Finding your path and purpose in life

**Anton** · 10-04-2008, 01:30 AM

1:53 AM and instead of sleeping. Why not write?

Do you know what your purpose is in life?

Be honest. If it can't be kept into one sentence...something sounds fishy.

I've only recently started to ask, and everyone (so far) has either admitted that they don't know, or they sound dishonest in their purpose. Like they're trying to prove something.

This concerns me. In the past I assumed that I was "one of the few" who didn't know their purpose, and was drifting around like a cork in the ocean. Until now.

Lately I've felt a burning desire with regards to my goals, plans, and vision for my future. While in this mode I begin to ask the people that surround me about their paths in life. I think the reason for this is because I'm trying to surround myself with people and circumstances that harmonize with my dominant thoughts.

One of my best friends in university, a very intelligent guy, said he'd get back to me on that after he wrote down what he wanted, why he wanted it and how he was going to get it-> the same advice he gave to me about a month or two ago. That advice spurred me to get to where I am now: writing exactly this. Those words "Write down what you want, why you want it, and what you have to do to get it" - they came to him in a moment. He didn't dredge them out of his memory banks. They came to him during a deep conversation with me "out of thin air", and they sparked with some phenomenal wisdom that was just perfect for our moment.

A couple days later he texted me "I don't have goals in life. I'm just doing what I'm told." THAT didn't sound like him at all. It sounded like he had just made a major breakthrough. I don't think anybody has really encouraged him, or challenged him to think about the questions that I'm asking you right now.

Another guy, who's new at my job. He's in university too, taking I forgot what. We connected, and without me even asking he stated on his own "I don't know what I'm doing. I'm just doing this because I would be good at it." He went on to say that he originally was planning on being in the military his whole life but for some reason it didn't happen. He said he doesn't have any goals, aside from one: get back into shape. I told him that's a great goal, because staying in shape will pay off no matter how far along you are in life. "That's a great goal!" I found myself repeating, emphasizing on a different word in the sentence each time. "That's a -great- goal.... -That's- a great goal..."

My supervisor, my old manager who I used to look up to, and more. People that I've asked that don't have a strong answer to this question. And neither do I. But I plan on finding my purpose in the next 5 years. That's one of my goals ;-P

Oh and before I forget. I've met someone who knows exactly what she wants to do. Maybe it's because it's 2:40am, but I can't recall bumping into anyone else who was as certain about their purpose as she is about hers. She inspired me.

Now what's yours?

**Okie** · 10-04-2008, 02:37 AM

My purpose in life is to make a difference. I really have no idea how or when, but I have always felt that my presence in this world was to make a difference.

I have been working in the public's eye for the last few years of my life trying to make a difference...one person at a time. But it is only now that I have started rethinking my approach. I am still trying to figure out how I can make a much bigger difference in the world because people just aren't my thing.

**Ligda** · 10-04-2008, 03:02 AM

I have an obligation to help the cognitive science academic field in understanding the brain further. I might end up in another area, as I'm just beginning to publish in aeronautics, but my goal is to discover more about the world and push the limits of our collective knowledge.

People need to find what they are passionate about, go for it and not let anyone stop them. Some people never will, always searching for their goal in life or perpetually doing what other people tell them to. It's incredibly hard and frightening to realize that you need to do what you are passionate about if you ever want to be happy.

**abski83** · 10-04-2008, 04:10 AM

My purpose is to love.

**Ijz** · 10-04-2008, 05:15 AM

The way I see it, is that we humans are just a species like any other. That what drives evolution is also our "purpose" in life. Mankind is just a large organism which when successful will grow and flourish. Hence, our "purpose" is to lead a good enjoyful and successful life and one day pass our genes, knowledge, experiences, etc... to our children so they can continue on what we have created for them.

Actually, about a decade ago I knew exactly what I wanted and that was doing programming. I loved it so much that I did it almost night and day. I got good at it which made me enjoy it even more. It was like a visual circle and at that time programming appeared to me as my "purpose". What had really happened was that I had found an activity which matched my persona very well, nothing more...

The thing about "purpose" however seems that some are in search of it and others aren't. Some seem to know exactly what they want, yet they don't have any explicit purpose. The search for purpose seems more like a quest for yourself and finding out what you like and dislike.

**gadjitfreek** · 10-04-2008, 05:37 AM

My biological purpose for life is to pass on my genes to the next generation. EPIC FAIL.

My personal purpose in life is to leave this planet a little better off for my having been here. I share my love of science and the natural world with my chemistry students, many of whom have been inspired to go on and do sciency things. I try to make someone smile every day, I try to make other people's lives just a little nicer for my having been there. Doing little acts of kindness make my day. I don't respond well to praise or returning of these little favors, so I do what I do with no expectation of reciprocation.

I had four main goals in life, things to see:

1) A total solar eclipse. I have the trip to Grand Island, Nebraska planned for August of 2017 for that purpose.

2) A comet. Halley, Hale-Bopp, Hyukatake, Linear and others later, it's well in hand.

3) The aurora borealis. Treated to two awesome displays in recent years.

4) A tornado. Finally scored this April, in Patricia, TX. The results can be seen in my avatar.

**Chucklebug** · 10-04-2008, 05:46 AM

To learn as much about life as I can and to enjoy the process. If I ever get the opportunity to use my knowledge to improve life for others I would be happy to but it won't be my lifes purpose because it could lead to serious disappointment when it doesn't work out the way I expected. Seeking knowlege should take up enough time I should say - what do you think?
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**lisakki** · 10-04-2008, 12:13 PM

To do what I want.

**tp6626** · 10-04-2008, 12:32 PM

To make the world better for having me being on it. If I get to my death bed, and look back upon a life of not doing anything good for the world, I shalln't be pleased, to say the least.

I'm hoping to help solve some of the big problems in the world. My initial focus will be sustainability and energy-efficiency.

I like the idea of disruptive technology. I want to create a few of these. Ideally, a car that doesn't run on oil, and which is cheaper, faster, stronger, safer and cleaner than anything the many automotive giants could create, with their huge investment already in the way we do things now.

A small, innovative company, without the baggage that large OEM's have, would be ideally placed to do this, and would make a mint doing so.

These companies are powerful though, so it will be a struggle.

**Autoptic** · 10-04-2008, 12:42 PM

	Originally Posted by lisakki To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	To do what I want.

Ditto.

"I am I, and I am neither good nor evil. Neither has any meaning for me. The godly is the affair of God, the human that of humanity. My concern is neither the Godly nor the Human, is not the True, the Good, the Right, the Free, etc., but simply my own self, and it is not general, it is individual, as I myself am individual. For me there is nothing above myself." Max Stirner

Human and humanity here being the reifications thus the capitalizations later. The man could write but wouldn't hardly do short, pithy maxims to save his life.

**EternalThought** · 10-04-2008, 06:32 PM

My goal is to learn a lot and understand a lot. and GO TO SPACE!

**Shoeless** · 10-05-2008, 05:12 AM

This is certainly an interesting topic. Since I was once like most people, struggling to discover the purpose of my life, please pardon me if my post seems too lengthy because I would like to share my experiences and hope that it can aid some of you (if not all) in discovering the purpose of your life. After all, there is nothing scarier than living a life derelict of meaning and only realizing it when it's too late.

I didn't start out with clear goals in mind too. When I was younger, I had dreams to make enough money to earn a comfortable living, have a nice house, marry a decent woman, have kids and live happily ever after.

In fact, this very thinking influenced my choice of degree when I majored in Chemical Engineering instead of Psychology; the chemical industry is where big bucks can be made. Truth be told, I was, and am still more interested in Psychology compared to Chemical Engineering. My decision back then was made solely with money in mind.

While I was still studying for my degree, a friend of mine committed suicide. He was a scholar from another country, and my classmate for 2 years. I was also the chairman of the class, but being comfortable with my own group of friends, I never really reached out to him and make him feel comfortable in a foreign country.

I plunged into depression for 2 years after he died. I thought obsessively about what I could have done differently during those 2 years when we were classmates that could have made a difference. And the most ironic thing was that I did a presentation on 'youth suicides' a few months before he became a statistic on what I had presented on. Learning about some tell-tale signs that a person might show when he/she is suicidal, heck I felt that I could have made a difference if I was still his classmate. I felt that I had let down my teacher, who had appointed me as the class chairman to look after the class. And what about his parents? Their son had came here upon winning a prestigious scholarship with bright hopes for the future, now he was going home in a coffin.

Feeling so disappointed in myself and how I had let God down (I'll try to use as less religious references as possible since not everyone shares the same beliefs), I did consider suicide as an option to put an end to what I was going through. The only thing that kept me from doing so was that I saw how the effects of suicide affects the people around him/her; it is like the rippling effect of a stone dropped into water. After I graduated, I applied for a job as an engineer and threw myself into work to keep myself from thinking of the past. What I succeeded in doing was to run away from my problems, and not solving them.

After some time, with the help of reading some books, spending quiet time alone with God and my thoughts (I never stepped into a Church during those 2 dark years), I managed to overcome my depression. I discovered more about myself and God during those 2 years and unknowingly unearthed things which I am passionate about. I learned to be more compassionate and understanding towards others, something which to an INTJ that values perfection and high standards above anything else struggles with. I never understood why people could be so foolish and end their lives, now I saw that everyone has problems to deal with. Without the support of friends and loved ones, some people do lose it.

This experience awakened in me a passion for helping people and improving their quality of lives (though this might also be due to an INTJ's tendency of not wanting to make the same mistake twice). I will be pursuing a degree in Psychology, or human psychology to be specific as it will allow me to better understand what makes people tick, why do they behave the way they do, etc before becoming a social worker.

It wasn't that hard for me to make up my mind that I wanted a career switch. Working for the sake of making money is a scary thought. Having worked as an engineer for 2 years, the thought of spending the rest of my life mindlessly shuffling to work every day, 5 days a week, 20+ days a month and 200+ days a year isn't appealing at all. Some might call it a 'rat race', as Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad Poor Dad) likes to say. Others might say this is life; get an education, work to earn a living, retire and kick the bucket. It's how the system works, it's been going on for hundreds of years and if other people can deal with it, why not you?

Therein lies the difference. I have discovered my purpose in life; to help people. This isn't some knee-jerk reaction following the death of my friend, I am a realistic idealist. While I know that there are limitations to what I can do (for starters, I won't be able to turn this world into an utopia), I will do all I can to make a difference in the lives of others.

Upon discovering my purpose in life, I suddenly felt alive. It was as if I had awakened from a dream, that the past 20 odd years were just a figment of my imagination. It is truly an indescribable feeling that you have to experience yourself in order to comprehend what it's like. Friends that I have spoken to say that when I'm talking about social work, I speak with a fire in my eyes (might be the light playing tricks on them). My life is much simpler now, as I know what truly matters to me and have discarded all other things unworthy of my attention.

My purpose in life may be about doing social work, but that is not to say every one else has to be involved in social work. All of us have different callings or purposes in life. It is up to you to discover what your purpose is. There is no tried and proven way to discover your purpose in life (I can already hear the groans of fellow INTJs); you have to discover it through a trial and error process. Reading books on philosophy certainly helps, so do your experiences in life. One thing is for sure though, your purpose in life will be closely connected to your passions. There is nothing that can drive a person more than his/her passions. Before I end, let me share with you something that helped me shape my thinking;

""So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they are busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." - from the book Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

P.S. All the best to those who have yet to discover their purpose in life!

**Okamimako** · 10-05-2008, 12:05 PM

I want to learn. If I spent the rest of my life learning, I would be happy. Sometimes I would say that I would want to be myself, but, honestly, I don't really want to be myself. Myself is rather weird and doesn't make much sense to me.

So, I want to learn. That's fairly easy at the moment since I'm at college, but I don't know how I would continue pursuing that in the future. I wouldn't have enough money for grad school or anything of the like, and I would have to get a job in some field that wouldn't interest me, because whatever I study at school wouldn't be conducive to getting a job that pays the mortgage.

**Anton** · 10-05-2008, 02:42 PM

	Originally Posted by Shoeless To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	All the best to those who have yet to discover their purpose in life!

I liked your story. Sounds like you went through a lot and came into self-discovery.

Yeah suicide is -_- I'm not even going to finish that sentence. Many of us have felt it or been close.

Yeah and reading books/talking to people can help. When I'm finished "Your Money or Your Life", I plan on picking up "The way of the superior man" to help understand myself a little better. Hopefully it will help me develop a clearer vision of my purpose in life.

**cyan2012** · 10-05-2008, 04:32 PM

I'm not exactly sure, but I've been thinking a lot about it too. Every time I think I know I set off on a course get pretty far and then think it's not right.

So far, I've:

1) been an archaeologist for many years focusing on stone tool analysis and human and faunal remains and thinking my purpose was to unravel the mysteries of human prehistory to locate data that could aid the modern world [my undergrad is in anthro]

2) interned for a couple years with the Coroner's office focusing on crime scene investigation and autopsies involving skeletal and mummified remains thinking my purpose was solving crimes and bringing justice to victims and their families [I was half way through an MA in anthro and dropped out]

3) studied business management [rec'v MBA] focusing on international human resources and accounting, which landed me in an accounting position managing the accounting for three non-profit organizations focused on social and environmental issues because I've realized I'm more into that than moving up the corporate ladder and other materialistic concerns. However, I haven't taken the next step which would mean sitting for the CMA or CPA exam (either here or in Ireland as I hold dual citizenship) and I don't think I will...

4) now I do volunteer work on the side for social and environmental issues and am beginning to think that my purpose has something to do with this area, leadership, and some cultural or international component, but I haven't been able to determine anything specific yet. And after you've tried so many things you get a little worried you could be going off on a wild goose chase.

I try to tell myself that I am growing and developing and that it is normal for goals and interests to change over time. At least I haven't gotten stuck in a rut I guess.

**Released** · 10-05-2008, 07:52 PM

A constant struggle. My purpose in life is to try to enjoy it as much as I can. Uphill battle for sure, but happy right now!!

**Moondyn** · 10-05-2008, 09:23 PM

The purpose of my life, if all goes to plan is to receive a Phd in genetic engineering and another Phd in areas afflicted with nano tech. After that I plan to earn a job with a university, and later on for a government agency concerning development of machines for the extension of human life spans and transhumanism (the combonation of human with machine's).

My purpose is to be a revolutionary scientist who creates a form of immortality hopefully for herself and for others yet to be born.

**Nikita** · 10-05-2008, 10:08 PM

I'm uncertain of my purpose.

Sometimes I think it's to save the world.
Sometimes I think it's to give voice to music.
Sometimes I think it's to question everything.

**Fanowene** · 10-05-2008, 10:49 PM

So far it's been being a good student and spending the rest of my time somewhat purposefully (even if that just means to have fun and recharge). So far I'm a declared Computer Science major (undergrad). Just this past weekend I've been rethinking my major/minor situation. I have been thinking about minoring in Economics for quite some time now, but it just recently occurred to me that I really could be using the full 4 years of financial aid I can get from the government. I got 32 credits just for having the Swiss Matura (I grew up in Switzerland and have dual citizenship), so that saves me a year. That's why my first thought was to finish in three years.
So my new plan looks something like this: Major in Computer Science and Economics and get a minor in Chinese Studies (including studying abroad for a semester). But I'm still trying to figure out if that really will work out credit-wise.

What do I want to do with this? I don't know yet. I'd like a demanding job that also makes me feel like I'm really making a difference. Where I will go in the end, I don't know. I'm just doing my best as I go along.

(I don't know if there's some restrictions on expressing religious views in this forum, so I hope I'm not breaking any rules / offending anybody: I'm a Christian, so I believe that God will guide me throughout my life. I still can make my own decisions, but ultimately I live for Him. I am still figuring out to what extent and in what way that means being an "obvious" Christian in my daily life. The U.S. has a different attitude towards Christians in general than I had to face in Switzerland, so that too has played into having to think about this subject.)

**Chucklebug** · 10-06-2008, 01:40 AM

Originally Posted by Okamimako
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I want to learn. If I spent the rest of my life learning, I would be happy. Sometimes I would say that I would want to be myself, but, honestly, I don't really want to be myself. Myself is rather weird and doesn't make much sense to me.

So, I want to learn. That's fairly easy at the moment since I'm at college, but I don't know how I would continue pursuing that in the future. I wouldn't have enough money for grad school or anything of the like, and I would have to get a job in some field that wouldn't interest me, because whatever I study at school wouldn't be conducive to getting a job that pays the mortgage.

Sometimes I think I'll just be myself too but then I introspectively look at myself and realise I don't really want to be that either. So most of the time I try to concentrate on what I like, rather than what I am, otherwise it can get depressing.

I'm scared about whether I'll be able to afford education expenses too in my quest for knowledge as I would ideally love to get a degree in something like architecture, landscape design or agricultural science when I've finished my sustainable environments degree so that I can apply my thoeretical knowledge of natural science with human designed environments to create a better harmonized system between the two.

Then I get these horrible realistic moments when I tell myself I'm living in fantasies and this will never happen and I'll end up in a boring routine blood-sucking job like everyone else. Who says I'll be able to do what so many people have failed to achieve?

**zibber** · 10-06-2008, 03:16 AM

	Originally Posted by Anton To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I've met someone who knows exactly what she wants to do. Maybe it's because it's 2:40am, but I can't recall bumping into anyone else who was as certain about their purpose as she is about hers. She inspired me.

The people who are the most sure about their "purpose" generally seem to be the most dogmatic about it. I don't think dogmatism is something to put on a pedestal.

	Originally Posted by Anton To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I plan on picking up "The way of the superior man" to help understand myself a little better.

What you will help is your understanding of the traditional conceptual male/female division. If my cautionary post in your thread on dating resonated with you even in the absolute slightest, beware of this book.

**SongofSeptember** · 10-06-2008, 03:33 AM

I'm uncertain, but hey, I'm fifteen. Life is so vast, it's hard to put a purpose into a few words. I think I just want to do what I want to do--not for the sake of doing it or anyone else, but for myself. I'd also like to learn and to simply know.

**bethanygm** · 10-06-2008, 07:07 AM

For the first 22 years of my life, I was utterly convinced that it was my destiny to be a famous singer!!! When I got to the top, I wanted to use my influence to raise awareness about important things (like Angelina Jolie does for our celebrity obsessed culture) - I had cancer when I was 15, so that was a big one on my list.
I really believed in it and worked hard to realize my goal.
I made it to L.A... and then was spiritually and emotionally drained by the ideals that were upheld by the players in the industry.
I just couldn't live my life obsessed with my weight and looks.

One day in L.A. I had this strong feeling that I needed to move to Florida right then and that there was an important reason for me to be there. I was in Florida a week later and living with my mom. I got a job singing at this bar and two weeks later my husband walked in. 3 months later he moved to Hawaii and I came with him.

My purpose in life seems to be taking a strange path. My husband and I are currently having many discussions about our future, because I feel compelled to have a chance to make a difference in the world and school seems to be the way to do that. My options are somewhat limited if we stay with the Navy and want to have kids before I'm 30.

**Autoptic** · 10-06-2008, 07:39 AM

	Originally Posted by zibber To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	The people who are the most sure about their "purpose" generally seem to be the most dogmatic about it. I don't think dogmatism is something to put on a pedestal.

"Therefore over each minute of your existence, a fresh minute of the future beckons to you, and, developing yourself, you get away 'from yourself.'"

"Man, your head is haunted; you have wheels in your head! You imagine great things, and depict to yourself a whole world of gods that has an existence for you, a spirit-realm to which you suppose yourself to be called, an ideal that beckons to you. You have a fixed idea!... What is it, then, that is called a "fixed idea"? An idea that has subjected the man to itself." Stirner, again, who called such higher-than-the-real-person ideals, spooks, and their devotees, the possessed.

**Evalind** · 10-06-2008, 08:48 AM

Why is defining one single long-term purpose for life important? Does anyone else find that concept stifling?

Maybe I'm an extraordinarily weird J, but I'd rather take life a day, a month, five years at a time, and not try to place a label on what my entire life should be about.

10-04-2008, 01:30 AM	#1
Anton Member [05%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 232	1:53 AM and instead of sleeping. Why not write? Do you know what your purpose is in life? Be honest. If it can't be kept into one sentence...something sounds fishy. I've only recently started to ask, and everyone (so far) has either admitted that they don't know, or they sound dishonest in their purpose. Like they're trying to prove something. This concerns me. In the past I assumed that I was "one of the few" who didn't know their purpose, and was drifting around like a cork in the ocean. Until now. Lately I've felt a burning desire with regards to my goals, plans, and vision for my future. While in this mode I begin to ask the people that surround me about their paths in life. I think the reason for this is because I'm trying to surround myself with people and circumstances that harmonize with my dominant thoughts. One of my best friends in university, a very intelligent guy, said he'd get back to me on that after he wrote down what he wanted, why he wanted it and how he was going to get it-> the same advice he gave to me about a month or two ago. That advice spurred me to get to where I am now: writing exactly this. Those words "Write down what you want, why you want it, and what you have to do to get it" - they came to him in a moment. He didn't dredge them out of his memory banks. They came to him during a deep conversation with me "out of thin air", and they sparked with some phenomenal wisdom that was just perfect for our moment. A couple days later he texted me "I don't have goals in life. I'm just doing what I'm told." THAT didn't sound like him at all. It sounded like he had just made a major breakthrough. I don't think anybody has really encouraged him, or challenged him to think about the questions that I'm asking you right now. Another guy, who's new at my job. He's in university too, taking I forgot what. We connected, and without me even asking he stated on his own "I don't know what I'm doing. I'm just doing this because I would be good at it." He went on to say that he originally was planning on being in the military his whole life but for some reason it didn't happen. He said he doesn't have any goals, aside from one: get back into shape. I told him that's a great goal, because staying in shape will pay off no matter how far along you are in life. "That's a great goal!" I found myself repeating, emphasizing on a different word in the sentence each time. "That's a -great- goal.... -That's- a great goal..." My supervisor, my old manager who I used to look up to, and more. People that I've asked that don't have a strong answer to this question. And neither do I. But I plan on finding my purpose in the next 5 years. That's one of my goals ;-P Oh and before I forget. I've met someone who knows exactly what she wants to do. Maybe it's because it's 2:40am, but I can't recall bumping into anyone else who was as certain about their purpose as she is about hers. She inspired me. Now what's yours?
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10-04-2008, 02:37 AM	#2
Okie New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 9	My purpose in life is to make a difference. I really have no idea how or when, but I have always felt that my presence in this world was to make a difference. I have been working in the public's eye for the last few years of my life trying to make a difference...one person at a time. But it is only now that I have started rethinking my approach. I am still trying to figure out how I can make a much bigger difference in the world because people just aren't my thing.
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10-04-2008, 03:02 AM	#3
Ligda Member [06%] MBTI: INtj Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 256	I have an obligation to help the cognitive science academic field in understanding the brain further. I might end up in another area, as I'm just beginning to publish in aeronautics, but my goal is to discover more about the world and push the limits of our collective knowledge. People need to find what they are passionate about, go for it and not let anyone stop them. Some people never will, always searching for their goal in life or perpetually doing what other people tell them to. It's incredibly hard and frightening to realize that you need to do what you are passionate about if you ever want to be happy.
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10-04-2008, 04:10 AM	#4
abski83 Member [04%] MBTI: xNxx Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 172	My purpose is to love.
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10-04-2008, 05:15 AM	#5
Ijz Member [14%] MBTI: ISTP Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 579	The way I see it, is that we humans are just a species like any other. That what drives evolution is also our "purpose" in life. Mankind is just a large organism which when successful will grow and flourish. Hence, our "purpose" is to lead a good enjoyful and successful life and one day pass our genes, knowledge, experiences, etc... to our children so they can continue on what we have created for them. Actually, about a decade ago I knew exactly what I wanted and that was doing programming. I loved it so much that I did it almost night and day. I got good at it which made me enjoy it even more. It was like a visual circle and at that time programming appeared to me as my "purpose". What had really happened was that I had found an activity which matched my persona very well, nothing more... The thing about "purpose" however seems that some are in search of it and others aren't. Some seem to know exactly what they want, yet they don't have any explicit purpose. The search for purpose seems more like a quest for yourself and finding out what you like and dislike.
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10-04-2008, 05:37 AM	#6
gadjitfreek Member [02%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 111	My biological purpose for life is to pass on my genes to the next generation. EPIC FAIL. My personal purpose in life is to leave this planet a little better off for my having been here. I share my love of science and the natural world with my chemistry students, many of whom have been inspired to go on and do sciency things. I try to make someone smile every day, I try to make other people's lives just a little nicer for my having been there. Doing little acts of kindness make my day. I don't respond well to praise or returning of these little favors, so I do what I do with no expectation of reciprocation. I had four main goals in life, things to see: 1) A total solar eclipse. I have the trip to Grand Island, Nebraska planned for August of 2017 for that purpose. 2) A comet. Halley, Hale-Bopp, Hyukatake, Linear and others later, it's well in hand. 3) The aurora borealis. Treated to two awesome displays in recent years. 4) A tornado. Finally scored this April, in Patricia, TX. The results can be seen in my avatar.
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10-04-2008, 05:46 AM	#7
Chucklebug New Member [01%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 58	To learn as much about life as I can and to enjoy the process. If I ever get the opportunity to use my knowledge to improve life for others I would be happy to but it won't be my lifes purpose because it could lead to serious disappointment when it doesn't work out the way I expected. Seeking knowlege should take up enough time I should say - what do you think? To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
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10-04-2008, 12:13 PM	#8
lisakki Member [06%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 245	To do what I want.
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10-04-2008, 12:32 PM	#9
tp6626 Core Member [108%] MBTI: iNTj Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 4,338	To make the world better for having me being on it. If I get to my death bed, and look back upon a life of not doing anything good for the world, I shalln't be pleased, to say the least. I'm hoping to help solve some of the big problems in the world. My initial focus will be sustainability and energy-efficiency. I like the idea of disruptive technology. I want to create a few of these. Ideally, a car that doesn't run on oil, and which is cheaper, faster, stronger, safer and cleaner than anything the many automotive giants could create, with their huge investment already in the way we do things now. A small, innovative company, without the baggage that large OEM's have, would be ideally placed to do this, and would make a mint doing so. These companies are powerful though, so it will be a struggle.
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10-04-2008, 06:32 PM	#11
EternalThought New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 43	My goal is to learn a lot and understand a lot. and GO TO SPACE!
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10-05-2008, 05:12 AM	#12
Shoeless New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 74	This is certainly an interesting topic. Since I was once like most people, struggling to discover the purpose of my life, please pardon me if my post seems too lengthy because I would like to share my experiences and hope that it can aid some of you (if not all) in discovering the purpose of your life. After all, there is nothing scarier than living a life derelict of meaning and only realizing it when it's too late. I didn't start out with clear goals in mind too. When I was younger, I had dreams to make enough money to earn a comfortable living, have a nice house, marry a decent woman, have kids and live happily ever after. In fact, this very thinking influenced my choice of degree when I majored in Chemical Engineering instead of Psychology; the chemical industry is where big bucks can be made. Truth be told, I was, and am still more interested in Psychology compared to Chemical Engineering. My decision back then was made solely with money in mind. While I was still studying for my degree, a friend of mine committed suicide. He was a scholar from another country, and my classmate for 2 years. I was also the chairman of the class, but being comfortable with my own group of friends, I never really reached out to him and make him feel comfortable in a foreign country. I plunged into depression for 2 years after he died. I thought obsessively about what I could have done differently during those 2 years when we were classmates that could have made a difference. And the most ironic thing was that I did a presentation on 'youth suicides' a few months before he became a statistic on what I had presented on. Learning about some tell-tale signs that a person might show when he/she is suicidal, heck I felt that I could have made a difference if I was still his classmate. I felt that I had let down my teacher, who had appointed me as the class chairman to look after the class. And what about his parents? Their son had came here upon winning a prestigious scholarship with bright hopes for the future, now he was going home in a coffin. Feeling so disappointed in myself and how I had let God down (I'll try to use as less religious references as possible since not everyone shares the same beliefs), I did consider suicide as an option to put an end to what I was going through. The only thing that kept me from doing so was that I saw how the effects of suicide affects the people around him/her; it is like the rippling effect of a stone dropped into water. After I graduated, I applied for a job as an engineer and threw myself into work to keep myself from thinking of the past. What I succeeded in doing was to run away from my problems, and not solving them. After some time, with the help of reading some books, spending quiet time alone with God and my thoughts (I never stepped into a Church during those 2 dark years), I managed to overcome my depression. I discovered more about myself and God during those 2 years and unknowingly unearthed things which I am passionate about. I learned to be more compassionate and understanding towards others, something which to an INTJ that values perfection and high standards above anything else struggles with. I never understood why people could be so foolish and end their lives, now I saw that everyone has problems to deal with. Without the support of friends and loved ones, some people do lose it. This experience awakened in me a passion for helping people and improving their quality of lives (though this might also be due to an INTJ's tendency of not wanting to make the same mistake twice). I will be pursuing a degree in Psychology, or human psychology to be specific as it will allow me to better understand what makes people tick, why do they behave the way they do, etc before becoming a social worker. It wasn't that hard for me to make up my mind that I wanted a career switch. Working for the sake of making money is a scary thought. Having worked as an engineer for 2 years, the thought of spending the rest of my life mindlessly shuffling to work every day, 5 days a week, 20+ days a month and 200+ days a year isn't appealing at all. Some might call it a 'rat race', as Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad Poor Dad) likes to say. Others might say this is life; get an education, work to earn a living, retire and kick the bucket. It's how the system works, it's been going on for hundreds of years and if other people can deal with it, why not you? Therein lies the difference. I have discovered my purpose in life; to help people. This isn't some knee-jerk reaction following the death of my friend, I am a realistic idealist. While I know that there are limitations to what I can do (for starters, I won't be able to turn this world into an utopia), I will do all I can to make a difference in the lives of others. Upon discovering my purpose in life, I suddenly felt alive. It was as if I had awakened from a dream, that the past 20 odd years were just a figment of my imagination. It is truly an indescribable feeling that you have to experience yourself in order to comprehend what it's like. Friends that I have spoken to say that when I'm talking about social work, I speak with a fire in my eyes (might be the light playing tricks on them). My life is much simpler now, as I know what truly matters to me and have discarded all other things unworthy of my attention. My purpose in life may be about doing social work, but that is not to say every one else has to be involved in social work. All of us have different callings or purposes in life. It is up to you to discover what your purpose is. There is no tried and proven way to discover your purpose in life (I can already hear the groans of fellow INTJs); you have to discover it through a trial and error process. Reading books on philosophy certainly helps, so do your experiences in life. One thing is for sure though, your purpose in life will be closely connected to your passions. There is nothing that can drive a person more than his/her passions. Before I end, let me share with you something that helped me shape my thinking; ""So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half asleep, even when they are busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." - from the book Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom P.S. All the best to those who have yet to discover their purpose in life!
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10-05-2008, 12:05 PM	#13
Okamimako New Member [01%] MBTI: INTx Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 7	I want to learn. If I spent the rest of my life learning, I would be happy. Sometimes I would say that I would want to be myself, but, honestly, I don't really want to be myself. Myself is rather weird and doesn't make much sense to me. So, I want to learn. That's fairly easy at the moment since I'm at college, but I don't know how I would continue pursuing that in the future. I wouldn't have enough money for grad school or anything of the like, and I would have to get a job in some field that wouldn't interest me, because whatever I study at school wouldn't be conducive to getting a job that pays the mortgage.
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10-05-2008, 04:32 PM	#15
cyan2012 Member [03%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 122	I'm not exactly sure, but I've been thinking a lot about it too. Every time I think I know I set off on a course get pretty far and then think it's not right. So far, I've: 1) been an archaeologist for many years focusing on stone tool analysis and human and faunal remains and thinking my purpose was to unravel the mysteries of human prehistory to locate data that could aid the modern world [my undergrad is in anthro] 2) interned for a couple years with the Coroner's office focusing on crime scene investigation and autopsies involving skeletal and mummified remains thinking my purpose was solving crimes and bringing justice to victims and their families [I was half way through an MA in anthro and dropped out] 3) studied business management [rec'v MBA] focusing on international human resources and accounting, which landed me in an accounting position managing the accounting for three non-profit organizations focused on social and environmental issues because I've realized I'm more into that than moving up the corporate ladder and other materialistic concerns. However, I haven't taken the next step which would mean sitting for the CMA or CPA exam (either here or in Ireland as I hold dual citizenship) and I don't think I will... 4) now I do volunteer work on the side for social and environmental issues and am beginning to think that my purpose has something to do with this area, leadership, and some cultural or international component, but I haven't been able to determine anything specific yet. And after you've tried so many things you get a little worried you could be going off on a wild goose chase. I try to tell myself that I am growing and developing and that it is normal for goals and interests to change over time. At least I haven't gotten stuck in a rut I guess.
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10-05-2008, 07:52 PM	#16
Released Member [04%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 174	A constant struggle. My purpose in life is to try to enjoy it as much as I can. Uphill battle for sure, but happy right now!!
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10-05-2008, 09:23 PM	#17
Moondyn Member [07%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 312	The purpose of my life, if all goes to plan is to receive a Phd in genetic engineering and another Phd in areas afflicted with nano tech. After that I plan to earn a job with a university, and later on for a government agency concerning development of machines for the extension of human life spans and transhumanism (the combonation of human with machine's). My purpose is to be a revolutionary scientist who creates a form of immortality hopefully for herself and for others yet to be born.
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10-05-2008, 10:08 PM	#18
Nikita Core Member [555%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 22,213	I'm uncertain of my purpose. Sometimes I think it's to save the world. Sometimes I think it's to give voice to music. Sometimes I think it's to question everything.
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10-05-2008, 10:49 PM	#19
Fanowene Member [33%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,354	So far it's been being a good student and spending the rest of my time somewhat purposefully (even if that just means to have fun and recharge). So far I'm a declared Computer Science major (undergrad). Just this past weekend I've been rethinking my major/minor situation. I have been thinking about minoring in Economics for quite some time now, but it just recently occurred to me that I really could be using the full 4 years of financial aid I can get from the government. I got 32 credits just for having the Swiss Matura (I grew up in Switzerland and have dual citizenship), so that saves me a year. That's why my first thought was to finish in three years. So my new plan looks something like this: Major in Computer Science and Economics and get a minor in Chinese Studies (including studying abroad for a semester). But I'm still trying to figure out if that really will work out credit-wise. What do I want to do with this? I don't know yet. I'd like a demanding job that also makes me feel like I'm really making a difference. Where I will go in the end, I don't know. I'm just doing my best as I go along. (I don't know if there's some restrictions on expressing religious views in this forum, so I hope I'm not breaking any rules / offending anybody: I'm a Christian, so I believe that God will guide me throughout my life. I still can make my own decisions, but ultimately I live for Him. I am still figuring out to what extent and in what way that means being an "obvious" Christian in my daily life. The U.S. has a different attitude towards Christians in general than I had to face in Switzerland, so that too has played into having to think about this subject.)
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10-06-2008, 03:33 AM	#22
SongofSeptember Member [14%] MBTI: INTP Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 571	I'm uncertain, but hey, I'm fifteen. Life is so vast, it's hard to put a purpose into a few words. I think I just want to do what I want to do--not for the sake of doing it or anyone else, but for myself. I'd also like to learn and to simply know.
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10-06-2008, 07:07 AM	#23
bethanygm Member [02%] MBTI: INTx Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 95	For the first 22 years of my life, I was utterly convinced that it was my destiny to be a famous singer!!! When I got to the top, I wanted to use my influence to raise awareness about important things (like Angelina Jolie does for our celebrity obsessed culture) - I had cancer when I was 15, so that was a big one on my list. I really believed in it and worked hard to realize my goal. I made it to L.A... and then was spiritually and emotionally drained by the ideals that were upheld by the players in the industry. I just couldn't live my life obsessed with my weight and looks. One day in L.A. I had this strong feeling that I needed to move to Florida right then and that there was an important reason for me to be there. I was in Florida a week later and living with my mom. I got a job singing at this bar and two weeks later my husband walked in. 3 months later he moved to Hawaii and I came with him. My purpose in life seems to be taking a strange path. My husband and I are currently having many discussions about our future, because I feel compelled to have a chance to make a difference in the world and school seems to be the way to do that. My options are somewhat limited if we stay with the Navy and want to have kids before I'm 30.
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10-06-2008, 08:48 AM	#25
Evalind Member [05%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 205	Why is defining one single long-term purpose for life important? Does anyone else find that concept stifling? Maybe I'm an extraordinarily weird J, but I'd rather take life a day, a month, five years at a time, and not try to place a label on what my entire life should be about.
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