How do you find yourself and your purpose?
musicismylife78
Posts: 6,116
I think this could be the most important part of one’s life. It’s the quintessential American dream. Who am I? What is my purpose? What’s my calling? As Hermann Hesse put it “mans true profession is to find the way to himself”.
The flip side being, I cant think of a worse feeling, than not knowing who you are and what your calling is. Its tough to not know who you are. I am 23 and have lived in this body for 23 years, I know my likes and dislikes, but as for who I am, and my direction in life, I haven’t a clue.
I have a sociology degree, I pursued that because I loved and still love activism and helping people and having a degree that is political in nature. However, even with the degree and knowing that I love those things, if someone was to ask me today, which they did “what’s your ideal job” and “what do you want to have a career in”, I couldn’t answer that question. I haven’t the foggiest idea how to answer it. I am completely and utterly lost and confused.
In college these questions became paramount to me, and now it seems like they are always lingering over my head. Constantly bothering me.
I would be interested to hear from those who have found their purpose and themselves, and to see if they have any advice.
Anyone else here trying to find themselves and their purpose?
The flip side being, I cant think of a worse feeling, than not knowing who you are and what your calling is. Its tough to not know who you are. I am 23 and have lived in this body for 23 years, I know my likes and dislikes, but as for who I am, and my direction in life, I haven’t a clue.
I have a sociology degree, I pursued that because I loved and still love activism and helping people and having a degree that is political in nature. However, even with the degree and knowing that I love those things, if someone was to ask me today, which they did “what’s your ideal job” and “what do you want to have a career in”, I couldn’t answer that question. I haven’t the foggiest idea how to answer it. I am completely and utterly lost and confused.
In college these questions became paramount to me, and now it seems like they are always lingering over my head. Constantly bothering me.
I would be interested to hear from those who have found their purpose and themselves, and to see if they have any advice.
Anyone else here trying to find themselves and their purpose?
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put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
Take my case for example. I'm 24, but I'm not the same person I was @ 21 or 22 and when I was 21 I was different at 18 and I was different at 15. Your always going to change. Keith Richards said it best when he said "The interesting thing about getting older is that the older you get the older you wanna get." You keep putting the puzzle together one day at a time.
Bob Dylan recently said in an interview that he can no longer write songs like he used to when he was younger. "I just can't write like that anymore songs like 'It's Alright Ma.' its over I don't know how to do it." Its because he's changed an gotten older he's no longer that person.
Neil Young is the same way he says of when he wrote songs when he was 23 compared to his brand new stuff. "I see this young guy and I dunno who that guy is...its not me anymore."
As for figuring out your life purpose check this web site out.
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/01/how-to-discover-your-life-purpose-in-about-20-minutes/
I think the key to it all is to strive to be happy as frequently as possible and not to be afraid to take risks or change paths. Be true to yourself.
Life will throw enough shit at you as you travel along and you'll have to respond to it, have it sidetrack you, even completely change the course of your life. If you can adjust and maintain your equilibrium that's the best one can hope for really. I have no idea if I'm making sense, but I hope that helps.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
To me, the fun things about life are the places and experiences that you stumble into when you are heading towards something else.
As far as purpose, I really never knew what my purpose in life was, until I saw my son's face for the first time last month... I still can't answer the detail questions, but I know for a fact that I have to raise him to be the best that he can be in whatever he does in life.
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
-John Lennon
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
And if that doesn't work you can find your purpose and much more from simply opening a few of these: http://lawsagna.typepad.com/lawsagna/images/2007/11/09/fame_fortune_cookie_medium_web_view.jpg
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
Cool!
I really don't think it matters if you make an impression on this world personally or if you ever achieve your goals, just as long as you have something to wake up for in the morning! (Something you enjoy).
but what i cannot change is this:
I define myself by my beliefs, core values, and things i do when pushed to the edge, or where i have to think in that particular minute, a minute that can cost me life or death.
shit, i hope i'm making at least some kind of sense.
work in the adult industry.
oh, wait.
that is my job.
http://www.myspace.com/brain_of_c
that's what i was looking i would discover my own strength and fear when left to think in the moment and make decisions in that particular moment.
Yup!
It's a journey, sometimes a difficult one, it's the striving, or the things you find along the way that get you through.
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
Just live for the moment. There's no better advice you can receive. Just think of how quickly life goes by and decide if you want to waste it looking for answers to a question you don't understand or just stop trying and enjoy life for what it is, not what you think it should be. Don't ever stop trying to do new things but don't live life for what it might be.
You hit 17K little typing dude, congrats.
Avoid the syphilis and hepatitis B..
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
Personally I have always thought this quote pretty much covers my purpose in life!
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
Me too. :(
I just started reading this book and I am about halfway through...it is a lot of common sense things, but it is very enlightening...If you enjoy Herman Hesse at all, you will really appreciate this book.
http://www.amazon.com/New-Earth-Awakening-Purpose-Selection/dp/0452289963/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204244270&sr=8-1
They have that quote on one of those "Inspirational" framed pictures you can buy here. It's a ship run a ground in the picture. I've always thought I should just buy it and be done with it!
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
ooh!
I was gonna go with Ned Kelly's last words for my gravestone if I had one.
"such is life"
*~You're IT Bert!~*
Hold on to the thread
The currents will shift
-The late Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
I think is a very common problem among 23-24 year-olds out of college. The thing is, you don't *have* to find your "purpose." Not yet anyway. It will come to you over time. Right now you just have to try things out and see where it takes you. When I was 23 I was on a path to getting a PhD in economics. suddenly I decided that it wasn't for me and FREAKED OUT. but a very wise ex-professor of mine told me to just go with the flow...I did and a few years later I found the perfect professional degree program for me...and now I'm done with it and not thrilled with my job, and that depresses me to a degree, but I also know that I have to be *doing something* and it will all come out eventually. I'm 30 and I'm not quite sure what it's all about yet...
I don't know if that helps at all. I know it is so confusing in your early-mid 20s. probably 90% of the population goes through it. just keep your eyes open for all opportunities. Even if something isn't perfect, just do it, try it out.
EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
im 26, more than halfway through law school, and still have no clue. what's the rush? why limit myself?
and if it's stresses you out a lot, then quit it. just don't get into a habit of quiting things at first sign of trouble