Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#1

Post by baconface » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 4:28 AM UTC

Have you always felt that you had a purpose in life, and regardless of what happens, that conviction never changes even though you don't know exactly what that purpose is?

Did you ever have to make a seemingly selfish decision that hurt someone close to you in order to achieve the focus/freedom necessary to fulfill your purpose?

Context is that I feel I have a binary decision in life right now:

- Simple & safe family life that yields happiness

- Difficult & lonely life that yields self actualization and "making difference"

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#2

Post by alecbibat » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 4:35 AM UTC

Are you young? We tend to be much more idealistic when we're younger.

Why do you feel like there are only those two decisions?

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#3

Post by baconface » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 4:47 AM UTC

alecbibat wrote: post #2

Are you young? We tend to be much more idealistic when we're younger. Why do you feel like there are only those two decisions?

I'm in my late 20s.

I feel there are only 2 decisions because 1) I've felt the unparalleled creative power of controlled, maniacal dedication and 2) I may suffer from typical cognitive distortions despite reasonable achievement and lots of introspection

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#4

Post by shire » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 5:08 AM UTC

You're young don't think about it so much, just enjoy life and be happy you could be dead tomorrow. Sometimes you just have to be grateful for everything in life. Watch Steve Jobs commencement video maybe that will shine light into your life.

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#5

Post by drothlis » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 7:52 AM UTC

3. Simple & safe family life that yields happiness and the supportive environment and mental health necessary to complete long-term projects.

4. Difficult & lonely life that leads to depression and not achieving anything at all.

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#6

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 10:45 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#7

Post by kohanz » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 12:48 PM UTC

IMHO, it's naive to imply that a family life and "making a difference" are mutually exclusive.

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#8

Post by gyardley » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 1:24 PM UTC

Using an unknown 'purpose' to justify being a selfish jerk to someone won't make you any less of a selfish jerk.

If you really want to be a jerk to someone, stop looking for ways to justify it to yourself and just go own your actions - go be your jerky self.

I've personally regretted this every time I've done this (and I've done it more than once), but maybe you're wired differently than me.

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#9

Post by csixty4 » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 3:50 PM UTC

kohanz wrote: post #7

IMHO, it's naive to imply that a family life and "making a difference" are mutually exclusive.

Indeed. It's our family life that allows my wife & I to go the extra mile when needed because the other is able to jump in & take care of all the chores & such.

Re: Ask HN: Does your life have a purpose?

#10

Post by khyryk » Wed, Jul 31, 2013, 4:55 PM UTC

I don't believe in such a thing as purpose unless one uses it as a substitute for some state of mind.