What gives you a sense of purpose? How do you cope with life being so boring? I find joy in things. But I’m also aware of the meaninglessness.
What gives you a sense of purpose? How do you cope with life being so boring? I find joy in things. But I’m also aware of the meaninglessness.
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My purposes include being there for people I love and earning money to make sure we are financially secure. My husband just retired and I’m not far behind. Growing up, my parents were not financially secure until they were older.
I‘m never bored. There is always something interesting to do, new people to meet, places to go, books to read, experiences to try.
If you are missing a sense of meaning, why not volunteer?
What things do you do that make you happy?
Is there anything you really want to try that you haven’t got to try yet?
It’s a feeling I remember experiencing, but I can’t entirely relate to anymore. A lot has changed, some of it definitely comes from being part of a community, which for me is usually centered around my faith. But I think it’s really about learning to find avenues where I can exercise agency.
I remember reading a definition of depression years ago that described it as the struggle to make sense of the world and one’s place in it. Much of the meaninglessness and nihilism people feel comes from the sense that their actions and efforts are barely connected to the events around them. Losing a sense of agency, a sense of “mattering” in the world, is one of the strongest indicators of depression.
Our media, especially with its focus on national and international cultural and political issues, is one source of lacking agenct. It mostly moves in one direction; it turns you in a passive consumer. Getting involved in your local community or other high-agency environments is probably the best advice I can give.
I think I’ve always found my purpose in others counting on me. Not only do I feel really fulfilled by helping others and those I love, but I also just get so much out of those relationships. From my parents and siblings to friends and volunteering with those I don’t know yet to now my husband and daughter-I find my purpose in being purposeful in their lives.
My job is hard, but I genuinely enjoy and take pride in my work.
I like earning my own money, being financially independent and being able to provide for my family. It helps that I have a very supportive and hard-working partner.
I am a creative and curious person, and my various interests keep me motivated and inspired to seek things out.
Do you have good people in your life? That helps enormously. Do you have anything you’re looking forward to? Like a vacation or even a new book you’re eager to start. Are you in any clubs or participate in hobbies?
Being active in my own life and maintaining relationships with others gives me purpose, with my most important relationship being with my husband. We are largely each other’s sense of purpose.
My life is quiet, but not boring. Teaching gives me a sense of purpose. I generally enjoy my job as a paramedic. I have many hobbies and interests. I have educational and career plans for the future that I’m working towards, and I’m planning a big vacation this year.
Where I am right now I’m of the mind that life/people don’t need a purpose we need to be happy a fulfilled. To me having a purpose is very connected to the Protestant Ethic and I am very much trying to deprogram myself from that.
I don’t need purpose to give my life meaning. I’m just out here doing what we are meant to do, just live and enjoy it as much as you can.
I dance, with other people, usually at least 6 hours a week. Seems to have more or less cured my lifelong sense of emptiness.