment imo. Discontentment is the norm.

A lot of people seem to have this idea that if they accumulate a certain amount of money they'll achieve happiness, or if they get famous, or rise up the career ladder they'll be totally content. But rich/famous people still have problems. Nice problems to have from some people's perspective but they still have a negative effect on their ability to be happy.

I think the truth is, once someone achieves what they initaially want, pretty soon they're only left desiring more. So the solution is to formulate and chase *new* goals, believing that this time they (even though it didn't work the last time) will give them this elusive happiness they seek. It's like heroin or something.


tl;dr - I don't think there is any meaning to life. If you want meaning I think you have to create it yourself. It's kind of liberating in a way. There's no set path so you gotta pave your own. Reminds me of a quote, "The literal meaning of life is whatever your doing that prevents you from killling yourself."

Babooshka

"The greatest thing, you'll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return". Sung by Natt King Cole written by Eden Abahz and believed by me. The peace and comfort of just loving people can't be replaced by anything else. Yes it may sound so awfully syrupy to the cynical. But I know those of you who are reading this who are happy with the people around you and especially those of you with a child can attest to...there's nothing quite like simply living and loving.

zweton

Inc0nnu wrote: »

This post is gonna be super cynical but anyway, the way I see it, the purpose of life for every single creature on earth is survival of themselves and the species. That's it. You're born, you survive long enough to pass on your genetic information and then you die. Why would humans be any different from everything else? The belief that humans aren't subject to the same meaning as every other creature is kind of arrogant imo.

I also think trying to persue happiness is a pointless endevour. I don't think it's possible to totally happy with what you have. The best example for this that I can think of is the fact that we live in the greatest time in human history in terms of wealth and quality of living, and yet so many people are dissatisfied/depressed/anxious. Making happiness the meaning of life is setting yourself up for dissapointment imo. Discontentment is the norm.

A lot of people seem to have this idea that if they accumulate a certain amount of money they'll achieve happiness, or if they get famous, or rise up the career ladder they'll be totally content. But rich/famous people still have problems. Nice problems to have from some people's perspective but they still have a negative effect on their ability to be happy.

I think the truth is, once someone achieves what they initaially want, pretty soon they're only left desiring more. So the solution is to formulate and chase *new* goals, believing that this time they (even though it didn't work the last time) will give them this elusive happiness they seek. It's like heroin or something.


tl;dr - I don't think there is any meaning to life. If you want meaning I think you have to create it yourself. It's kind of liberating in a way. There's no set path so you gotta pave your own. Reminds me of a quote, "The literal meaning of life is whatever your doing that prevents you from killling yourself."

buy this man a pint

ToddyDoody

Biologically, to reproduce.

Christianically, to convert people to Christianity or at least maintain the fleet.

Economically, to make as much money as possible.

Parochially, to do as much for the place as possible.

Personally, to make my parents proud.

Seaniedel

zweton wrote: »

buy this man a pint

Yeah, nailed it !

Zaph

LadyMacBeth_ wrote: »

I don't mean what is the meaning of life, because I don't know if there is one.

What heresy is this? May I direct you to my avatar and suggest that you reconsider.

zimszimer1

I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I don't want children so what's the point if reproduction isn't the purpose. I've decided my sole purpose is to try and enjoy life until I'm done.

I heard something recently that stuck with me. While we're working towards whatever milestone we expect to make us happy, we forget to allow ourselves to be happy right now.

Many of us go through life thinking things will be easier and we'll be happy when we <INSERT CURRENT MILESTONE> finish college/get that job or promotion/get married/buy a house/have children/children are over x age, do up the house, get all the monies etc. While we're constantly setting new milestones, we aren't allowing ourselves to be happy. We really don't know what untold challenges we'll face tomorrow.

So ya, slightly off topic but the sole purpose of life for me is to be the happiest version of myself. If I can help others on the way added bonus. At the very least, I try not to obstruct other ppls happiness by being a sh$t human being. All the rest doesn't matter. I know life won't always be great but I subscribe to the theory that we will never understand highs unless we've experienced the lows which are part of life.

Viktor Frankl’s - 'Man's Search for Meaning' is available for free on PDF online. Fantastic read for anyone that's interested in the topic!

Ulysses Gaze

Agricola wrote: »

Yep, that and hoarding a good few quid throughout your life to leave to relatives. Especially true of batchelors/spinsters. You might have been a horrid hoor all your life, but leave a lump sum to a nephew somewhere and you've instantly achieved legendary status and the promise of manys the anniversary mass said for you!

That's my plan and I'm sticking to it. :pac:

It's either that or crush my enemies, see them driven before me and hear the lamentation of the women.