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
What an insightful query you have raised...
What adds purpose and meaning to my life is when I am there for someone to pep them up, uplift and empower them and help them find happiness within them... in other words when I am needed by someone !!!
It's so true:
that one likes to be liked...
loves to be loved...
but most of all one needs to be needed.
😊
@RideaRainbow
It is so important to be there for others and to show them that you care. I love how this really helps you by uplifting others. :)
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
I feel like I've been hyper focused on things that gave me purpose in the past, such as relationships, goals, and anything that felt like a storyline arc in my life. But, you mentioned small things, and I've come to find that those are really the most important. Anything that makes you laugh, smile, or would make an exclamation point appear over your head. Anything that we can influence for the better, and any way that we can give support or give back. Overall, I feel like I learn the most from those things, and it's that overall growth and inner levelling-up that gives me the most purpose.
@Torean
So so true. Those small things can really help us find what we are passionate about. Perhaps it's our daily walk or when we get up we drink a nice refreshing glass of water. Just things that help refuel our tanks. It can be some of the bigger things too but often the smaller things can be overlooked so I am so glad that you see them!
@LisaMeighanMBPsS. Dipping my toes into hosting discussions was very scary at first. But now I find that it gives me some meaning and purpose. I started a class on zoom which I hope will give some more meaning to my life.
@adventurousBranch3786
That's awesome! Stepping outside our personal box can be scary, but doing so can bring much personal feelings of fulfillment. I hope you find joy in doing your new class. ❤️ 😊
@EmbStitcher33 Thank you for sharing your thoughts 🌹.
@adventurousBranch3786
Look at you go :) I also found them scary at first as they were so busy and it can feel daunting at first but we gradually ease into it. Sometimes removing ourselves safely from our comfort zones can be very empowering too.
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
It's a hard question to answer since I feel like I haven't achieved anything in life. When i feel that way, which is almost everyday now, i try to enjoy the little things that make me happy such as my favorite food, listening to music, watching your favorite videos or keeping up with tv and movies, whatever it is that puts a smile on your face.
@LindaSkellington5
The little things are most important and when we look at the little things they all add up into something very remarkable. It's so important that you do what you can and try to be kind to yourself in the process :)
Being with Nature. I feel relaxed and sometimes I just get my mind off everything for a while. It could be the sea,mountains,skies make it. It can’t be just be who wants to be away from everyone just enjoying nature for sometime. Other days too bring with friends and family helps a good laugh then you just move on with life 
@goldenleylie
I can relate goldenleylie, spending time in nature is so grounding and takes you out of any worries for a while but sometimes it's just good to be with people too to talk and laugh.
I feel like any meaning is unavailable to me.
I am permanently exhausted due to health conditions. Fail to find anything in life interesting, so there's no way to set goal when there is not even vague joy for a reward. Can't support myself no matter what i try, and it kind of breaks the meaning of trying anything at all in the end, even if i could afford it. Helping people only feels disgusting when I can't help myself anyhow. Don't really want to live and see no way of adding any meaning. Don't understand how to help myself anymore.
Guess I'll just work as an opposite example proving the thread's point.
@Shauni05 I am sorry you are expressing what sounds like a very dark place. That must be rough for you to go through.
It also sounds like there is little hope of change in your condition. There are no easy answers for that situation. Some people turn to a psychiatrist for medical therapy or a therapist for talk therapy.
I myself found myself in dark places and there seemed to be no way out. Since there was little hope of changing what had been lost, I tried a unique approach. I accepted that things were hopeless and would probably never change, but I will go on living the best I can. Finding little things each day to rejoice about: the sun shining, a wild flower, a bird song, the wind blowing in the trees, the music of rain on a puddle.
A long time passed but I was still alive and every day I found something to be joyful about. Hope you find a ray of sunshine or a bird song to cheer you in these dark times.
@Shauni05
I am so sorry to hear this truly. It is so exhausting going through health concerns and at times we just feel like it is one thing after the other and it truly is very overwhelming to have to live like this day in and day out. I hope that you can reach out to someone you trust about those thoughts you have been having as sometimes talking about them can help ease how substantial and scary they feel right now for you. Meaning is always there for you but right now you're struggling to see it, I hope you can find something that brings you joy even something very small.
We are thinking of you and to echo what Soulsings has said, if your thoughts and feelings have become overwhelming that you are struggling to see a way forward then reaching out to a professional may really benefit you.
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
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!
Thank you for starting this discussion! What brings my life meaning and purpose is love and connecting with people.
@SnowflakeRose42
That's awesome SnowflakeRose42!
Thanks for sharing 😊
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
First, Love the picture. Instills calm just looking at it. Thank you for posting it. So glad you're okay after your wind storm!
What gives me purpose right now, and its hard cause I've been so down lately, (but for something very reasonable/understandable)... With that said, anything I can do to encourage someone else, even when I feel like I'm at a slow crawl, helps me reaffirm my own personal self-esteem. Not a feeling that I have to do this for my self-worth, but that I choose to be an encouraging, loving, kind person.
Something physical that I do - anything I can do to express myself creatively. Right now I'm using patterns already made, but in doing these over and over, I'm learning more about how to make my own. I have so many original ideas I want to bring to fruition. I've been so stifled for so many years. Fighting old ghosts... But today is a new day and I'm taking more ownership of what can I do every day. The more I do, the better I get at it... so, it's exciting to see my my skills grow.
The mind really does make it's own place... it can make a heaven out of hell, or a hell out of heaven. I just have to do all I can to stay on my life path. I try to take that quote from John Milton to heart.
Realistically, accept where I am right now, take steps forward, big or small - whatever feels real for that moment, and grow toward my goal. Also, take the time to be happy for every step taken. 😊 Not just tell myself "I'll be happy when..." I choose to be happy for every success, big or small, it all accumulates. Wish everyone here happiness on your paths too. ❤️
@EmbStitcher33
Thank you EmbStitcher33!
You explained things very well and into depth, there is a lot to reflect about in your post and it's all positive.
Keep enjoying your ''now moments'' 👍
@EmbStitcher33
What a beautiful post which I am so sure will be of great support to those reading it too! It comes from the growth mindset where you look at all of the things to help you grow and look at things in an inquisitive manner. We are then able to see things in abundance which helps us to see even more possibilities too.
I think you bring up some great points there about finding hope through meaning in your life especially when you mentioned you've had a tough time but you choose today to be a new start and to see what it brings. Also, using your creativity is a great way to challenge those feelings too. This is just wonderful to hear and you are very resilient it sounds.
I also liked the idea about not seeking destination happiness.... I will be happy when I've reached this stage in my life etc as those thoughts are so limiting and encourage us to only find happiness based upon meeting certain conditions and not found in the moment and in enjoying the journey too! Very well said :)
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
I would love to give my family a better life. Enjoy many things and travel with them. :)
@Jewelmoon17
That's lovely and it expresses a lot of care for your family!I really wish you things to improve but I am also glad to know that you guys have one for the other the most important thing: love!
Stay blessed! 💙
I saw the news a while ago, the high winds in the UK, news video showed that a person was blown rolling down the street! Others walked slanted, and one held onto a pole.
When I'm helping others, whether than be directly or indirectly. Whether the person I'm helping recognizes it or not, at least I know that what I do is indirectly helping them. For example, working in a Hospital, in a department where no one really pays attention to (or won't know of unless they also work in a Hospital), with a team of 10+ people throughout the day, we clean surgical instruments. So this kind of work, directly helps the surgeon who then uses our clean instruments to perform surgery on patients (indirect help). I'm pretty sure none of my colleagues think of this position in this way. They are only doing it for the decent pay. Although I no longer work in this department, I'm now even more close to the patients needing surgery, my work now, directly helps nurses, surgeons, and anaesthetists. Just like the previous work, I now work with only 4-5 others on my team, and I'm also sure these people don't think of the work like I do. By the sounds of it, they are only doing it for the stable hours, good pay, and later on, good pension when they retire.
I'm also working on a side project, which if successful, I'll also be indirectly helping people. My dream job is also helping others (teaching English as a Foreign Language), which I'm also studying towards this goal~
@LisaMeighanMBPsS
@Jaeteuk
Hello there Jaeteuk!
You said it right: the reason/motivation we have while doing something can make a huge difference in someone else's life!
You really are moved by care and love for others and give value to what you are doing in every context you are, simply awesome, thank you ❤️
@Jaeteuk
How insightful. I love this and it's so brilliant that you see the value you added with cleaning the surgical instruments :) Also studying towards your goals is excellent. I am so glad you are able to do this.
