Some subjective sense being correlated with blah blah blah doesn't mean any such thing objectively exists. It doesn't. You have no purpose. Nobody designed you. You're free.
Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
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Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#92Check out the book “So Good They Can’t Ignore You”, purpose is overrated, being a skilled professional is underrated.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#93For example, in this discussion, currently the most upvoted answer says that your purpose must be a source of income. Well, not really. Some people have a day job to keep their bills, and write poetry at night, and they consider the poetry to be their purpose. Of course, it is awesome if your purpose can also become a source of income (because then you can spend more time doing it), but do not put the cart before the horse. First find out what your purpose is, only then start thinking about making money from it.
Similarly, "what you are good at doing" is a nice thing, but that often comes with practice. Do not give up on trying new things.
Try different things. Afterwards, notice the emotions connected with your memories of doing those things. Explore around the things that felt good; try doing something similar but different.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#94Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#95In plain english, "Ikigai" is the intersection of: - what you enjoy doing - what you are good at doing - what you can get paid for doing Imagine a a circle for each of those categiries as a Venn diagram - the middle of the 3 would be "Ikigai." Try making a list of all three, then see if there is overlap.
I tried that and it completely broke me working with other people who did a shitty job of what I loved doing and didn't care. I now worked out the thing to do is earn lots of money turning something you hate but are good at into something tolerable. That gives you time, energy and money for the things you love.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#96do drugs. travel alone. try lots of different kinds of jobs. good luck.
I concur. A mushroom or LSD trip in nature is the quintessential human experience and has been immensely helpful even for those than never continued use of the substance.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#97There may be many things you like or think have some value or that more of it should exist in the world. But maybe expecting one of those things to grab you in a cone of ethereal light is expecting too much. Perhaps the point is that you can choose and you should.
Go read Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#98Values come first. Purpose is then to live a life where you don’t compromise on your values.
How do you decide which values to prioritize?
I usually ask someone else who I trust to help me think through it.
For decisions that cannot be undone, usually, you one takes a leap of faith and goes for one value over the other.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#99If you don't yet have a purpose, your purpose is to find your purpose.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#100Thankfully there are great resources that can help; my top recommendation is 80,000 Hours - named after the roughly 80,000 hours that one will spend in their lives working. Given how much time that is, it's worth doing something good with it.
Following your passion may not be the best way to go - https://80000hours.org/articles/dont-follow-your-passion/