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How do you get a sense of your mission in life?

^that is vary well put. the purpose is nearly existing and if you keep your mind open you may find something that makes you feel good about yourself. i say there should be no search for meaning lest you fear your own mortality and are trying to somehow leave something lasting on this planet but time erodes everything. know that you did make a difference just by being here and interacting with people. other than that decide for yourself what purpose is. fame or infamy both futile efforts.
 
Thank you, Jamshyd, for that wonderful rephrasing. It's like you said two entirely different things, even though you didn't, really.

It's not a rational thing, really. I've just always been filled with the sense that there was something I was sent here to do (not necessarily something that would make me famous). I've chosen to follow that hunch and keep looking, for better or for worse.
 
destiny or not, you have free will, so its up to you whether or not you fulfill it. all you can really do is trust yourself to do the right thing when the time comes. living in a "zen" state is about the only way to ensure that.

if you look at past "prophets" as examples, they usually dont figure out their purpose until like, mid-30s or so, so maybe its not yet time? or, looking at the example of baha'i, the baha'u'llah didnt awaken until he received the words of the bab, so perhaps you're stuck waiting for a trigger (unfortunately, with free will and all, you might never see it)

i've been told since i was young by quite a few people that i have a special purpose in life (and i dont mean like "oh you're special sweetie!" i mean go-out-of-their-way-to-tell-me), although i still have no clue what it could possibly be. i've probably still got another 7-10 years left before it becomes relevant though. or hell, maybe i already missed my purpose... :\
 
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My understanding of purposes is that they are merely extensions of causality - causality being the framework we use to understand the world - and therefore can only be attributed to things by an intellect. As such, I cannot conceive of a purpose to my own or anyone else's life. This does not, however, in any way preclude us of deciding for ourselves what we most wish to do with our lives. I am merely of the opinion that most people who find purpose "all of a sudden" are simply making a snap decision with too little thought behind it.

Granted, such a stance does not lend itself to having much (or indeed any) passion toward life, but I find that as someone who in their youth was frequently upset, confused and angry towards the world, it has been a beneficial stance.
 
tathra said:
destiny or not, you have free will, so its up to you whether or not you fulfill it. all you can really do is trust yourself to do the right thing when the time comes. living in a "zen" state is about the only way to ensure that.

if you look at past "prophets" as examples, they usually dont figure out their purpose until like, mid-30s or so, so maybe its not yet time? or, looking at the example of baha'i, the baha'u'llah didnt awaken until he received the words of the bab, so perhaps you're stuck waiting for a trigger (unfortunately, with free will and all, you might never see it)

i've been told since i was young by quite a few people that i have a special purpose in life (and i dont mean like "oh you're special sweetie!" i mean go-out-of-their-way-to-tell-me), although i still have no clue what it could possibly be. i've probably still got another 7-10 years left before it becomes relevant though. or hell, maybe i already missed my purpose... :\
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I relate to this post very much. I think you're right -- to live in a zen-like state of heightened awareness is probably the best way to not miss my ship coming in.
 
Glad the rewording worked its magic. Who woulda thunk it, empathy works even across the interwebz :)

I think, on a much more practical level - I think I DO kinda have a "purpose" in life: and that is to die with contentment. As a matter of fact, I basically live for my death, and that is not a dark and gloomy thing to do - quite the contrary.

If there is one thing I seem to have persevered in practising ritualistically, that would be reminding myself of my mortality. In such a mindset, all the beautiful things in life become even more beautiful because, potentially, any given pleasurable sensation could in fact be my last.
 
I think the key is to identify what makes you happy. I don’t believe life has an objective meaning, nor reality a specific flight-plan. I think the “mission” is determined by oneself.
 
Simply put, my mission in life is to understand everything. It's an impossible task, but a fulfilling one. The danger lies in becoming arrogant and letting one's ego get the better of them. I temper that with a kind of empathy: the unwavering faith that everybody has a unique insight to offer.
 
Id say that that's quite a common human emotion; the "yearning" for a higher purpose at the individual level. Im sure everyone feels they're here for a higher purpose, or special reason, and to be honest we are. Were here to know ourselves, to find out who we are. This is the ultimate bliss, this is the finding of the god within. When we come to terms with our self, all desires will be fulfilled.

This "yearning" is present in everyone, but only flourishes in few. I think this is based on karma from our past lives. If we have good spiritual karma from passed lives than we are born with a higher understanding and purpose. This is the "yearning" because we know its there, we TRUST OUR INSTINCTS. Edit: (what I meant by instincts was intuition)

To answer your question on how to help you see the signs of significance and important role in your life, to help you understand what it is that you are here for, Id say to draw it. You dont have to be an artist about it, just draw it with simple sketchy symbols. Symbols represent meaning, meaning arises understanding, and understanding arises wisdom. Start to be more open to symbols and meaning, and try to triangulate your purpose based on the various symbols of your life. (hard to understand but easy to use)

An easier approach is to just find that in which fascinates you. Pay great detail to what fascination means, and than pursue that.
 
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Instincts are perhaps one of the least reliable methods of attaining truth. While they certainly help us make decisions in our lives on a constant basis, trusting them for logical reasoning seems somehow... unreasonable.

I do agree that we must all feel the yearning-for-a-higher-cause thing on one level or another. I know that I would like very much to discover such a purpose to existence, but logically it seems impossible - and as someone who values logic above all else, this precludes me from drawing such a conclusion without substantial evidence. That isn't to say that the feeling cannot be put to good use, however. The goal of "ultimate bliss" as you put it is real. To build the truth for oneself; to use all the facts available and discard cultural bias; to allow yourself to define your own freedom - this is what it means to come to terms with yourself. And it feels good.

P.S: Re: your suggested activity of drawing symbols; it seems to me to be more of an exercise in self-reinforcement than anything truly meaningful. All too often, when presented with ambiguous patterns, we perceive only what we want to see - this is why the Rorschach test is useful. Identifying and analysing your own fascinations, however, can teach you so much more about yourself.
 
for as long as i can remember i've approached interactions with strangers with the most friendliness and warmth i am able to. regardless of how shit i feel i smile with genuine affection upon eye contact. i think you can positively affect the world far more through such small things than by impossible pipe dreams.
 
to be attached or averse to nothing. (on the 'spiritual' level)

to help reduce world hunger (on the physical level). which is the reason i have recently returned to college after a 6 year hiatus.
 
i think its possible my purpose may be starting to display itself. but i need to be careful, to maintain humility and make sure i've got it right.

the only things that come to mind that could be triggers are lust for wisdom, knowledge, and the Truth; and time. and probably most importantly, sobriety.
 
Impacto Profundo said:
for as long as i can remember i've approached interactions with strangers with the most friendliness and warmth i am able to. regardless of how shit i feel i smile with genuine affection upon eye contact. i think you can positively affect the world far more through such small things than by impossible pipe dreams.
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This.
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My sign came at an early age - 8, however, I didn't pick up on it for 15 years. In fact throughout my life I would wander off to do something that I thought was for me but through whatever means I found myself back working with music. It also became more clear as I began to explore psychedelics and also as I developed a better understanding of the world, myself, and spirituality.

When I finally had enough money to buy the equipment needed to start producing I fell in love with it. I can't stop thinking about it, I find it incredibly fulfilling, and fun to do, and it also brings me peace and contentment.

I also think everyone has a purpose or mission in life which doesn't exactly correspond to a career. We are souls with a human body, not humans with a soul. I believe were in this life for our souls to experience something we haven't already in order to better our understanding of the world/universe and so we can Ascend to a higher intelligence one day (This can take many many life times on Earth). Just my 2 cents :)
 
I figure when I know I've accomplished my mission, I'd die. (Right now I'm very dissatisfied with life . . . 30-years of trying to save the world.)

My eyes were opened when I fell into love. My mission: fall into love (again), save the world & die, probably by crucifixion.

Figure I should get my house (and health) in order before "God" provides the angel ("perfect" person) for me to fall into love with; at that time I'll also quit all my unhealthy habits.
 
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