Meaning & Purpose Musings

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Dr Doughboy
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Meaning & Purpose Musings

Post by Dr Doughboy »

Life to me is fulfilling and chock full of meaning! But I will feel more fulfilled when completing my PhD! 7 years down--hopefully this is the year! I ran across some recent interesting stats: 73% of Americans say it’s important to pursue greater purpose and meaning in life, yet only 25% have a clear sense of their purpose in life. In interviewing 18 educational leaders and 5 students, most people found their meaning and purpose in their spiritual lives and in their family relationships. Yet surprisingly the majority of them discovered that the greatest satisfaction and fulfillment in their lives came through exercising their calling and passing on their passions, knowledge, and beliefs to others. These generative expressions of teaching, caring, loving, serving, leading, guiding and intentionally investing in others with their time, talents, and resources provided the context of their legacy.

I am interested in perspectives of those on this forum. What brings you the most meaning in your life? Do you have a calling or purpose in life? After nearly completing my dissertation on these weighty topics, I am very interested in your perspectives. I just completed an online course to help answer some of these most difficult questions and help people figure out their “why” in life and practically turn this introspection into an action plan. I am now translating the content of this course into book format, so your thoughts would be timely and helpful!
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psyreporter
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Re: Meaning & Purpose Musings

Post by psyreporter »

Interesting topic

I have personally been wondering why 'the unlocking of potential of others' (passing on passions, knowledge, and beliefs (wisdom) to others) would be a 'higher purpose' for people.

I've noticed that even professors dedicated to the subject purpose - even a president of a prominent organization dedicated to the subject (co-author of the book 'true north' which is sort of a paragon of business books similar of nature as the iconic '7 habits' by Stephen R. Covey) - reside in wonder by the 'recognition' that it is the higher purpose of many people while the people themselves almost always firmly believe that it is something truly personal - an authentic characteristic unique to themselves.

I've noticed that the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas - Ethics as First Philosophy / Totality and Infinity - seems to conclude with a similar assertion that unlocking the potential in others is the highest purpose of human life.

The quest to find meaning and purpose in life and work is a modern movement.

In business science the purpose, meaning and empowerment movement follows the previous 'authenticity' movement (a sort of shift from personal individual leader based subjective morality to outward - organization culture centric - morality). Increasingly employees in companies are put in control and are valued to pioneer - to determine a path forward - on behalf of the company. This involves morality.

Businesses and business thinkers/science are really struggling to bring it into practice.

(2022) What Is the Purpose of Your Purpose? Your why may not be what you think it is.
"The current fixation on moral purpose puts pressure on executives to be seen as running a “good” business. Defining your purpose (morality) as embedded in culture—as operating in a thoughtful, disciplined, ethical manner—can be both pragmatic and genuine. The full potential of purpose is achieved only when it’s aligned with a company’s value proposition and creates shared aspirations both internally and externally."
https://hbr.org/2022/03/what-is-the-pur ... ur-purpose

Studies have shown that giving people autonomy improves their health and well-being significantly. Modern workers simply demand it so companies are forced to deliver.

It is interesting to see the recent development with regard meaning and purpose in human life. But since professors dedicated to the subject are wondered by the 'recognition' that it is the highest purpose in many people, fundamental understanding of the Why of the movement may actually be lacking.

Therefore my question: what about plants and animals? Why would it be different for them? Why not speed up evolution a bit and instead of doing the 'purpose and meaning' movement for humanity, include nature already in (cultural / movement based) consideration as well?
PsyReporter.com | “If life were to be good as it was, there would be no reason to exist.”
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psyreporter
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Re: Meaning & Purpose Musings

Post by psyreporter »

In another topic you wrote the following:
Dr Doughboy wrote: February 22nd, 2023, 12:56 pmHelping others find meaning gives me the most meaning.
Do you believe that it is something personal or do you recognize it in others?

Did you ever consider the (fundamental) Why of that purpose?
PsyReporter.com | “If life were to be good as it was, there would be no reason to exist.”
ernestm
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Re: Meaning & Purpose Musings

Post by ernestm »

To answer your question, my wife's PhD in depth psychology became the most meaningful thing in my life to me. The moment I finished paying it off she filed for divorce and went to live with her therapist, which was deeply unethical, but as she used her training in therapy and her therapist to try and get me committed so she could get more control of my money, I was in the difficult position of not being able to do anything about it without being put in a psychiatric hospital. She also made it a condition that I carried on working to prove I was sane. When the divorce finished, I found out shortly thereafter that without her I had enough money not to need to work any more. So I retired and learned to be happy alone without needing to achieve anything. It was a difficult thing to learn for me, and extremely painful throughout, as it took a long time for the chastisements for my lack of ambition to fade, with my family joining in it and all because none of them had jobs and wanted my money too. But in the end she cured me of my worst false illusions. Thank you for asking and wishing you a nice day.
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Eliza B00k
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Re: Meaning & Purpose Musings

Post by Eliza B00k »

All I read here is very inspiring but as I think this over I realized or I came to the conclusion that we have two different meaning and purpose of life.

First is the societies purpose of life which is to achieved something, to be successfull and be someone, the second one of the meaning and purpose of life is we live it.

Sometimes as we are running after our dream we forgot to live our life, we kind of follow the path everyone take because that's the societies norms and failure to do so will be tagged as unsuccessfull.

But we need to take a moment to reflect, if you do what other think is right and be "successfull" , are you living? Yes, because it is what societies meaning of life and if you enjoy it good for you but for those who's not following the ideal meaning and purpose of life, are you living? Still a YES because you are LIVING.

In the end, we are just as small as a dust what we did today will be forgotten. We don't matter, we will going to fade, so make sure you are living today.
EricPH
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Re: Meaning & Purpose Musings

Post by EricPH »

Dr Doughboy wrote: February 22nd, 2023, 12:56 pmHelping others find meaning gives me the most meaning.
Helping others, helps me to find meaning, Desmond TuTu called it selfish compassion. When you help others, you probably help yourself more.
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Mitzi
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Re: Meaning & Purpose Musings

Post by Mitzi »

Everyone finds meaning in their own way and I don't think anyone can say what the best way is.
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