Finding a sense of b purpose in life!

dennis22554dennis22554
edited April 2025 in General

Daily life presents many challenges and can result in the loss of a "sense of purpose" over b time. Stress is a major contributor fortunately there simple solutions not req I iring medication! My favorite recommendation is to volunteer your time at a children's hospital for kids with disabilities or an as animal shelter. The b experience you gain are so rewarding you will quickly gain focus in life. How would you deal with a loss of purpose in life? Even if you a re perfectly fine..co n sider volunteering!

Comments

  • [Deleted User]HumbleBaron1 (deleted user)

    what?

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    My life actually has plenty of purpose. Fighting for the rights and survival of those like me (which is multiple things, not just a single label), and being inspirational to them. Being my truest, most authentic self (again, multiple labels). Offering inspiration and guidance to young minds (one of the reasons I like working at a school). Sensory issues make volunteering at a hospital or shelter unfeasible, but I do help moderate a neurodivergent discord server.

    Come to think of it, I look forward to my life having less purpose.

    Don't be so dismissive of medication. Medication doesn't give a sense of purpose. It lets people have a sense of purpose, or removes barriers to being a functional person. For example, someone with certain types of OCD would be unable to perform the required duties. Someone with ADHD may have trouble following simple instructions if they're not interesting enough.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    @HumbleBaron1 I think that was an appropriate response.

  • pmvinespmvines
    edited April 2025

    Gotta say that I agree. Volunteering your time to various causes and social groups can be quite fulfilling. For those seeking purpose and those who aren't. A couple of good friends volunteer their time as escorts at a women's clinic to keep the women safe from harassment and violence from picketers, and another couple friends donate their time at mission shelters. My son and his trans partner have donated their time to LGBTQ causes through MCAC (Magic City Acceptance Center) in Birmingham,as well as for the Methodist church that MCAC meets. I've volunteered time and money for animal causes, and when I was a teen even donated time and did food drives for Food not Bombs. And I am also involved in coordinating referrals for volunteers for my hospice patients. All well worth the time and very meaningful.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    @p m vines..all great causes

  • Darkeyed_maleDarkeyed_male

    I want to do something that aids in the solving of the breakdown in communication between well minded individuals. (Not like minded)

    I want to do what incense did for people in the 60s. My best friend and I get trapped by our words all the time. Even though we both want the same thing.

    A set of symbols or sounds in succession together to start...a song maybe? No matter the language. We need to vibe more and speak less. Misunderstandings seem to be the foundation of our communication in my opinion, which is why we fail.

    If people want to settle into a comfortable opposing view, there seems to be plenty of raw material.

    But what of a thing that allows us to put down our guards and vibe?

  • Darkeyed_maleDarkeyed_male
    edited May 2025

    How can I communicate with that person over there that Hates me and doesn't know me.

    Think about that question.

    Will this question ever cross our minds?

  • _marC_marC

    What?

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    @danceculture--I understand your posting

  • JubalJubal

    My purpose is to raise my children to be as successful as possible. My other purposes are to chew bubblegum and catch fish - and I'm all out of bubblegum.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    For those that are confused---the post simply suggests that if you are feeling "a little lost in life"---that you might be able to get back on path by simply taking the time to volunteer at a children's hospital, special education class, animal shelter, or some other charity organization. The experience can be self fulfilling --and get you back on-track--no medication required.

  • IronicMaidenIronicMaiden

    @Dance_Culture Being autistic, I do tend to think about communication a lot. Autistics and neurotypicals tend to communicate in very different manners. In general, we need details and clarity, and NTs depend heavily on assumptions. A typical autistic experience is asking a question to get clarification on something, and an NT refusing to answer because it should be obvious.

    Communication consists of speaking and listening and understanding between the two. Good communication depends on knowing when there is not good communication and seeking better understanding.

    How can I communicate with that person over there that Hates me and doesn't know me.

    That depends on that person being willing to listen to you rather than to their own prejudices. That person must be willing to understand. Unfortunately, that so rarely happens.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    I volunteer to be confused.

  • Katelyn_BKatelyn_B
    edited May 2025

    @Dance_Culture: I really liked your post; I thought it was beautiful.

    @dennis22554: I agree, a loss of purpose can be rough. A lot of my friends are of an age where they report this when their kids become truly independent or with a couple of my friends recently, when they retired. I've felt at a loss for purpose a couple of times in life myself.

    Helping other people/volunteering seems a good way, I agree, and it is also good for your soul.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    "soul" is a word close to my heart

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    Sole is a word close to my feet.

  • dennis22554dennis22554

    sarcasm can be offensive

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel
    edited May 2025

    That wasn’t sarcasm. That’s was a word play joke—more on the pun side of things.

  • ImmersedwarmthImmersedwarmth

    I raised/ nurtured four beautiful children, and now get to pour into the lives of my grandchildren. I have been, and continue to be, the sole caregiver for my mentally disabled wife. I feel my life is very purposeful. For those still searching for purpose, some great ideas have been shared above.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    @Immersedwarmth I second that. Purpose can be found in a myriad of forms.

  • MiriFagenMiriFagen
    edited May 2025

    This is a very timely topic!
    The latest episode of the "Ologies" podcast by Alie Ward has an interview with a salutogenesis expert, which is a scientist/doctor working in the field of the origins of health, or what makes us healthy. Rather than the usual pathologized approach; diagnose the problem, prescribe a medical solution, etc, they talked about how, in some countries or with some insurance plans that are generous enough, doctors and mental health clinicians are beginning to prescribe non-conventional things to help with problems that aren't so easily helped by straight up medication alone ("social prescribing). They talked about the 5 crucial aspects that promote health; Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging (many "prescriptions" cover multiple areas).

    For example, one doctor prescribed their patient a bicycle and a 6-month period of membership to a local biking Club, of which the doctor himself was also a member. The patient had been suffering from obesity, diabetes and depression. He got a bike, joined the club, and lost 75 lb and got off of his insulin. He benefited from the movement (exercise by riding the bike), nature (being outside) and Belonging (making friends in the club).

    It turns out that people have a much better likelihood of following through with what a doctor says if it comes down as a prescription rather than a doctor. Just making somebody feel bad and saying you should exercise more and you should eat better blah blah blah. It turns out that when you offer someone a solution, make that solution attainable, and make it kind of enjoyable, people will actually be more likely to do it.

    If you're interested to learn more about that, you can listen to the latest episode of the "Ologies" podcast by Alie Ward.
    Now of course, no one, including the guest on the show, was saying that any of this should be a substitution for modern medical treatments, it simply acknowledges that there's much more to the picture than just chemicals and medicines.

    Now, of course this whole conversation originated as talking about a sense of purpose. But it's hard to feel a sense of purpose when you are feeling mentally and physically unhealthy and disconnected. So if you've been struggling to find a sense of purpose, perhaps instead of Simply looking for a purpose, you should begin to examine your life and see in which of these five areas you could use a bit more attention. Because when you surround yourself with the right people and put yourself in the right places, good things will present themselves to you. It's hard for something good to come into your life if you aren't allowing yourself to experience New opportunities.

  • TheFunCartelTheFunCartel

    @MiriFagen Exercise is the ultimate gift you can give yourself. Endorphins are addicting.

  • mauvefoxmauvefox

    @IronLemon 100%!! and I would add that when you add anxiety on top of being neurodivergent, when the details are not fully spelled out, whatever assumptions we do add tend to be on the catastrophic side. Especially when the other person doesn't provide any extra details because "it should be obvious". 😁

  • dennis22554dennis22554
    edited May 2025

    @[immersion m. You are a beautiful person rson

  • [Deleted User]mariacoss39 (deleted user)

    @dennis22554 I was recently feeling this way. I’ve lived a rather colorful life, but lately I felt myself drowning in abyss, feeling both numb and unworthy to have any real pleasures, feeling void and empty of myself and feeling lost with no real purpose in life (even though I have them) those feelings led me to the homeless shelter. I am volunteering at a place and to a group I am passionate for: the homeless. Stress is too dangerous and I’ve learned if I don’t address it, in positive ways, it causes me strife. Life should be easier but it’s not so we must lean on one another to find peace, comfort, and the love of all humanity. I believe in the power of touch. I learned it over 20 years ago. It’s funny how the medical field can be both aggravating and stressful yet teach one so much about love and compassion!

  • Darkeyed_maleDarkeyed_male
    edited May 2025

    .

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