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Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

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Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

#61

Post by javajosh »

exoterictruth wrote: post #55
javajosh wrote: post #43

The "purpose" question is easier when someone is trying to kill you - your purpose is to survive. If you zoom out in time and space, considering the Fermi paradox, humanity is in a "default dead" state. This would be true even if climate change, nuclear war, etc was off the table. This implies that humanities purpose is to survive, against all odds. So, if someone is trying to kill you, survive. If they aren't (and I…

Why are you concerned with the far future of humanity when millions of people don't have access to food, safe shelter, and clean drinking water? I agree with you that we should allow our descendants to ask the purpose question, but there are much more urgent issues. Our purpose should be to first eliminate basic human suffering in the present, and then expand our time horizons periodically after that. These problems…

I don't think existential risk is so far in the future. Climate change and nuclear holocaust remain urgent threats, and need to be dealt with first, obviously.

Just because my first priority is survival doesn't mean I have no other priorities - in general, I think society functions better with more "catch up" mechanics and fewer "win more" mechanics. I am not entirely convinced a "post scarcity" society can be achieved in real life, wonderful SF stories notwithstanding, and indeed if it could be achieved it might have disasterous consequences.

Consider the case of FTL flight. An FTL drive would solve this problem. But, it would also make possible doomsday weapons that would inevitably be used against whole planets. In the same way, post-scarcity implies that nothing will be scarce, including really bad things. My conservative believe is that solving our problems are going to be very difficult, from a political and engineering standpoint, and there will be no magic bullet. So: gird yourself for some messy, hard work!

Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

#63

Post by undershirt »

thenerdhead wrote: post #34

Look up John Vervaeke and watch his series on the meaning crisis. Otherwise read philosophy given that’s the main topic.

Vervaeke said in one of those videos that we wish to know the meaning of life as we would know the meaning of a sentence.

Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

#64

Post by statquontrarian »

Some research and expert guidance you might find useful:

1. Frank Martela and Michael F Steger. The three meanings of meaning in life: Distinguishing coherence, purpose, and significance. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(5):531–545, 2016. doi:10.1080/17439760.2015.1137623.

2. Roy F Baumeister. Meanings of life. Guilford Press, 1991.

3. Viktor E Frankl. Man’s search for meaning. Simon and Schuster, 1985.

4. Roy F Baumeister, Kathleen D Vohs, Jennifer L Aaker, and Emily N Garbinsky. Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life. The journal of positive psychology, 8(6): 505–516, 2013. doi:10.1080/17439760.2013.830764.

5. Crystal L Park and Login S George. Assessing meaning and meaning making in the context of stressful life events: Measurement tools and approaches. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8 (6):483–504, 2013.

6. Blake A Allan, Ryan D Duffy, and Richard Douglass. Meaning in life and work: A developmental perspective. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(4):323–331, 2015. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.950180.

7. Samantha J Heintzelman and Laura A King. On knowing more than we can tell: Intuitive processes and the experience of meaning. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(6):471–482, 2013. doi:10.1080/17439760.2013.830758.

8. Michael F Steger. Experiencing meaning in life: Optimal functioning at the nexus of well-being, psychopathology, and spirituality. In The human quest for meaning, pages 211–230. Routledge, 2013.

9. Bryan J Dik, Ryan D Duffy, and Brandy M Eldridge. Calling and vocation in career counseling: Recommendations for promoting meaningful work. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40 (6):625, 2009. doi:10.1037/a0015547.

10. Lindsay G Oades, Michael Steger, Antonelle Delle Fave, and Jonathan Passmore. The Wiley Blackwell handbook of the psychology of positivity and strengths-based approaches at work. John Wiley & Sons, 2017.

11. Michael F Steger and Bryan J Dik. If one is looking for meaning in life, does it help to find meaning in work? Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 1(3):303–320, 2009. doi:10.1111/j.1758-0854.2009.01018.x.

12. Bryan J Dik and Ryan D Duffy. Make your job a calling: How the psychology of vocation can change your life at work. Templeton Foundation Press, 2012.

13. Login S George and Crystal L Park. Are meaning and purpose distinct? An examination of correlates and predictors. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(5):365–375, 2013. doi:10.1080/17439760.2013.805801.

Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

#65

Post by MattPalmer1086 »

There are also people without purpose who have high happiness and well being. And even if people who happen to have purpose are often happier, it does not follow that the pursuit of purpose will lead to happiness for you.

Why do you see having purpose in particular as your vehicle to obtain happiness and well being? Answering that question (for yourself) may give you some clues as to the direction your life should take.

Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

#66

Post by he11ow »

Notice what makes you smile despite yourself. Think about the things you did over and over again between the ages of six to twelve. Think of the times when you had to choose between different problems to solve, homework to do, questions to answer, whatever, and you chose what you chose.

As I type this, I am aware it sounds bonkers. But when you pay close attention to what accomplished, creative people say when they talk about their life's work, you notice it all sounds so very, very similar.

They could be in science or art or sports or music or politics or really anything, and they'd point to some foundational behavior or event at a young age. And then they'll also talk about not WHY they love the thing they're doing, but rather how they just SEEMED TO DO the thing they're doing, and they kinda decided they may as well do more of it, or do it properly.

It's not about a big reveal. Rather, it's like a tiny voice, and the more attentively you listen, the clearer it becomes.

Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

#67

Post by sunderw »

theonemind wrote: post #38

I don't think you should buy it; you've been programmed to believe it so that it becomes self-fulfilling prophecy. I think people are more satisfied with life when they have a purpose because they think they need a purpose, but that seems to me like a symptom of a prevalent mode of thought--Heidegger described the modern myth that we work with is that everything kind of represents a flat plane of potential to exploit…

That’s an interesting take.

I would add that while you don’t necessarily need your life to have a purpose, having a job (or hobbies) that have a purpose is important. Whether the purpose is helping others, knowledge, money… just find something that has meaning to you.

That wasn’t the original poster’s question though, but Thought it would be a nice precision.

Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

#68

Post by jkmcf »

My observation, which also applies to finding a SO, is to get out there and do a bunch of different things, and it will find you.

You cannot read a book and find your calling, though it may give you ideas about interesting things to try.

Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?

#70

Post by dnissley »

what is this "purpose/ meaning/ calling/ value" thing?

It's actually a pretty interesting question, one that David Chapman tackles in his work-in-progress book Meaningness. In fact, the appetizer for the book tackles it starting from the idea of purpose: https://meaningness.com/an-appetizer-purpose

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