Do you have a life purpose?

Hi Dan,

I really enjoyed your post. I definitely think there is a huge shift int he world right now of people trying to figure out their life's mission or purpose. Thanks for sharing yours. To me, purpose comes down to how am I going to serve others. What impact do I want to have. As you rework yours, I believe you'll slowly get more focused in both of those questions.

Currently, I have my life mission statement or purpose set as the below. Like you, always looking to make it better and more focused.

"My mission is to enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential through a unique life approach that builds an incredibly strong foundation."

As JulienDora stated above, I think we all know; we are ultimately here to serve others in order to attain (or strive towards attaining) our defining purpose, meaning, and significance in life.

We certainly weigh our circumstances based upon superficial scales that (more often than not) alter our true being. (i.e. creating ignorance after ignorance, prejudice, bias, fear, indifference,insecurity, depression, addiction, mental illness, etc...) *Most of which derives from the 'misconception' of allowing 'outside influences' to determine; who and what we truly are?

In 7th grade (just shy of 30 years ago), I began asking my teachers questions they couldn't answer. The responses were mind-blowing, life-changing, and taught me something early in life; "no human being has the privilege to know the true meaning to our being without adding some form of prejudice, bias, or disregard for the unknown-truth... simply put, nobody really knows 'WHY' we're here!"

Speculate your purpose, if you dare.

Sure, we can certainly embrace the concept of God, or even various beliefs that attempt to solidify our true purpose, and even still, try to find one teaching without flaw, whereby the 'hand or mind' of man hasn't altered it in some way to fit their scope of interpretation and/or self-benefit... and sadly, it doesn't exist.

I say this from a neutral and optimistic perspective, not to insult the whole of humanity, and certainly not the conceptions of what God is.

But, the hard truth is, we do not know our purpose, so the "WHY" as you say is limited by our own interpretation (or beliefs) as to How we got here? - Why are we here? - Who's really in charge over us?

One could easily land in a 4-walled padded room induced with a drip-fed lithium injection ( I've been there...), and still be no closer to the truth, in my opinion. For as Jack Nicholson said in the movie; "A Few Good Men"


Ultimately, I think we all possess a measure of empathy for the world and all those who are or have experienced life here. Sadly, the majority of people cannot define their true purpose, as they lose their way trying to either service (or follow) others in meeting their own necessity of survival, and dependent largely upon their success or failure... will often measure their ability and purpose (and their self-worth impart) based solely on money or material possessions... as opposed to remaining true to their own beliefs.

Thus, we are comprised of collection of influences so vast, so differing, that simply choosing a shampoo has become a freaking challenge... Trust me, my wife stands and stares at 10 items that all do the same damn thing, and has to give pause, for the mere choices we alone face at the most basic level, have all but declared us prisoners to a world 'hellbent' on getting stuffed! (*And I leave that to your own interpretation, for it truly takes on many meanings!)

Due to the amount of influences we subjectively experience by virtue of what others do, say, and think... I sincerely believe; we all hold ourselves back from truly exercising our 'gifts'... as a precaution to the potential response of the governing powers established and upheld by the (chosen?) authorities (*be it government based, academic, religious, or just as societal measure to whom we seek counsel and acceptance.)

Let's just say, I know my purpose and I have INDEED attempted to ultimately deny it for 2 reasons...

1.) Fear of persecution (or actual imprisonment or worse... crucifixion ring any bells)
2.) Empathy requires sacrifice, and sacrifice requires selflessness, selflessness implies a form of conformity, conformity implies limitation, limitation denies true freedom... leaving us all facing an ethical and moral dilemma. Some deal with it better than others. (For example, if I wanted to use the power of influence for self gain, I'd be a multi-millionaire, instead, I make $30k a year, by choice, a self-inflicted punishment no doubt!)

Yet, we all desire - FREEDOM! - as that is where our purpose resides.

Hence... we sell the dream of freedom... by handing out keys to promote self-imprisonment, how ironic. Yes, it makes me cry! - My spirit weeps!

So, do I agree 'knowing' will bring 'tears upon your very soul'... ABSOLUTELY!

Now, the real question is; "What do you do once you realize the level of ignorance mankind willingly upholds at the expense of the majority suffering for it?"

Here I desire freedom, and in the search to acquire my own freedom (and deeper understanding), I'd love nothing more... than to help set others FREE!

While I have yet to conclude my in-depth studies, and "put in writing" a solution (which does not make me a hypocrite) in an effort to promote or attain our true purpose (freedom) - one must rid oneself of all known ignorance, which to date... seems a feat mankind is incapable of achieving... and I'm sorry, but tolerance & forgiveness toward "willful ignorance" does not constitute any excuse for that which we; the majority accept, tolerate, and forgive! Especially, when doing so, costs everyone the right to experience their true purpose in the pursuit of attaining any measure of true freedom.

I was given a 'gift' (a voice) that writes from someone or something else, and I have absolutely no clue what to do with it (other than run from it)... ain't that a bitch!

My purpose: "Teach others not to run anymore, but STOP and do what YOU know makes YOU happy"... (ethically, of course, if their is such a thing once money is introduced into the equation!)

Most people just regurgitate the old, not unlike our education system that teaches people to recite intelligence similar to teaching a parrot Shakesphear, and yet if an African Grey parrot recites Shakeshear; it does not make him a poet, nor a scholar.

Point being, if one possessed a knowledge yet shared, and it were proven to hold truth, they would likely weigh that option by looking back in history, and seeing the very ones who did find true purpose and relentlessly pursue it, did it not for fame, fortune, or self-gratification... but rather to set an example. Many of which died to immortalize 'pieces' of a truth.

Godspeed!

Thank you both for sharing. JulianDoria Service to others is what is most required now, particularly in the form of education (takes many forms). I believe that now more than ever those who are able must educate their fellow humans and show them a different way of living.

One of cooperation with each other, with other species and with our planet - which is being destroyed at a rate greater than in the past thousand years. There is a shift happening however the majority of the world believes this experience within an established system is the only way that life can be and that we are governed by circumstance (the life of a victim), like art72 implied, it must come from within. I got into entrepreneurship knowing that this world is influenced by money, the task is to make a lot of it and to use it for education and new sustainable technologies. We must opt out of this archaic system.. we must choose to live a way that is from a higher level of consciousness.

art72, I was left speechless with your reply. Sacrifice is indeed necessary however it need not be akin to martyrdom (I was locked in a psych ward for two weeks being pumped with olanzapine). When I spoke from a place of truth to friends and family I dug a deeper hole for myself as truth, it seems, is not wanted.

Regarding your question of what to do when one awakens to the fact that there is indeed a conscious ignorance (oxymoron, I know) of sorts prevailing that values consumerism over each other: Like JulianDoria said, there is a shift taking this world by storm and thanks to the beautiful internet we all love and protect (A number of western governments wished to pass a censorship on it), it will soon be clear to a critical mass (a sufficient amount of awakened people) that action must be taken. Have you ever written about your message previously? Do you blog about this? You have an ability with words that would go down a treat with many people.

Again, Daniel, great post.

This is a very interesting question to ask on a marketing forum.

It is very interesting because most people simply forget the connection between life purpose, sense of meaning, and personal productivity.

There is a reason why anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drugs are always in the top 5 or top 10 of the most prescribed drugs in the United States and other developing countries.

There is a disconnect between our sense of purpose, our sense of meaning, and our daily lives.

While our bellies are full and most of us live in houses and live otherwise comfortable lives, something is still missing.

This is precisely why a lot of people live desperate lives, they are not as productive as they can be.

While they do know how to do things, they have forgotten why they do things.

By taking your advice and focusing on life purpose and meaning, people do not just get a sense of inner calm.

There is actually a very practical benefit from all this.

It helps you to perform better.

Life is not fair and it can be quite harsh.

Life can knock you down if you are not fully prepared for it.

And grabbing life by the horns with a distinct sense of purpose, is definitely one of the strongest advantages anyone can bring to the table.

Once again, great post, Daniel.

Much appreciated.

Yes. To allways find a bigger , more fundamental purpose. To ever expand, and find tranquility of mind at the same time. To have my expectations surpassed by myself. Etc.

There can never be an end to the purpose of life.

Yes. Life purpose for me is endless development. Both self-development and development of what can be done for others. Can theoretically last for much longer than one life (no idea if it happens, but hopefully ).

The crying is the emotional experience it takes to keep us going. Without the emotion then we are just trying to follow through on intellectual concepts. That doesn’t work so well.

Stand in awe gazing up at the night sky wondering if there is life on other planets and what it might be like gets us interested.

It is absolutely fascinating that to just spend one’s time calculating stars on a time sheet can be boring. So most people don’t spend time gazing at the heaven’s through a telescope.

The concept of life purpose is an interesting one.

Do I believe there's a specific reason I'm came into this body?

Yes.

But is it to be a copywriter? Or a doctor? Or a massage therapist?

No.

It's simply to feel; to experience the sensations of being alive.

Does passion for doing something specific play a HUGE role in the experiences I choose - including what and how I market myself?

Absolutely.

But those things can always change.

After all, change is the only constant in the universe, right?

Mark

Amazing responses.

Perhaps life purpose is found in the feeling from the actions/decisions we make on a daily basis versus a specific profession.