Have we over-thought our purpose in life?
968153
This is a good question.\n\nI find that anytime people get all up in thier heads about why we are here,we get things like jihad and crusades and ethnic cleansing.\n\nSo I must say I agree,..we have.
812172
Yes, that's usually how we get in trouble, isn't it?  I think we all have done that and hopefully, we have learned something from the consequences of not "thinking" and weighing our options.  Godloveya.  Very good question.
24377
Friend, you have asked a question that is so difficult to answer. I have answered a lot of them here, and I almost thought i would not want to answer this one, but then I had second thoughts. I said, "Let's try!" :)\n\nThis I believe is the question that every thinking man/woman asks at various points of their life. They ask it when thye feel thet have no aim in life, or their success just overwhelms them, and they seek a reason for the madness. \n\nBut, I don't think the asnwer is too obvious or simple. For, if I say, the aim is to earn more, the question comes "what for?" , to help the needy, but then that means you would never have helped everyone who needed help, and thereby you would not have fulfilled ur aim. \n\nIf you say, the aim is to be happy, and make others happy, in that case, actually, you would end up doing nothing, for those who make things happen, also make enemies. \n\nI have at times, tried to find a purpose, and have always satisfied myslef with this, that the purpose is to do the job at hand in the best possible way, for only when everyone does that, will we make real differences to our life and of others... and thats a pretty good reason to exist. To change..to grow... and to keep moving! Rest will take care of itself! Right?
509027
given the chance to fix one thing in my life, it would be ALL the wrongdoings i have made. but then, if i have been perfect all my life, what's the use of living this life and learning from our own mistakes? those mistakes in the past contributed to the person that we are now. things happen for a reason regardless if it is intentional or not. the best thing to do is to learn from one's mistake and continue living for the better, not for the worst.
1022380
We are the accidental products of unthinking natural processes, and therefore the meaning and purpose of life can be anything we choose.  For myself, I didn't choose to exist, but now I'm here I want to enjoy life, bring up my kids well, leave the world a slightly better place than when I joined it, and die having no major regrets about what I have or haven't done in my life.
69845
the question is NOT what is the purpose of life, but rather, \n\nDid life happen on purpose?  A better question to ponder.
52546
I'd say the purpose of life is to live it well, advance as a civilization, & keep it going.  That's what we're always trying to do.
69318
Most definitely!!  Sadly, we tend to get too busy in our lives to think about Him as much as we should.  Those are the times to slow down and give thanks to Him for everything He has done and presently does for us.  I try to take at least a little bit of time out every day to reflect on everything I have and thank Him for making it possible.
33159
Perhaps you are being too skeptical.  What is your purpose?
762980
I think its a deep rooted instinct that makes us strive for things just out of reach. It probably helped our evolution.\n It also says something about our imagination, that we exaggerate the positive aspects of what something may bring, and ignore those aspects which are negative or not useful.
332210
Yes.. I think everyone has... I think only you can overcome that feeling of being lost when you figure out exactly what you want of life itself.
973816
Sounds like your life is coming to an end before it even started. I would like to think things could have been a lot better but who knows maybe we are destined to be what we are and where we end up.
121715
WOW ... well, let me answer your last question first ... no one will answer because you are making them think too much.  Personally, I am in awe of such an amazing question.  Alas, I know I will NOT be able to do it the justice it deserves with a simple answer.  \n\nSo let's look at the Original Question ( in bold ) and simply answer that.  Yes, I do believe that time is an illusion, that all we have is now ... RIGHT NOW.  Because our perceptions are warped ( only having 24 hours in a day ) we justify by "prioritizing" what we feel is important and has to be done at this time.  Or we put off things that can be done later ( which has no bearing on this topic ).  We might come across a more important thing to do, and therefore put the things we originally prioritized to be done on hold for the time, and pay attention to what seems to be the new important thing. \n\nSorry this isn't as great of an answer that the question deserved because we can still go into depth about abstract ideas and how we must have them done now ... i.e. Love - among other topics.
1181712
Good question!  In the distant future, I think people will look back on us as being too reliant on our emotions rather than our rational minds, will determine that we squandered far too many opportunities to make ourselves better, and will see that we leaned on each other for support far too much instead of standing on our own two feet as individuals.
1106539
I think that we have lost track of what is really important. We need to remember that we came into this world with nothing and we will leave with nothing.  Material things do not make you happy...really they don't.  It's the matters of the heart: friendship, family, love.  I know that it sounds corny, but when you get right down to it...it is true.     Take Care!
623503
Edward O. Wilson's book Consilience deals with this question among others.  He maintains that genetic code associated with ethics and religion played an integral part in early man's life since religion and ethics help people to make sense of things like death, pain, and most importantly, purpose.  Wilson maintains that communities with stronger religion/ethics genes rose above those without it and so people today tend towards religion and ethics for good and sound reasons (that is, it's better for humanity to be driven by a sense of purpose than for it not to be).\n\nSo, in my mind, this is the crucial fork in the road.  Is purpose really a creation of our own, or is it possible that our sense of purpose comes from an outside force?  I think that it is at least possible, but how far does the rabbit hole go down?
786831
wishful thinking on your part