How should a purpose of life be selected.?

Question

This is for those who say that we have to make our own purpose of life. (For those who say there is no purpose of life, think of it as "reasons for living" instead of purpose.)

I see lots of advice as to purpose but little concerning the process of selecting that purpose.

The process seems to be one of holding up an idea and then trying to get some feeling about the idea. It is as if we are of two minds. The first mind selects ideas and the second mind passes judgment. People are frustrated because the mind that passes judgment usually says no (eventually).

I rarely see a trivial purpose mentioned except in jest. Many of us spend lots of hours on the computer but that is also rarely mentioned. Most purposes are "noble", e.g. save the world, feed the hungry, learn all you can, love your loved ones, live life to the fullest, etc.

So what criteria is our "second mind" using and what is forcing our "first mind" to keep trying?

For love is sweet and searcher:
Follow your heart, follow your spirit and follow your conscience all seem to me to infer the supernatural. To those who reject the supernatural, those things are all just feelings and, as such, have little authority. In Dickens, "A Christmas Carol", Scrooge dismisses a pang of conscience as probably just a bit of undigested potato.

Answer 1

By arbitrary / random selection.
Rolling 1D20 should do the trick.

(That'd be a twenty-sided die to laymen)

Then again... purpose is something you only need until you find it and realise you don't need it afterall.

I personally live because I'm already alive and will die eventually anyway. I arbitrarily explore what and where I am before moving on to what I am not yet.

Answer 2

To choose, first do not treat "purpose" as a lifetime conviction that one must follow even if the reasons fall apart for doing it. Only Mother Theresa and those of her mind could do that. She thought for years her God had stopped listening to her, and serving Him was her "lifetime conviction" cause. Certainly what she did defines the true meaning of "faith," but not all purposes are, or can be, in the field of faith.
On the other hand, the astronaut who did the repair work on the broken solar panel began as a medical physician, joined NASA as an astronaut rather than a doctor, and learned enough to become a spacewalker and to fix--in space--something broken that was 1/2 a football field away from his safety.
His purposes changed, but always he followed through on learning them well enough to perform them. His purpose was to be a "Renaissance Man" in the classic meaning of that word.
You only need to choose a short destination to call your purpose, like to be a college graduate. Then change your destination again, for something to do with that learned knowledge: write a book, even if your degree is in music theory or elementary education or bull riding, rather than in English comp.
When you finish the book and successfully sell it--if that is your purpose--go on to the next purpose.
In the end you will discover that each short destination has contributed to the REAL purpose of your life, and that is to live it to its fullest, which means you did not fail at the "pursuit of happiness."
Pursue happiness with a degree of reason, and your purpose will show its face to you.

Answer 3

The second mind you talk about could be our intellect or our psychic social make up and the first mind which keeps on trying is based on the spiritual dimension in us. The voice of the spiritual dimension is our conscience. Our conscience could be compared to a compass as it guides us to our true north or our true purpose. So if you search for your true purpose I would let the first mind make the choice or decision as this is based on our conscience or spirit.

The second mind is also compared to the super ego which Freud mentioned. So it is based on values or ideas composed of moral upbringing or ideas of our society we live in. The conscience is independent of that and as the voice of our spirit always guides us to fulfill a meaningful choice even if it is opposed to the second mind.

Answer 4

It depends on time, place and person; Actually, it is difficult to give standard rules for selecting a purpose for life;

But some thumb-rules can be given as follows :-

(1) Consult a bona fide astrologer;
(2) Consult a psychologist;
(3) Purpose can be chosen according to caste, birth, origin or equivalent things; One's present birth is according to one's dominant tendencies of the previous birth;
(4) Name can be used to select the purpose of life - your name is given by your parents or others sub-consciously according to your destiny;

Answer 5

No matter what destiny, which is a better word for what your describing, you still fulfill your purpose. which, it doesn't matter what your religion is you will find that the reason your here is to have an effect on other people. It doesn't matter if you decide to work at McDonnell's, or pioneer a space craft to Neptune, you still have a drastic effect on people. Either serving them food that will kill them, or inspiring young people to be scientist and space explorers, you have an effect on people. Maybe you just go to school everyday, It makes no difference who you are. All you have to do is talk to someone, or not you still have an effect.

Answer 6

Our purpose in life is first to be a servant to others. Jesus came into this world to be a servant and He told us to do the same. To be a servant is not a degrading act. Many try to make it to the "top" so that others can serve them, but Jesus served up until his death. It does not mean to allow others to put you down, but it means that you have made it so far, that you cannot help but to help someone else. You will always knwo that your purpose is being fulfilled when you feel that satisfaction within yourself. That will only be felt when you are doing for others. So, I believe that our purpose is simple... and simple to find... serve others... give up self.

Answer 7

your own purpose of life should not be selected...in fact no purpose is selected...it comes over to you by itself...and depends on you whether you are ready to receive it,deal with it,handle it and to bear the responsibility of its pursuit OR not.

good luck with your life.
Pluto

Answer 8

many argue that the basis for the purpose of life is culturally relative....

Answer 9

its not so defined as a marked item, its what you truly believe in and in doing regardless of you knowing this is what you really wont, you follow your heart!