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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Angela2 on January 17, 2005, at 20:26:21
What is the meaning of life? I have a couple of different theories. One is that the meaning of life is to know who you are and be comfortable with it. I've felt this for a while, but then I got bored. What happens when you are yourself and you get bored? What I did was watch a lot of TV, go on the internet a lot, I pretty much did things that turned my brain to grey mush. I wasn't exercising the thought process or doing anything creative and I felt like something was missing from my life. So now I wonder if the meaning of life is to exercise parts of your brain that seem to be subconsciously calling out to you: "use me." Another theory this person told me was "The meaning of life is to find something you love and do it as much as possible and use it to help the world in some way." I think this is a good theory, it makes sense, but what if you don't know what you love? Or what if you're lazy? For instance, what if you love psychology (like I do) but you don't feel like counseling someone (or maybe you can't for some reason) or don't feel like doing the experimental part of it like recording the behavior of people? What is the meaing of life for you guys? Does anyone out there have absolutely no clue? Does anyone out there feel like they've found something but there are barriers in their way (like mental illness, low self esteem, or lack of motivation)?
-Angela2
Posted by alexandra_k on January 17, 2005, at 20:53:50
In reply to What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Angela2 on January 17, 2005, at 20:26:21
Well I have heard some people say that you have to figure out what 'meaning' means before you can figure out the meaning of life. There is probably some truth to that...
Maybe it is up to us to create our own 'meaning/s'. Whatever works for us. Mine changes a bit over time. I don't think there is anything that SHOULD be the meaning. I don't think there is an objective meaning (meaning isn't in the world (except metaphorically) it is dependent on a speaker or listener).
I think we derive or create our own meaning/s.
Any thing in life that is meaningFULL to you has meaning. If it is a positive experience then maybe you could say that is part of the meaning of your life.
Some that I am fond of are:
intellectual inquirey
helping others
being a 'good person'
doing stuff I enjoy..I dunno. "Mans Search For Meaning" was great.
Posted by smokeymadison on January 17, 2005, at 21:00:43
In reply to What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Angela2 on January 17, 2005, at 20:26:21
i usually find meaning in how complex life is and how resilent life is. i feel privileged to be a part of this great whole mess of a design that is played out everyday. while i don't think that are actions are predetermined, i do believe that there is an ultimate design that, through time, comes together like a great, sometimes tragic, novel.
SM
Posted by fallsfall on January 17, 2005, at 21:20:23
In reply to What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Angela2 on January 17, 2005, at 20:26:21
Angela,
Have you seen the movie "What the Bleep do we know"? It is still in (a few artsy) theaters - you can find out which ones on www.whatthebleep.com. Comes out on DVD on March 15.
No, I have no idea what the meaning of life is. If you figure it out, please let me know.
Falls.
Posted by sdjeff on January 17, 2005, at 21:48:39
In reply to Re: What is the Meaning of Life? » Angela2, posted by fallsfall on January 17, 2005, at 21:20:23
I've studied a lot of philosophy and religions over the years and in my opinion, the whole pourpose of life is to be as good and productive as one can be, given whatever limitations one may have. Obviously, mileage may vary.
Posted by Phil on January 17, 2005, at 21:52:53
In reply to What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Angela2 on January 17, 2005, at 20:26:21
Be kind to children, be understanding with the elderly, be fair with your peers.
This may not be the meaning of life but it's enough to keep oneself busy.
Posted by alexandra_k on January 17, 2005, at 21:57:56
In reply to Re: What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Phil on January 17, 2005, at 21:52:53
> Be kind to children, be understanding with the elderly, be fair with your peers.
>
> This may not be the meaning of life but it's enough to keep oneself busy.:-)
And if you do all that (as best ya can) then at the end of your life you will be able to say 'yup, I lived a meaningful life'
:-)
Posted by just plain jane on January 17, 2005, at 23:15:40
In reply to What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Angela2 on January 17, 2005, at 20:26:21
Posted by Atticus on January 18, 2005, at 8:57:53
In reply to What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Angela2 on January 17, 2005, at 20:26:21
Honestly. I thought the writer Douglass Adams cleared this one up decades ago. The answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything is "42." (The question is "What do you get when you multiply 6 x 9?") I've always thought there was something fundamentally wrong with the universe. ;) Atticus
Posted by Angela2 on January 18, 2005, at 12:21:56
In reply to Re: What is the Meaning of Life? » Angela2, posted by Atticus on January 18, 2005, at 8:57:53
Oh yeah! I read that book! OK, thanks for clearing this up for me Atticus. The meaning of life is 42.
Posted by Angela2 on January 18, 2005, at 20:13:19
In reply to Re: What is the Meaning of Life? » Angela2, posted by fallsfall on January 17, 2005, at 21:20:23
Hi fallsfall, how are you? I checked out that movie's site. It looks pretty cool!
-Angela2
Posted by rayww on January 19, 2005, at 9:46:52
In reply to What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Angela2 on January 17, 2005, at 20:26:21
Maybe the meaning of life is simply to discover the meaning of life. I believe the clues are all around us. As we discover one, it sharpens our senses until we discover another. Many discoveries have been shared on this thread. We can learn from one another.
Posted by Jai Narayan on January 21, 2005, at 16:30:50
In reply to Re: What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by rayww on January 19, 2005, at 9:46:52
*you know I think the meaning of life is super personal and also it's a collective consciousness.
*What makes you move....through time and space?
Something makes us act, do and be.
What is that?
sometimes the super personal becomes universal.*Do we just react to life?
join life?
or meet life on our own terms?*Why are we here?
What are we to do while we are here?
what decides why we are here?
is there a decision?okay the older I get the less I am certain about.
funny thing is the older I get the more I live in the present.
such a gift, living in the present.thank you for asking the question.
Jai Narayan
Posted by rayww on January 22, 2005, at 16:11:58
In reply to Re: What is the Meaning of Life?, posted by Jai Narayan on January 21, 2005, at 16:30:50
questions hunger, but answers fulfill.
This is the end of the thread.
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