I feel like I have no purpose in life. Sometimes I wish I would die in my sleep. Who else feels this way?

Question

There is so much negative things going on in the world, I get tired of hearing it all the time. I don't feel my existence does anything to make a difference. I feel that people like Oprah and Bill Gates and some singers/entertainers make a difference in peoples lives, either with giving a ton of cash to charity, or helping people/humanity out in some way. I don't know what my purpose is and feel worthless in general.

thanks for all the responses...they all give me sumthing to think about...hopefully I'll feel better than usual about things soon, *sigh*

Answer 1

Don't feel this way! Just think of some of these thins you could do:
-stop watching television for a week, see if you feel better;
-pray every morning and evening like you mean it;
-eat vegetables and chocolate;
-walk, dance, do yoga, run, fitness, whatever phisical effort you,like;
-write about the good things that happened during the day every evening and don't minimise anything;
-smile to people you meet, because they'll smile you back and that feels soooo good;
-pray for others, even if you don't know anything but their names;
-help others even with the most insignificant thing;
-don't listen to depressing music;
-if you have a hard time sleeping, even after praying, think about this : immagine that God is a person and that both of you are standing in a huge white space, and He is behind you. Then try to immagine you letting go, relax and fall. He will catch you, He always does.
I am sure that there are a lot of things that can be done, but, for the moment, this is all I can think of.
P.S.:If you feel like, you can contact me by e-mail and we could talk about this.

Answer 2

I did for a while. A lot of the other suggetions are good here are a few of mine.

-Go to a Dr find out if its more than deppresion (I turns out I was crazy and that was causing me major problems)
-Get some exercise
-Get some sunlight (I need to do this more)
-Help other people (make the world a better place in a small way. My goal in life is to leave it better for my existance. I do this is small ways every day.)
-Eat healthyer (Balance in all things. Cut back on processed crap. Make sure you eat fruit vegies and meat. Unless you do it right being a vegitarian can cause you iron defcancy and other problems)
-Give blood (It all ways makes me feel good. And gives me a good night sleep)

A couple of other points. I don't consider Oprah and Bill Gates the best role models. Oprah makes people reliant on her for money and Bill does the simmilar. He has killed off better technology to keep his monopoly including stoping free software to poor countries. He now has the bigest charity in the world so he is improving in my eyes.

Relegion works for many people but peace and purpose can come from within and not in a new age way.

Lastly most people don't know their pourpse in life. I'm 26 and have no clue yet. I just try my best and do what I can. I can't do more than that.

Good luck

Brett

Answer 3

i feel the same way but deep inside, i really don't wanna die, as in at all.

"There is so much negative things going on in the world, I get tired of hearing it all the time."
- you're tired? then why not do something??? volunteer!!! be a cop, be a psychologist, a politician...


"I don't feel my existence does anything to make a difference."
- what do you usually do anyway? your existence makes a difference, just look at your purchasing habits, it helps the economy.

"I feel that people like Oprah and Bill Gates and some singers/entertainers make a difference in peoples lives, either with giving a ton of cash to charity, or helping people/humanity out in some way."
- you have made a difference in people's lives, you made friends happy, you made your parents feel fulfilled, list goes on.

"I don't know what my purpose is and feel worthless in general."
- know what, i haven't graduated yet, i feel like a powerless individual with a very slim chance of getting hired since i don't have my diploma yet. still, i know that i have worth. if inanimate objects have worth, then why wouldn't i? though this may sound shallow to you, one of the ways I contribute is through answering questions here at Yahoo! Answers. =) it's simple, it's quick, and you reach a lot of people. go to other forums, too. they need your help.

Answer 4

I could get clinical or philosophical.... I don't feel up to it just now....
I would recommend one book though.... you should be able to find it at a Library......

Self Potrate of a Hero- From the letters of Yonatan Netanyahu 1963-1976.

I know for a long time I was in free fall as well. Things do change and if you take a moment and just let the world come to you instead of chasing it you will be amazed at what you will find. Don't obsess about what you don't have.... if you don't have it, it's not important. Be proud and pleased with what you do have and find ways to share it.

See a problem and fix it.
See a need and fill it.
Hear a plea and answer it.
Find a dream and live it.
Find a star and follow it.
Find a heart and love it.

Answer 5

It sounds as though you may be depressed. Understand that there are negatives in this world, but, that you should'nt overwhelm yourself with them. Know also, that every one isn't able to give in the capacity of Oprah or Bill, so do what you can with what you have. Your purpose in this life is to live it to the fullest and be some sort of service to others( time is the most precious service you can give). Do not wish to die, someone right now may need what you have to offer. YOU ARE WORTHY! If this doesn't help then talk to a professional. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Feeling worthless and without a purpose are symptoms of depression. Wishing to die in your sleep is a symptom as well. This is a serious condition and you should seek medical attention right away. There are many options a doctor can offer you for helping yourself to feel better, ranging from talk therapy to medication. You are not at all alone with this feeling. Many people are affected by all the negativity we have to deal with today from the news and Media, but there are ways to help yourself rise above that feeling and make the best of your life. You are not worthless! Please see a doctor and describe how you are feeling. Once you deal with your mental state, there are many careers and volunteer positions that you can take to help out in your community and give you a sense of purpose. These range from teachers and medical workers, to social workers and animal shelter volunteers. You could get involved in the smallest way, say by reading to kids at a library once in a while, and it could help someone in a huge way that you might not even realize. I volunteer at a food pantry once a month and help out at a local animal shelter with friends, and it's fun and satisfying. Good luck with everything.

Answer 7

Everyone has a purpose in life. The difficult part is trying to figure out what your purpose is. I have gone through the same things that you described above. I always thought that to really help people, that I needed money, and lots of it. That isn't true.

I have done volunteer work, and that was rewarding. I have babysat for neighbors, and not charged them anything. I have taken a friend who doesn't drive to go out shopping.

In my opinion, it's more meaningful when you give your time. Yes, of course, if I had more money, I would give it. Since I don't, I give more of my time. My family attends church on a regular basis. We can't tithe as much as we would like to, so we help out in other ways.

I hope I have helped you in some way. It also helped me to pray about this. There is also a book titled "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. Take care, and God bless!

Answer 8

You probably need to get another perspective on what negative is. I volunteered at a homeless shelter for a year, and I saw enough people with REAL problems that I sure felt thankful for what I had. As far as making a difference by giving a lot of money, you'd be surprised how much of a difference you can make with little or no money, just a little time and consideration.

Answer 9

You just same with me... sometime, when I just getting so much stress, I hope that I were not exist in this world. That because I'm affraid to suicide, and I have a lot of people that might be love me, they might be sad if I died. If I were not exist, no one would gonna recocnize me. So no one gonna sad when I died.

I feel, I don't have purpose in this live. But actually that just only my feeling. Actually there is purpose in my live. Maybe I just don't understand. Sometimes I just close to find my purpose, but when my brain is frozen and can't thinking correctly, those negative mind will appears.

My suggestion is.... if you have that feeling that you prefer to die than live, just do something different. Think that old of you just past away. Now is time for you to reborn. Go to another place where you are welcome. Say good bye to all of your family and friend. Tell them that they will cannot cantact you (they only know to wich country you go, you will contact them when you being somebody different). Prepare some money for living 2 month in very poor country so you only spend so little money for living and one way ticket to wherever you want - Bali may be - and think the worst job you think you can and will gonna do there (except prostitution).

Than the only question is...are you ready to death? And are you ready to reborn in a new place, without anyone and find your new path and purpose to be mean by this universe?

I'm still prepare myself to do it. That is what I'm thinking. I want to be something that have purpose to my live, that world will be better a little because of me even if not in my own world (my family and friend).

Don't think like that please.... Thanks God, He create you.....cause you might be mean for me or someone else in this planet. If you think that you are ready to die, prepare your self, do a journey, find your way.. find your new path. Cause you are special, there is no one in this world have finger print like you, think exactly like you...so I believe that you are special.

Answer 10

Your problem is not worth wishing you were dead over! It seems to me that you need some help but in more areas than just one.
If I were you, I would see a career-specialist -- someone that would ask you questions about your likes, dislikes, personality traits, etc., in order to determine which field you would be best in obtaining a career in. There are countless ways that a person can make a difference in this world and it's not just by donating money to charities or belting out a song like a jay-bird! For example, you could volunteer at a good-cause not-for-profit organization or a hospital. It's gratifying to be able to help those less fortunate by putting a smile on their faces. Also, it could help you come into the realization that there is always someone out there that would love to be in your shoes. It's an old, simply saying but it rings with validity.
Aside from trying to find your purpose in life, you may want to also focus on life-after-death. This world is not "it". I don't want to offend or disrespect your beliefs, or the lack thereof, however, I believe in Jesus Christ. And I know that when my mortal body dies, my spirit will live on for eternity. It is how I live my life now that will determine exactly where I will be spending eternity. Everyone has problems, struggles, trials, tribulations, challenges, weaknesses, etc. It's all in how you choose to deal with your problems that will determine as to whether or not you will be defeated by them. I choose to overcome any obstacles that come my way and to not allow my peace and sense of well-being to be compromised. This not only comes to me by my faith, though mostly, but through being in good mental health.
With that being said, you may have a psychological problem -- have some sort of chemical imbalance in your brain that makes you feel depressed and desolate. If so, chances are, it's beyond your control; meaning, it's not your fault. THERE IS HELP OUT THERE FOR YOU. Whether it be talk-therapy or a combination of talk-therapy and medication to get your mental state stabilized and back-to-health, you can be on the road to recovery.
I hope that you haven't taken any offense to anything that I've said. I do enjoy helping people when I am able to. Sending you this message and sharing with you my thoughts is a very small and yet, hopefully, significant way of doing so. Everyone needs help from time-to-time and some, more often than others. I've had many of people, including friends, family, church family members and even strangers lend me a helping hand in the past, especially whenever I was confused or couldn't seem to find my way. It will be all right, if you are determined for it to be.
Don't give up. I will be praying for you. When I am weak, there is Someone, Jesus Christ, who picks me up and restores my strength. He can do the same for you, if you let Him. And no, I'm not saying that life for a person, such as myself, heals me of all pain and suffering, however, I know that I am not alone and that there He is in-control, even when I am not. No matter what happens, as long as He's there, I will survive and continue to find some hope, happiness and purpose for my life in this sick world.
Take Care. I hope everything works out for you. :-)