What Brings Meaning and Purpose into Your Life?
Hi everyone,
So in the UK right now it is very windy and rainy. I've nearly been blown down my driveway! Thankfully the storm is subsiding now.
Studies have shown that when we focus on meaning and purpose in our lives and what brings us both of those elements we are happier and more motivated.
I thought we could discuss what brings meaning and purpose into our lives. It can be small, anything you like that brings you meaning and purpose!
@LisaMeighanMBPsS great topic thanks for sharing.
I thought we could discuss what brings meaning and purpose into our lives. It can be small, anything you like that brings you meaning and purpose!
Helping other people or being kind to other people helps me get out of my me first attitude that is a big contributor to my dissatisfaction with life.
@soulsings
And you are one of the kindest people I know so keep doing what you're doing, soul!
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
Hi Lisa, I'm glad nothing happened to you!
What brings meaning and purpose into our lives? As a teenager I was already in doing some volunteer work (animal protection) and that was something that gave me meaning and purpose. When I left my country of birth I stopped doing volunteer work and it made me feel bad inside since I felt the need to do something to help in this world so I joined 7cups. I found meaning and purpose again.
@amiablePeace77
How beautiful Ami. We are truly so glad you are here with us each day and make so many people feel heard. Volunteering I can see is at your heart and we definitely do find ourselves by helping others and I am so glad 7 Cups united that within you too!
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
Hello @LisaMeighanMBPsS
What brings meaning and purpose to my life is being able to help others that may not have the voice to speak up for themselves. My purpose I think is to bring joy to others in various ways. Although charity should begin at home. I kind of miss that mark.
@scarletPear1945 I agree helping others makes me happier than anything I can get.
You are not alone, the hardest place for me to be kind and patient is at home.
@scarletPear1945
Clarity can often be hard to see but I truly hope you find that with helping others too because it can really change your entire perspective too.
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
Thanks for the thread! Being a parent brings meaning to my life and also as a working professional. Knowing that I am contributing to a bigger business by doing my work everyday is meaningful.
Although I feel I can do better in both. As a parent and as a professional - especially the latter. I feel like I have been slacking off at work and shouldn't be doing so.
@scareddriver123 yes work can contribute to a greater sense of purpose and meaning in our lives. Thanks for sharing.
@scareddriver123
I am so sure you are doing amazingly. Often as a parent (and I know I do), I feel like it's a juggling act and I either feel guilty for my parenting or for my contributions at work and it's not easy at all to balance the two and ensure that you are doing your best to achieve a good work/home balance. As long as you are keeping up with your parenting, your children are well cared for and happy (I'm so sure they are as you come across as very attentive) and you are meeting your demands at work then you are doing an excellent job. I also hope you find time to care for you too.
honestly, nothing is going on in my life right now. I feel aimless, because I don’t have any goals. Any advice for someone like me?
@proactiveTangerine7718
Hello there, it surely is difficult to deal with this sensation, sorry to hear.
Do you think that setting very small goals could help you a bit?
Or if there's something you like or interest you can cultivate?
the problem is that I don’t have anything to strive towards. I don’t feel strongly about anything and I feel like my interests aren’t really fulfilling. Right now I just like listening to sad music.
I always feel kinda empty
@proactiveTangerine7718 Is it wrong to feel empty?? I mean sometimes people love the feeling of happiness but they push the feeling of sadness what they don't get is weather it's being happy or sad those feelings stays for sometime it just keeps switching between sad and happy instead of pressing pause button on sad you should press play button so the sad time can go and the happy time can come. Isn't it weird that when you are happy you find your hobbies interesting but you are sad you push the away why do we have to do that? i can be sad and i can still enjoy my hobbies
I know what you mean. Just last night I was listening to my dads favorite music…. Which I LOVE! My dad passed two years ago. And listening to the music just made me sad. And i didn’t want to listen anymore. It’s the same with watching movies he and I liked. Or even a series. When I think about watching now, it just feels empty. It doesn’t feel interesting and fun anymore. Even though the interest is still there, I even sometimes get excited when I think about watching but once I turn it on I’m no longer drawn to it. I instead just feel sad.
@ilovesnow2004
What you said makes so much sense. I'm working on grief right now... it's been one month. I'm coming from a place where I understand and accept my feelings... it's like being in waves coming in from the sea...sometimes they come in slow, and low. Sometimes they totally wash over me. I just see myself standing still in the water (in the pain) and I just let it be what ever it has to be. I try not to stifle any feeling. I was raised not to show my feelings, so this is a victory for me. Doing it this way allows me to find joy in between the sorrow. In time the joy will be more prevalent. We all have our own journey. I hope all here find some joy whereever you are on your path.
@proactiveTangerine7718
Hello, I would hope that to share how you feel and that to talk with people on here can give you some relief.
@proactiveTangerine7718
We are so glad you are here. Small goals like @Meaningfulsilence suggested are such a great idea so you can start small and gradually work on those goals too. You will get there, one step at a time. :)
@LisaMeighanMBPsS what brings purpose to my life is that i aspire to make a difference i want to feel everything i haven't felt before do things and go places ii haven't been to and helping and talking to people here at 7cups makes me realize so much in my life that i have not experienced yet .
That’s nice 🙂
@ilovesnow2004
7cups gave me too the feeling of making a difference, having purpose and meaning in life and also made me aware of things I missed out on in life. I hope you will see lots of the places you want to go, the world has so much to offer.
@ilovesnow2004
It has broadened your horizons which is amazing to hear :) I love this and we are so glad you love being here as it's people like you that make 7 Cups a thriving and positive community.
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
Keeping those around me content.
@intelligentTree6409
It seems that you're very considerate about how others feel. Please never forget to you give yourself the same care.
@amiablePeace77
Aw yeah, I will keep this in mind, thank you a lot <3
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
My family, even though they drive me crazy. And my boyfriend.đź’‘
@limeTiger1453
This is so lovely :)
its actually pretty hard for me to answer this question. I honestly do not know what brings me meaning and purpose in life. I guess if I did know the answer then I would also be clear on what my passion is. It makes me very frustrated not being able to answer this…
Don’t get me wrong, I am happy being a first time mom but I think there has to be something else. I’m also happy to help others and I enjoy being there for people, totally. But that’s not it for me either. Donating money and clothes and blood, or offering my guest spaces to refugees during this time of war, or spending time with elderly… I mean all of these things are great but I just consider them as the right things to do. It doesn’t make me feel fulfilled or like I have a purpose. It doesn’t even make me feel like I’ve accomplished anything special at all. Those things just seem totally normal and humane.
so … I don’t know what gives me meaning or purpose. I do wish I did know. Great question!
@greenmagnolias2404
That was a very honest response. Thank you :) I think that sometimes it's okay to not know... we may not know the answer but it's so positive for us to start the reflection process too and gradually we may find what brings us meaning and purpose. I think you sound really realistic and an all round person who just thinks that certain things should be done and not for any reason either which is totally okay :) Being a first time mum is so special but so exhausting so I hope you're taking care of yourself too.
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
That's a great and deep question.
The thing that brings meaning and purpose to my life is that I want to do something that gives back to society in some way. To be part of something that is helpful for the world we are living in. I really care about our environment and all that we have and I wish I can take actions to be able to do my part. With whatever skill I have, I want to use it to its full potential.
@HealerWithin
I love this. It really is very very powerful that you can see you want to give back and possibly benefit society and the environment. This can ensure that brilliant positive change can happen so keep doing small things to benefit yourself, people around you and the environment and I know that things will show you even more meaning and purpose too.