The Meaning of Life...

[JTG of the PRB]

I was at a dinner party with some friends last night to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics. We had some great food, some great fun, and we enjoyed the evening together. I left at around midnight and proceeded to drive around for about an hour before returning to my apartment. It's during these drives that I usually ponder the deeper things in my life, often while listening to music... But last night, my radio decided it didn't want to work, so I was left driving alone with my thoughts for most of the time.

I've been stressed out and kind of depressed lately, so I was trying to reflect on all that sort of stuff when I, again, started asking myself "Why? What is our purpose here? Why do we exist? What is our function in the Universe? Who ARE we?"

I know, it's an impossibly large and indescribably vague question, but it's one we all ask ourselves from time to time. I happen to be at a moment in my life where I find myself asking this question a lot. Maybe it's because I'm 25 and I don't feel I have a clear direction in my life anymore. Maybe I'm having a "quarter-life crisis" I've heard some people talking about. Maybe I'm just crazy.

So... Tell me what you think. What IS the meaning of life? You don't have to be serious. You can reply with a joke... Or you can tell a story. Something that shares with us how you perceive your purpose in this world, your direction, and your meaning of life.

Humor me, if you could... I'm feeling a little lost at the moment, wondering who I am and where I am...

[Radical Activist]

1. There is no meaning in life other than the one you choose for yourself.

The question got much easier for me once I stopped looking for mysterious external answers.

[ThomCat]

2. To enjoy our existance as much as we can,

and to help others enjoy their existance as much as they can, while all of us struggle to survive somehow.

[Droopy]

3. I'm not sure if life really has a meaning, BUT

I think if you understand how life could be better for the majority of the people on this planet and do something to help make it better, I think you will find yourself feeling better. You don't have to go on some Herculean quest or save everybody from AIDS in Africa. Something as simple as making someone smile can help a lot.

Regarding the depression and confusion, maybe you should talk to someone about that. It doesn't sound like you are on the brink of suicide or anything like that, but sometimes young people lack a sense of direction in life (I know I did) and it can be beneficial if you have someone who can help you sort it out.

[stuntcat]

4. oop

[stuntcat]

5. I only have one purpose

Well my family and my best friend love me a lot and would hate it if I disappeared, and making arts and gardening are technically my purpose.
But the thing I think I can do the best is help animals. I keep my cats super happy and I help wildlife with food and water and housing and stuff.
I've been depressed the last few years and it's getting worse, my sad times last longer and my happy times are rare. It's because I worry about animals and the Earth and stuff. I think I should at tell a doctor what I'm feeling but I'm afraid it will be impossible to find one who doesn't think I'm ridiculous.

One thing that helps me let go (for a few hours) of things that worry me is writing it down, I write psychotic stuff that would get me locked up if anyone saw it hehe. But the best thing is watching the animals outside, and my cats, they're 100% content :headbang:


(I was reading the whole thread and replied at the wrong place :blush:)

[Orrex]

6. Kilgore Trout got it right

"To be the eyes and ears and conscience of the Creator of the Universe, you fool."

Seriously--which would distress you more: To find out that there is no "meaning" to life? Or to find out that the "meaning" of life is nonsensical or foolish or unpleasant?


You have to discover your own meaning, because no one has an objective frame of reference from which to tell you with confidence that the "meaning" of your life is this or that.


Your question is legitimate, and I don't mean to sound as though I'm belittling it. I would caution you that, at 25, you likely have a good many years before you truly "realize" yourself, so don't beat yourself up if you don't have the answers yet. Hell, I'm 37 and don't many more answers than you do!

[astral]

7. It's a day of push-ups in the big picture

We are here to push ourselves, to explore, to learn, to learn to love and care more deeply as time goes on (i.e., as we age), to find our passion in life, to learn to be who we are, truly are, to the best of our ability. It takes a lifetime and then some. We don't get to finish, to "Be There," to find nirvana -- well, maybe SOME of us do!

I have been depressed about some stuff for a long time now, and found it zapped my creativity, depression feeds on itself and that can make it harder to snap out of. Today I felt good because I did snap out of it, to a great extent, and worked on getting some things done and I got alot further than I expected to. It made me feel better because I can look FORWARD to finishing off the big stuff tomorrow, getting outside, and then I can look FORWARD to doing fun stuff like being creative again.

You have to be able to wake up TODAY and not wish you were anywhere else than in TODAY. I used to have that but I lost it. That is depression. That is losing, or forgetting the meaning of life. If your life has meaning, that's the meaning of life. If your life lacks meaning, and you are aware and want to do something about it, THAT's the meaning of life too.

This thread made me think of Maslow's hierarchy of needs thing -- you can't worry about being happy unless you are safe, your basic needs are met like shelter food and warmth / cleanliness, then you seek meaning in the world of other people, and then you seek more meaning, and the top of the 'pyramid' is "Self-Actualization." The self-actualized person is totally satisfied with their life in every way -- and supposedly a rare breed.

When our life is over and we are freed from this physical body we are stronger and smarter and have more soul-energy than we had before we had our life experience here on Earth. I guess the object of the game is to get as much out of one lifetime as you possibly can.

[Skittles]

8. I think that's why human's suffer so much anxiety and depression

they start thinking they really have a "purpose" here - well guess what, maybe there IS no "purpose". Just make the best of it and do what you can for other people. THAT is the "meaning of life".

[TahitiNut]

9. The purpose of my life is to serve others as

... a bad example. (It seems I have a LOT of company in my endeavor.)

:dunce:

[Fox Mulder]

10. When someone finds out why we exist on this fucked up planet...

let me know. I'm still wondering.

[JTG of the PRB]

15. The truth is out there.

At least, I hope it is...

[Lil Missy]

11. "Life sucks, and then you die"

But seriously, the best you can do is be true to yourself and surround yourself with people, places, and things that make you happy.

Life is just too short to put up with people and things that make you miserable or unhappy. It's a jungle out there, and you can choose to take a more optimistic approach. And not get bogged down with people or situations that cause emotional pollution.

Best wishes.

[YankeyMCC]

12. The universe does not care but

you do and so do the people around you.

The meaning of life is what you make it and generally if you don't include other people and the natural world around you into whatever you desire to make of your life you'll be disapointed.

Basically the very first reply you got said it in the subject line.

Of course there also 42 to consider ;)

[nuxvomica]

13. Connection and isolation

To be an integrated whole in oneself and yet connected to everything else. Life is the paradox of these two opposing states that pass energy from one to the other in a seamless, continuous rhythm. When we give up the self too much or isolate it too completely, we create suffering.
:smoke:

[MilesColtrane]

14. Your purpose is simply to take your next breath.