Your life priorities

[white knight]

Our number one priority in life is our children. Beyond that, its ourselves. We owe it to our loved ones to do our best to survive life. Its a personal responsibility of the highest order.

What about beyond that? What is our duty in life? Making income, providing shelter, seeking nutritious food and other basic needs.? Many with mental illness struggle for direction, for meaning in life, a feeling of worthlessness. If this is how you feel, there is much hope.

Lack of focus on the valuable things in life can leave you in a daunting situation of just "existing". This can often leave you empty and spiral you into an abyss of despair where you think there is little hope of meaning, of value and of fulfillment.

In contrast as an example someone the helps other people daily gets that personal satisfaction as a constant inner reward, a feeling of satisfaction that produces a spring in ones step. Why?. What is it that uplifts us when helping others?

I believe its a primitive need. Beyond our priorities of caring for our children then ourselves, we as humans need to care for others as a means of survival as a race. To last hundreds of thousands of years we had to care for each other.

Helping other people produces vigor. After being a good Samaritan for an old person in need, to care for disabled people. It means we have direction, something to feel proud of. Its doing what's right.

An old lady friend of mine, a widow, in her late 70's is a prime example. She'd never roamed outside her home. It was suggested to her to attend the local Salvo shop to volunteer her time. Her first day was hard, being introduced to staff, but after her first cuppa and chat she was on her way.

People in need with their pride dented entered that shop and left with some bare basics like blankets and children's clothes. The words of appreciation saved her from her life of misery. She found smiles.

Now she runs the shop. Her whole focus is helping those in need. She is in effect satisfying that primitive part of herself...helping fellow human beings. To her there is no better feeling. She is alive!

Oddly enough, and it is not only ironic but makes a lot of sense, that lady is very rich. Her wealth is now however not just in equity but in compassion.

Do you feel you lack meaning in your life?

Do you have a story of what uplifted you from despair?

Tell us about it. Make us smile

Tony WK

[The_Possum]

This is great Tony, thanks for this thoughtful insight.

I agree with you on this.

I had a wonderful career, earned great money and loved every minute of it. Although my focus is always on my little boys, my career gave me satisfaction, and made me feel whole. It gave my life meaning.

With a number of terrible life events early last year I had to leave work. I fell into a deep depression, anxiety and later in the year diagnosed bipolar ii.

Through counselling I realised that my life had lost meaning because all the things I attached myself too that gave me meaning where now gone. And I was struggling to find a new purpose and new identity.

I ended up setting up a charity raising awareness and fundraising for children's rare diseases. This included a lot of advocacy work, such as presentations etc

Although I didn't personally earn a cent from it, the rewards of the work I was doing empowered me and made me feel like I had value on this earth. I think this was a key component in saving my life when things were getting quite precarious for a while there.

Sometimes we need to think outside of our bubbles to identify true meaning. I know that was the case for me x

[white knight]

Hi Possum

Great reply and congrats on all that work.

Yes I imahine thd days about 5000 years ago when there was no currency. Bartering, swapping food was the go. Now the pressure to earn is on us.

Also sometimes we miss the boat in regards to career. Having children pushes a career backwards. We then have to rearrange our priorities.

Tony WK

[Muddlee]

Hi white knight,

This question was on my mind at work today and whilst playing soccer yesterday. Basically it was the same question "Why am I here? What's my purpose? What do I live for?" I felt scary having these thoughts because I really could not find any solid answer. I just completed two assignments last week for university which I feel I did really well at despite them tiring me out. I felt really accomplished doing them, but once again I was missing a real sense of purpose. I find that setting goals and identifying values in my life are a real way to remind myself of some meaning, especially in those cloudy or crisis moments. But, I really do associate with what you're saying here. I think providing joy, companionship, laughter and love into peoples lives just gives us so much meaning. Whether it's carting my Grandma to the shops, laughing with my friends, helping out my mum out or posting in these forums, a sense of care, friendless and servitude to other people really does rise the spirits.

Also, "The Possum", I just want to say I think what you're doing is really inspiring. Not many people would commit themselves to such an endeavour and it's such a great cause you're promoting. Really made my night!

Muddleee

[white knight]

Hi muddleee,

Thanks for picking up this thread.

I think hobbies and sports hold a lot in weight in terms of maintaining excitement in life. Although most are to expensive for a uni student.

I used to fly model aircraft. Other flyers spent zillions. I'd spent little, just a few pieces of balsa occasionally and build my own not pre-built ones.

If you google this it shows you appreciation. This guy has amazing vids.

Maharaji sunset youtube

Maharaji the perfect instrument youtube

Tony WK