topic Meaning of life??? in BB Social Zone

Meaning of life???

Guest_322 — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 06:20:35 GMT

Hi everyone,

I have just been thinking and being naturally curious (ahem, nosy), I'm wondering what life means to you on a personal level? Also, what makes getting out of bed worthwhile for you each day?

Of course there's no right or wrong answer as it's completely subjective. If you're still figuring it out, feel free to say that you're not sure.

My own answer to both questions is "I don't know" and "I don't know." Definitely still figuring it out.

Happy to hear from anyone.

Dottie x

Meaning of life???

blondguy — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 18:51:33 GMT

Hey Dottie!

Great thread topic 🙂

the pursuit of happiness
sunshine storms and surf beaches
lowering my expectations which increases the quality of life
walking my beautiful huge rescued Chow/German Shep cross
making a difference working for Beyond Blue

you are and always have been a breath of fresh air on the forums Dottie

Paulx

Meaning of life???

geoff — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 21:16:49 GMT

hi Dottie, everyday is different so 'what life means' can change from being just OK to being terribly depressed, because circumstances change everyday, and are mostly out of our control although we can talk our way into feeling better or worse, but with depression it's the latter.
To know that we have depression is not the same as feeling as though we have it, because once you know then you will realise that there are ways to try and help you overcome this illness, whether or not they work is not so much the issue, rather feeling depressed you then feel as though there is no solution.
You have to take it day by day, remember anything good that has happened over the last few days, and not to empathise on the negative points, because if you do then you won't want to get out of bed.
There is always something good that happens each day it's just that when we are depressed we don't see it that way, so there are good things in your life that have happened, so think about them, NOT about why you can't do it now, stay well away from all those thoughts because you bring them into the equation, you have lost a chance to get out of bed. Geoff.x

Meaning of life???

Croix — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 01:16:26 GMT

Dear (nosy) Dottie~

If you want to move a scrap of paper without touching it you can make a breeze with a fan. You have had no direct contact with the paper, in fact that paper may have been somewhere your could not go or reach, or even see.

One thing can influence another.

I guess wanting to live, wanting to get up, is pure emotion. There is no 'logical' reason to do either. I suppose not wanting to live or get up is emotion too.

You can't make emotions - or can you? Even if you don't know how to touch or access them.

I mentioned elsewhere the things I think are worth living for - that keep me going:

People, accomplishment, art.

These are, for me, the fan that creates the breeze that stirs my emotion.

Croix

Meaning of life???

mechanical_animal — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 06:50:33 GMT

for me it's to survive

Meaning of life???

Guest_322 — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 08:15:00 GMT

Hi Paul, Geoff, Croix and mechanical animal;

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply. As expected, there was a range of responses- from specific reasons to survival to looking at meaning from a daily perspective rather than an overarching one.

I guess not one response is any more correct (or incorrect) than any other one as it's so personal. No right or wrong.

If anyone else would like to share their own personal take on it, go for it! I enjoy reading and learning about different outlooks.

Dottie x

Meaning of life???

sparkvark — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 09:17:46 GMT

What life means to me - unsure.

What makes it worth getting out of bed - laying in bed is seriously uncomfortable if I'm not sleeping 😛 I don't know how people can stand it. But other than that, because there are so many things to experience. Even if it's just watching as many things as possible on tv or reading other peoples' thoughts. Even if it's listening to the same song over and over to drown out thoughts or fill the voids between them.

Meaning of life???

Guest_322 — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 11:58:33 GMT

Hi Sparkvark,

Your comment about the discomfort from lying in bed while awake made me smile.

Getting out of bed for experiences seems like a very pragmatic reason so good on you.

"Even if it's listening to the same song over and over to drown out thoughts or fill the voids between them."

I'm with you on that one! Listening to music to fill the void, drown out thoughts, numb the pain, feel heard, etc.

Dottie x

Meaning of life???

geoff — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 18:39:53 GMT

hi Sparkvark, I am exactly the same as you, I hate laying in bed if I'm awake. Geoff.

Meaning of life???

monkey_magic — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 12:18:40 GMT

On a personal level life means doing things like exercise, going to the mountains,beach,country snow,buying myself things,surrounding myself with mystery to c wat others bring to my day on that day. Laughter ,learning challenging myself,eating food I like. It means love, intelligence knowledge by those I'm close to & putting away other ppls issues inflicted on me. It means pursuing personal greatness,music,animals,doing good deeds,making cash,e entually doing wat I dream of like more travel...think I just answered two qtns in one

Meaning of life???

Guest_322 — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 20:15:27 GMT

Hi Steph,

It's great to hear from you. That's quite an extensive list you have there. Power to you! Yeah, you've answered 2-in-1 indeed for yourself 😊

Dottie x

Meaning of life???

1113 — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 07:57:54 GMT

Hi Dottie,

Cool thread idea.

The reason I get out of bed is to be a great parent to my amaze gifted little boy.

I have philosophically that the meaning of life is to continue to find the meaning of life.

Once you have become complacent about finding or stop looking, that when you have found happiness within yourself.

Peace

Matt

Meaning of life???

Guest_322 — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 09:00:00 GMT

Hi Matt,

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply. Your son obviously means the world to you. The meaning of life is to find the meaning of life is a thought provoking take on it.

Yeah, this is such a common yet big questions with literally billions of potential answers.

Dottie x

Meaning of life???

kanga_brumby — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 09:40:29 GMT

Dottie for me the meaning of life is simply. Trying to make a difference in the world, not all of it just the pit I touch. Hopefully for the better. To many people are just interested in what's in it for them. If I can make it better for the ones I touch, in one way or another. We are all winners. Plus I'd like to make it better for the children.

kanga

Meaning of life???

Guest_322 — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 23:57:05 GMT

Hi Kanga_brumby,

That's a rather beautiful perspective. It's great that you strive to do your best by those around you. I guess, in a way, the corner of the world that you occupy is your world after all.

Thanks Kanga.

Dottie x

Meaning of life???

kanga_brumby — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 10:19:12 GMT

The rest of the world is to big for me to fix. If there is a problem close to me I try to fix that. Or just fix myself, then someone else. It's the old adage don't try to remove the splinter in someones eye. Till you remove the plank from your own eye. I have seen people try to help others, only to crash themselves. Thats why I try to fix me first for me and my children. Because I want to be here for them.

Kanga

Meaning of life???

Just Sara — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 10:58:22 GMT

Thought provoking thread dear Dottie;

I once saw a little girl on 'Oprah' telling of her experience after being declared 'deceased'. She saw everyone as she rose above herself, then came across a bright light who she said was God.

Long story short, when asked the meaning of life, she said God told her; "human's are on earth to learn to love"

She also said that souls in heaven didn't want to be born because it was so horrible on earth, so when we're born, (multiple times) we lose our memory to have a fresh start before learning our lessons. God told her she had to go back to teach others about her new knowledge.

She was around 8 yrs old. The gentleness and calm on her face was really inspiring. Apparently she was 'gone' for 24 min's.

I found her explanation one of the most believable I've heard; I guess because it was beautiful and came from such innocence. I saw it around 20 yrs ago, I don't know why I remember it though.

Learning to love sounds so simple yet profoundly complex. Whether or not to believe her was overshadowed by her loving and gentle wisdom. I was infinitely touched by the whole episode.

Kindness...Sara

Meaning of life???

blondguy — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 09:53:51 GMT

Nice1 Sarah!

The ability to keep my mindset as 'simpleminded' as I can and retain my intellect when its needed...

ie: 'Being Gentle to Ourselves'

We dont need to firing on all cylinders to make our way through the day xo

Paulxo

Meaning of life???

Guest_322 — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 14:01:56 GMT

Hi everyone,

A grateful thank you for all your responses. I've enjoyed reading all your different perspectives.

Kanga, it's good that you know how to help others in a healthy way. Oxygen mask on self before the next person: a healthy mentality. With such a balanced outlook, I'm sure you'll be able to be there for your children.

Sara, learning to love, huh? That's another beautiful and interesting one. The girl clearly made a lasting an impression on you.

Love really is a difficult thing as far as I can tell. Sounds simple but I don't think it is really that simple at all.

Paul, thanks for the thoughtful reminder. You always look out for everyone here.

Thanks again everyone!

Dottie x

Meaning of life???

Vorbis — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 10:38:56 GMT

"I'm wondering what life means to you on a personal level? Also, what makes getting out of bed worthwhile for you each day?"

Personally, life means having the ability to move across dimensions. A plant is alive, so it can grow upwards. Humans are alive and doubly lucky, we can burn energy to be able to walk around, to move backwards and forwards across 3D space.

It fails the technical definitions of what life is, because I include things like lava being living rock. Way I see it, it's growing and changing too. It can become obsidian or crystals or any other myriad of things, so it's alive enough for me.

I had to spend a lot of time in my 20s working out why to get out of bed every morning. Heck of a lot of time. In the end it came down to that I don't have conclusive evidence that humans aren't reincarnated. If I die, I do not want to have to do this all over again.

So I get out of bed to gain self mastery, and write down stuff that I learn so if I do have to do it all again, I won't have to do it from scratch. I'll have a book a previous self wrote, somewhere.

Realistically I should be doing research into reincarnation. There's some very interesting research been done recently into a new form of matter called time crystals (if you're the type of person to be interested). It'll take me a few years of bashing my head against a wall to understand it, but I'll get there eventually.

That's not an each day thing, though. I get out of bed each day because I have a seven year old who needs me to feed him. Otherwise I'd probably get out of bed a lot less.