Why are so many people obsessed with "meaning" and "purpose?"

Regardless of your personal views on what is meaningful (or whether you think there is such a thing in life), why do you think it is that so many people seem to be heavily invested in the subject?

It's as though many people are bothered emotionally by the thought of being without "meaning" or "purpose" in life, but I don't understand this attitude at all. Why is there a need for meaning and purpose, and what's wrong with the lack of it?

 

lotta ppl dont know how to just enjoy life
they concentrate so much on every lil bad thing that they feel like theyre always suffering
if theyre suffering there must be a meanning or purpose to make it all worthwhile
but if theyd just learn to enjoy life..enjoyment is all the purpose and meanning ya need

 

ironiclly when i tried to live for pure enjoyment and try to do all of my whims and ambitions it was people, like you, who made and make me feel bad about it.

Not saying i'm the same as before, but i use to live my life wiht the mindset to chase the things i that i thought would make me happy, and if i wanted i couold of taken that path, and at least wouldn't be so conflicted

people need to let go of what bothers them, not bring up the past,

 

I think the secret to life lies in NOT TRYING to be happy but in appreciating the immediate, the moment, and not hankering after this or that, be it power, ambition, success, purpose, whatever.

 

Let it flow.

 

noone needs meaning.....

but theirs no doubt that we all want it

 

you know i've read pretty much everything you've written and yes you lived following your whims..the whims of a natural psychopath
chasing after what you thought would make you happy was causing others pain
i told u all along that wasnt the route to take to happiness
looking over your threads i dunno how u can function in school still and why u havent voluntarily committed yourself
not the same as before huh..changed that much in months?
from rapist to saint in 1 kiss?
(srry didnt mean to derail, but if u saw his other threads yad understand)

 

Wow thats one hell of an intelligent question !
How I would answer this - is to say that there are people who believe there is a purpose or meaning to life - they have looked and found one and want others to see it.
Other people have looked and not found one and want to argue that point with those who have found a meaning -
and then - there are others who are either looking for a meaning and will either find one or wont. The last kind are those who havent started looking

In all though I would say that when you examine your own life and see how vast and truly awe inspiring is the concept of life - let-alone the actual living of it is - you will see how it wouldnt be too un-natural to suppose there might be a meaning to it - or a purpose - its a worthy thing to see for yourself if you can find one.

 

people are obsessed with meaning on purpose

 

People seem to want to be seen as being obsessed with meaning and purpose, but I don't think they really are.
Leave the campsite better than you found it.

 

Some people are confused and need orientation, something stable to rely on...

 

Meaning is comforting. It helps ease suffering. It offers perspective about why every life knows some suffering.

Meaning is substance. It is the difference between your memory and your obscurity. It allows you to be far more than the span of your years and the count of your dollars.

Meaning is beautiful. It is the difference between screaming and singing. It allows you more than accidental joy.

Meaning is fascinating. It is the difference between squiggles and writing. It allows you to do something else besides reinvent the wheel . . . again!

Meaning is powerful. It is the difference between ignoring the obvious and living another day. Meaning is the real language of the universe.

I hope this helps,

Peace and Love

 

i think it's difficult to not question the meaning of human existence to some extent. on a simple physichal level, everything we encounter is made up of the same protons neutron and electrons randomly occuring throughout our known universe. that can't account for our awarness and the complexities of humanity..so it seems apparent, to me, that there our things unanswered about us, be it a "god" or any higher energy you come to believe in through your own experiences. it's something most people began to question atleast to some extent as they become more self-aware. but really i think soaringeagles got it...just keep smiling and take it as it comes

 

When one has no purpose, and can see no meaning, it is confusing. What to do? But given purpose, and a meaning they can understand, they can relax.

The thing I find odd is that often the purpose and meaning are not their own, but just something they were told that they accepted without questioning it. That is why I feel that they don't really obsess on it.

 

Why do you ask?

 

Because I do not understand it and I am curious.

I perceive life as meaningless and purposeless, however I am entirely comfortable with this - and I've always been this way - yet, most people I encounter (when the subject is brought up) seem to be uncomfortable with meaninglessness, and it's beyond my comprehension.

 

Well, there it is. You want to understand and satisfy your curiosity. This is as good a purpose as any for meaning.

What is beyond your comprehension? Meaninglessness? This is the beginning of wisdom. You know, real philosophy.

Is it other people's discomfort with meaninglessness? This is more than just the beginning of real compassion.

Maybe their discomfort comes from whatever it is that they do and do not comprehend about your statement that you are comfortable with meaninglessness? As meaningless as this may seem, it is a real gift from "most people" to you.

And yes, all of this IS meaningful.

Peace and Love

 

I don't know about "meaning and purpose"...I just need stuff to do or I go crazy.

 

I guess I should have been clearer by what I meant by "meaning"....

It is other people's discomfort with meaninglessless that is beyond my comprehension. The near-ubiquity of the phenomenon it is what makes me so curious to attempt to understand it.

 

One view, one I believe is worthy of all respect, simply is - everything is meaningful.

Obviously, everyone has a more or less different arrangement of priorities about why and where and how one recognizes meaning (A whole other discussion may be had about whether or not this is a consciously considered arrangement). According to one's arrangement, however, some meanings are more immediately important than others. My wife's tone of voice, for example, is far more meaningful to me than the details of Tom Cruise's and Katie Holmes wedding. Though, I understand and accept that you may see it differently.

Every single thing, however, even nothingness itself, is meaningful. It is really just a question of whether or not one knows its meaning, or needs to know its meaning, or wants to know its meaning, or is capable of knowing its meaning.

It seems to me, other people's expressions of discomfort with meaninglessless is really more a concern (unfounded or not) about your relationship with meaning. Who knows?

Peace and Love