Dull work with lots of lulls, or lots of passive consumption, or too little social contact won't usually equate to a sense of meaning. And real-world impact of your work won't really matter here, because that is just an abstraction. If you find "flow" in work, you'll feel what people peg as sense of meaning. You might also from receiving gratitude in-person for your help - it feels good. We're social beings. If you've ever tried the self-shaming route of rationalizing that you "ought" to be content with your lot, you'll know from experience that does not stick. That is not how our monkey brains work. If something feels bad, that's symptomatic.
Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
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My attitude is it (meaning) is entirely sensory, not rationalized, and elicited through action. Bias, then, towards action. There's also no reason to believe that some obscure as-of-yet discovered vocation is the only thing that could grant meaning. Realistically, you could find all sorts of jobs meaningful. If you don't have a peculiar obsession, so be it. I dislike the term purpose.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#72If AvE is to be believed, there is no purpose. You choose a goal and you getting to that goal is your purpose. Choose unachievable goal, a moonshot, and you're set for life.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#73Check 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”?
#74If you don't yet have a purpose, your purpose is to find your purpose.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#75Follow your curiosity. Don't worry about finding the one true path. There are many great paths you can take. As long as you feel that you are learning new things, keep going.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#76Ask an expert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkSFIWzi7aA
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#77Ask an expert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkSFIWzi7aA
And another one: https://theoatmeal.com/comics/unhappy
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#78In 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.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#79No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: How do I find my “purpose”?
#80Do lots of things that you find interesting. With any hope you will naturally gravitate towards something (or things) that you enjoy and look forward to.
I have been a web developer since the late 90s. In the last few years, I’ve moved somewhat into shooting travel content - getting paid to go on adventures. It happened after I turned 40 and I wouldn’t have seen it coming even just a year prior.