God Is Dead

[Viking]

Im having a very hard time believing that contribution makes the greatest fulfillment one could have.

Im thinking about what would I really want and all I come up with is ideas of how to make myself happy, helping people isnt even in the proximity of that.

Im thinking about how I would be all enlightened and shit and would blissfully sit exploring the mysteries of the universe near a river and a beautiful wooden house beside the love of my life. maybe you would ask "and what after that?"  and my answer would be: exactly the same, I wouldnt need anything, why would I care about doing anything else? I dont believe it will be boring.

I read what I wrote right now and it sounds very cringe worthy and I Intellectually understand it's not true, but if I ask honestly myself if I want to contribute to society I would say no. For some reason that's what I believe.

Im trying to come up with things that may be worth working a ton for, in other words my life purpose, but im not finding anything worth the cost. I just dont care about humanity more than I care about myself.

[aurum]

@Ilya

Your strategy has one serious flaw. People who don’t care about contributing to others never get what they really want.

You say you want a wooden house beside a river. How are you going to get that? Unless you build it with your own hands, it’s going to be by working and contributing value for someone.

You say you want the love of your life to live with you. But why would anyone want to be in a relationship with you if you’re not going to contribute to the relationship what they’re looking for?

I could go on and on. It’s a law of the universe: you give to get.

You might think that by not contributing you’re winning because you’re going to get what you want and not have to worry about anyone else. But that’s a myopic, naive worldview.

So feel free to try your strategy. But I think you’re going to be ultimately disapointed with the results. 

[Viking]

@aurum what you said is obvious to me. I know that contribution is the way but what I tried to point out is that I dont feel as though contribution is my main motivation, when it has to be in order to create the most effective life purpose.

[tyler7415]

You're a young person. I would focus less on your contribution and more on making yourself a highly developed and conscious person first. "Let him that would move the world first move himself." -Socrates. Once you are strong, you can help make others strong. Invest in yourself and then you will know what you wanna do, and you'll actually be able to contribute that.

[Nahm]

@Ilya yes. Work on yourself. 

[aurum]

18 hours ago, Ilya said:

@aurum what you said is obvious to me. I know that contribution is the way but what I tried to point out is that I dont feel as though contribution is my main motivation, when it has to be in order to create the most effective life purpose.

Of course it doesn’t feel that way. This is a lesson you’re probably going to have to hear hundreds of times before it starts to really sink in. If it was as simple as understanding it conceptually, almost everyone would get it.

So start looking for how this plays out in your life. Watch what happens when your focus shifts from “it’s about me” to “it’s about contribution”. See the ramifications play out.

Also, keep hammering yourself with kind of “contribution-positive” material. Leo’s life purpose course would help. Or you could read books which talk about the importance of contribution and service. Start programming yourself with those thoughts.

 

[MarinM]

@Ilya I'm at similar place. I just see myself getting enlightened and painting all day night long. The only contribution I see myself can do is positive murals on buildings. But, I think once one finds true fulfillment in himself he'll naturally turn outwards. I was kinda blaming myself for being unable to find purpose to help other people, but I just don't feel it right now.