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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by obsidian on December 13, 2009, at 23:08:32
..trying to figure out what it would mean to feel content
I don't know if I am supposed to get married, have kids, etc, have a career I really like, or some combination of that, or if it's sufficient simply to feel comfortable "enough" in my own skin, and have good relationships with other people.
I seem to feel a tremendous sense of loss, but I also know I have a lot.
I guess I'm worried about being chronically in search of something while missing what's in front of me. Maybe I'm in my head too much.any thoughts in general on the topic of meaning?
thanks,
sid
Posted by Tabitha on December 14, 2009, at 2:02:38
In reply to what makes your life feel meaningful?, posted by obsidian on December 13, 2009, at 23:08:32
I wonder about this too. I don't have an answer for myself yet. So much energy is spent on surviving, maintaining, and keeping up with necessities. It's hard to find time to look at the big picture.
Posted by Gabbette on December 18, 2009, at 18:39:52
In reply to what makes your life feel meaningful?, posted by obsidian on December 13, 2009, at 23:08:32
Now That's a questiony question.
Right now, nothing. Really nothing is resonating with my tuning forks, although I cognitively
appreciate many people in my life.Searching for something, that longing almost a homesickness but not for a place you can name.
the Portuguese have a word for it.
Which of course, I can't remember, but mentioned it because it's a prevelent part of the human psyche.There was a time where I could just do things
because they were enjoyed, I knew what they were,
"I feel like doing .. this today" and didn't second guess
myself. Now, I do things because other people tell me I should enjoy them but I'm really only ever content in my imagination or for a few minutes when a strange dog runs up to me and acts like
he's been looking for *just* me his whole life and where have I been?Wow it took a long time for me to not answer your question
P.
SI can relate to far too many of your posts Sid
Posted by Dinah on December 18, 2009, at 19:55:43
In reply to what makes your life feel meaningful?, posted by obsidian on December 13, 2009, at 23:08:32
This may not be to the point really.
But I muse sometimes that the things that are meaningful are the things we imbue with meaning. That nothing is really meaningful in and of itself. But on the other hand, anything in life can be meaningful, if we make it so.
I don't really know how to say it.
But, it's kind of like Christmas dinner. It's a nice dinner and all. But it would be just another meal if it weren't *Christmas dinner*. Or to most people who meet my therapist, he's just an ordinary person with no more answers than anyone else. But to me he's my *therapist*. Is it because of any intrinsic quality of his? I think it's probably more that I imbued him with that power.
Home and family *could* just be a house and some people. How meaningful it is depends on our investment in it.
If that makes sense? I know I'm not saying it well.
One of my favorite books is "To Life!" by Harold Kushner. He talks a lot about making the ordinary extraordinary. My therapist tells me "The Practice of the Presence of God" has a similar point of view. Both are religious, but the points in "To Life!" I think would apply in a secular way too.
I don't know if I'm expressing it well. Or even if my thoughts are in any way to the point or of any interest. I just think on it a lot.
Posted by Dinah on December 18, 2009, at 19:57:34
In reply to Re: what makes your life feel meaningful? » obsidian, posted by Dinah on December 18, 2009, at 19:55:43
Posted by SLS on December 19, 2009, at 4:51:07
In reply to what makes your life feel meaningful?, posted by obsidian on December 13, 2009, at 23:08:32
> ..trying to figure out what it would mean to feel content
Connectedness?
Your question is certainly thought provoking.
- Scott
Posted by obsidian on December 19, 2009, at 8:53:01
In reply to Re: what makes your life feel meaningful?, posted by SLS on December 19, 2009, at 4:51:07
I decided that I need to look back at a "values clarification" assessment that I did some time ago- related to career counseling.
I wish I could find the one I'm thinking of on the internet. It's at least a summation (if one can sum up such a thing) about what you think is especially important.
just one piece of the puzzle maybe?
Posted by Sigismund on December 19, 2009, at 18:18:05
In reply to Whoops!, posted by Dinah on December 18, 2009, at 19:57:34
Yeah right....he's the bloke who wrote "When Bad Things Happen to Good People", which I read and enjoyed years ago now.
It seems to be a Jewish thing...isn't there some Jewish quote or prayer that ends with 'therefore choose life'?.....which I have always found difficult to do.But on the meaning front, I'm inclined to ask 'what do you mean by meaning'? It's not to imply the world has intention (like before creation intention)?
I was rather taken by the suggestion in "The Plague", that there wasn't much meaning other than making the best of things.
This is the end of the thread.
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