I believe in purpose partly because of the layered messes people mistake for living, that you mention. I agree that waiting for a purpose, especially one really specific, is folly. It takes active thinking and doing, and I believe our instinct tells up when we are on the right track even if the purpose is unclear.
Good points, which help us relax about our lives. There are so many in the "self help" world which have definitely been profit prophets! Cheers to those who just Be...
Beautifully articulated. I’ve left behind a life of ‘busyness’ and am now living the slow and simple; essentially learning to live completely in the present and gracefully flow with life. Each day is a gift and when we have space to fully receive what life wants from us, we open ourselves to the beauty and the wonder of it all.
I think the problem with the idea of purpose is that capitalism has turned it into how we earn money. The purpose of any living creature is to fully be and express itself, but our society doesn't think that is enough, everything is valued by its dollar value, including us.
The question "what do I want to explore more deeply at this point in my life is a beautiful one that really works for my ADHD brain. I can't even be the same person for my whole life, never mind think of some one thing I might want to make my life purpose. But I can deeply enjoy the things I am interested in, while I am interested in them, and then move onto the next, maybe one day without worrying about seeing or feeling flakey and inconsistent. Or maybe I accept that I AM flakey and inconsistent and THATS OK!
I literally just published a piece about "what the heck are we doing here? / why live, dear one?" and then came across this piece of yours, Donna. This is the hardest thing for me right now, and it seems like it always has been and maybe always will be. The mind cannot answer this question. Dropping into the body and soul is helpful, but even then, the mystery is so grand, so unfathomable, that my little tiny being-ness certainly seems to be completely irrelevant and unnecessary in the scheme of things. But alas, I continue to choose to live simply because I have found myself here already doing it, so might as well keep playing the game.
Life doesn't always need to have a purpose. It's too short. Sometimes just enjoying the ride is enough of a purpose. There doesn't always need to be a deep meaning.
correct . . . simply wander thru life aimlessly as a moderate hedonist . . . strive only for adequacy and sufficiency and beyond that fill your life with moral pleasures
Love this, Donna! "Self-help gone bad" (or mad ;) I think that pivot from purpose to meaning is pretty smart, especially the part about "changing the world." I wish we could get away from the idea that our lives don't entirely belong to us, that unless we are doing something "selfless" we are, in turn, worthless. The daily, small acts of wishing people a good morning, smiling, being polite - please and thanks - or lending a helping hand are rare enough that if we could imagine everyone doing these little things, the world would instantly be 100% better.
Donna, I will be honest. As I read the first paragraph I have felt strong pull to write the comment that I do not agree about the "purpose" part. But then you wrote about the "meaning" I can tell you that I couldn't agree more. Great post and I have wrote my take on "meaning" myself. Selecting some good images for it and I am about to drop it soon. Keep up the good work.
I really enjoyed this. I subscribed to what I once heard which is… Life has no meaning, but we have meaning and we bring that to life. Said another way, we’re not here to discover our purpose, we’re here to define our purpose, if we want to. I feel my life has had many purposes, and tomorrow my purpose will be to go to the park and sit in the sun and feed the squirrels some almonds.
I fully agree with you on this, Donna. I spent so many of my early 20s essentially flailing and doing nothing because I didn't feel anything was "meaningful" enough. I sat on the sidelines telling myself, "once I find something meaningful, I'll jump into the arena"... and the day never came, because my conception of "meaning" and "purpose" was too perfect.
Now, I do exactly what you've described - find the meaning in the actions of the day, knowing that the days will accumulate, as will the meaning behind each of them.
I love this article a lot. I touched a nerve for me. I'm one of those (many) peeps that hasn't found her purpose yet in life - and I give this way to much importance. If I compared my old self with the Marie of today, I can honestly say I'm living a way more purposeful life. I have found purpose in writing and in connecting with like minded people. In being present, breathing.
Thank you Donna, I'll definitely subscribe and look forward to read more of your work!
Thanks. I needed this today, and it's something I have been thinking about.
Thanks. I needed this today.
Everything is a gift, a fitting response might be gratitude
I believe in purpose partly because of the layered messes people mistake for living, that you mention. I agree that waiting for a purpose, especially one really specific, is folly. It takes active thinking and doing, and I believe our instinct tells up when we are on the right track even if the purpose is unclear.
Good points, which help us relax about our lives. There are so many in the "self help" world which have definitely been profit prophets! Cheers to those who just Be...
Beautifully articulated. I’ve left behind a life of ‘busyness’ and am now living the slow and simple; essentially learning to live completely in the present and gracefully flow with life. Each day is a gift and when we have space to fully receive what life wants from us, we open ourselves to the beauty and the wonder of it all.
I think the problem with the idea of purpose is that capitalism has turned it into how we earn money. The purpose of any living creature is to fully be and express itself, but our society doesn't think that is enough, everything is valued by its dollar value, including us.
The question "what do I want to explore more deeply at this point in my life is a beautiful one that really works for my ADHD brain. I can't even be the same person for my whole life, never mind think of some one thing I might want to make my life purpose. But I can deeply enjoy the things I am interested in, while I am interested in them, and then move onto the next, maybe one day without worrying about seeing or feeling flakey and inconsistent. Or maybe I accept that I AM flakey and inconsistent and THATS OK!
I literally just published a piece about "what the heck are we doing here? / why live, dear one?" and then came across this piece of yours, Donna. This is the hardest thing for me right now, and it seems like it always has been and maybe always will be. The mind cannot answer this question. Dropping into the body and soul is helpful, but even then, the mystery is so grand, so unfathomable, that my little tiny being-ness certainly seems to be completely irrelevant and unnecessary in the scheme of things. But alas, I continue to choose to live simply because I have found myself here already doing it, so might as well keep playing the game.
Life doesn't always need to have a purpose. It's too short. Sometimes just enjoying the ride is enough of a purpose. There doesn't always need to be a deep meaning.
..not to mention what is said and heard over and over again: ".... to make a difference ..."
correct . . . simply wander thru life aimlessly as a moderate hedonist . . . strive only for adequacy and sufficiency and beyond that fill your life with moral pleasures
Love this, Donna! "Self-help gone bad" (or mad ;) I think that pivot from purpose to meaning is pretty smart, especially the part about "changing the world." I wish we could get away from the idea that our lives don't entirely belong to us, that unless we are doing something "selfless" we are, in turn, worthless. The daily, small acts of wishing people a good morning, smiling, being polite - please and thanks - or lending a helping hand are rare enough that if we could imagine everyone doing these little things, the world would instantly be 100% better.
Donna, I will be honest. As I read the first paragraph I have felt strong pull to write the comment that I do not agree about the "purpose" part. But then you wrote about the "meaning" I can tell you that I couldn't agree more. Great post and I have wrote my take on "meaning" myself. Selecting some good images for it and I am about to drop it soon. Keep up the good work.
I really enjoyed this. I subscribed to what I once heard which is… Life has no meaning, but we have meaning and we bring that to life. Said another way, we’re not here to discover our purpose, we’re here to define our purpose, if we want to. I feel my life has had many purposes, and tomorrow my purpose will be to go to the park and sit in the sun and feed the squirrels some almonds.
I fully agree with you on this, Donna. I spent so many of my early 20s essentially flailing and doing nothing because I didn't feel anything was "meaningful" enough. I sat on the sidelines telling myself, "once I find something meaningful, I'll jump into the arena"... and the day never came, because my conception of "meaning" and "purpose" was too perfect.
Now, I do exactly what you've described - find the meaning in the actions of the day, knowing that the days will accumulate, as will the meaning behind each of them.
I love this article a lot. I touched a nerve for me. I'm one of those (many) peeps that hasn't found her purpose yet in life - and I give this way to much importance. If I compared my old self with the Marie of today, I can honestly say I'm living a way more purposeful life. I have found purpose in writing and in connecting with like minded people. In being present, breathing.
Thank you Donna, I'll definitely subscribe and look forward to read more of your work!