4 ms·

A sense of purpose and meaning. I grew up in poverty, managed to emigrate to the US and have struggled to get where I am and now am in a comfortable senior posi

A sense of purpose and meaning. I grew up in poverty, managed to emigrate to the US and have struggled to get where I am and now am in a comfortable senior position in the industry. I am good at what I do but it's the same thing over and over. I go to work each day, save most of my paycheck, then use the rest to buy expensive trinkets, go to nice restaurants and take trips. I have a circle of acquaintances, hobbies, a great girlfriend and look outwardly successful and happy. But is this cycle all there is for the next few decades until retirement/death? I feel like I am plateauing. There must be more to it than this. I feel guilty even thinking such things as my life is fortunate in so many ways. (Throwaway account)

throwaway3301 10y ago
I don't have an answer for you. I just wanted to say that I struggle with the same ideas. I feel like I'm wasting my youth obsessing over these ideas. I feel like I'll disappoint everyone if I stop keeping up this cycle you describe. Sometimes I feel handcuffed to my life.
- oddlyaromatic 10y ago
  Do you have a specific alternative in mind? Can you dip a toe in the water without changing everything completely? The people in your life want you to be happy and safe and secure. They probably won't be disappointed if you go do something crazy but I bet their love to see that your backup plan is solid.
oddlyaromatic 10y ago
Do you help others? If not, write a check to a non profit you care about in your local area. Even if it doesn't work, you did something good. Keep trying it! Sincerely, guy who works at a non-profit. Also, your company may pay for you to volunteer at a local food bank. Or throw some time into helping new immigrants. Do you speak another language? Do you have knowledge that, if you shared it, would help people like the young you? We're all different, but boy it is not a good feeling to "have it all" and still lack purpose- but two are not always connected. There might be other ways to scratch the itch. But it sounds like you are restless for more impact in the world. You might not fix that feeling by writing checks and volunteering, but you might. The idea of plateauing suggest maybe you need more challenges, that you need to be cooking up something new. Maybe you have always been in motion and it feels weird to not be in motion. Find something of your community that's broken and see if you can help fix it. Maybe you just need a really good problem to get stuck in. These are just suggestions, I hope I didn't come off too bossy, that's not what I'm going for.
RikNieu 10y ago
Welcome to samsara, please help yourself to some some dukkha while you're here.

throwaway3301 10y ago

I don't have an answer for you. I just wanted to say that I struggle with the same ideas. I feel like I'm wasting my youth obsessing over these ideas. I feel like I'll disappoint everyone if I stop keeping up this cycle you describe. Sometimes I feel handcuffed to my life.

oddlyaromatic 10y ago
Do you have a specific alternative in mind? Can you dip a toe in the water without changing everything completely? The people in your life want you to be happy and safe and secure. They probably won't be disappointed if you go do something crazy but I bet their love to see that your backup plan is solid.

oddlyaromatic 10y ago

Do you help others? If not, write a check to a non profit you care about in your local area. Even if it doesn't work, you did something good. Keep trying it! Sincerely, guy who works at a non-profit. Also, your company may pay for you to volunteer at a local food bank. Or throw some time into helping new immigrants. Do you speak another language? Do you have knowledge that, if you shared it, would help people like the young you? We're all different, but boy it is not a good feeling to "have it all" and still lack purpose- but two are not always connected. There might be other ways to scratch the itch. But it sounds like you are restless for more impact in the world. You might not fix that feeling by writing checks and volunteering, but you might. The idea of plateauing suggest maybe you need more challenges, that you need to be cooking up something new. Maybe you have always been in motion and it feels weird to not be in motion. Find something of your community that's broken and see if you can help fix it. Maybe you just need a really good problem to get stuck in. These are just suggestions, I hope I didn't come off too bossy, that's not what I'm going for.

RikNieu 10y ago

Welcome to samsara, please help yourself to some some dukkha while you're here.