What is the point of life?

Glad that you found a way. I agree that helping others is one of the most important things in life. 

It could be. Perhaps there are jobs that could bring that meaning through a nurturing or caring profession. Care, healthcare, teaching, counselling?

Perhaps, but I feel that I’ve spent a lifetime giving but receiving no care or support in return. There comes a point where you ask yourself if you’re just a mug, a useful tool for others.

Not all of us have had the nurturing that we needed from our parents. Alone to fend for ourselves. Despite this,  i care for others, with very little back. I dont expect anything.Perhaps this helps me deal with my own trauma. I have done ok. That is the purpose of life, to help others. 

That’s sad, looks like I was lucky to be used for help, as if it’s written on my forehead, that here is a brain that helps others. Unfortunately when I needed help, there was nobody for me. 

I spent every day alone. Lectures, study, tutorials, lunches - alone. I felt like an unseen ghost wandering among the living.

Alien0n3arth said:

Simple going through the day or defeating illness, depression, making progress that is not visible to others is as significant or even more.

This is necessary for ourselves but I think we deserve more than simply surviving our problems.

Alien0n3arth said:

I’m also proud of myself that I went to Uni.

Well done Uni was the hardest time of my life and I realise now that it left me with trauma, but I often ask people if they can reframe something bad in positive way, and you have done this. I too should be proud that I managed to complete uni despite all the challenges.

Alien0n3arth said:

Not necessarily to get prizes that are visible by others.

I have come to realise that most people don’t even notice those prizes and when they do, they usually resent them. The prizes may be symbolic of real achievements but they have limited value in themselves. 

I love this as answer KuriouslyAutistic44 as I am on the same journey. I need life to get better.

The absence of the circle of life is one of the reasons I posed the question. Human connection and children are always quoted as the big things that give life meaning.

But, like many autistic people, I have neither of those things so need to find meaning elsewhere if that’s possible.

I believe, that we live to experience, challenge ourselves (our very lives are challenges) and develop. Not necessarily to get prizes that are visible by others. Simple going through the day or defeating illness, depression, making progress that is not visible to others is as significant or even more. I made three big achievements in my life- I started communicating my needs as nearly adult, then I started setting my own boundaries (still working on it) and stopped hating myself to the point of being suicidal. Still struggling with my self esteem and other issues. Others don’t see it. Someone from the outside may see me as a bit odd but doing fine. 
I’m also proud of myself that I went to Uni. Not that I graduated, but that I went there. Started although being laughed off and told by my family that I’m too stupid and not suitable to graduate and live independently. 4 years later their jaws dropped when they saw this “stupid weirdo” can achieve something. 

Every one of us is alive because our parents chose to create a life. if you think about that for a while it’s truly amazing. They chose to create a being and they nurtured and developed it to the point where it could function as an independent person, free to make decisions. I find that very meaningful. What will I do with the opportunities given to me by my parents and will I give that same power to children of my own? The very process is meaningful. The circle of life itself. It doesn’t have to be all about your kids. But you are one, and you were given the opportunity to make an infinite number of choices.

Happy Christmas, everyone. 

A said:

The Egyptians were wise people, and knew that cats are in fact gods.

Absolutely.

I Sperg said:

come to recognise and understand God.through the holy office of service to cats.

I can appreciate this question. Thank you, A, for starting this conversation.

I feel that this very question is the beginning or leading edge of a new perspective or discovery. I've been living in those questions for the past few years particularly in 2024. I feel every aspect of my being of who I thought I was and supposed to be doing has been unraveled or is unraveling. Rebirth and death of everything I thought in LIFE, my INNERVERSE or PURPOSE was to be. I am living in questions that I have no answers for. I am living in only the moments of my most authentic expression of the moment. Maybe the point is to be our true selves and live in our truth unapologetically no matter what. Liberation and freedom is to simply BE and EXIST.

Maybe it is coming to terms that WE ARE ENOUGH! 

I Sperg said:

The point of life is to live it as well as you can, and I believe, come to recognise and understand God.through the holy office of service to cats.

The Egyptians were wise people, and knew that cats are in fact gods.

I've grieved a coupe of times properly, once at the end of my first proper serious love relationship, and at the death of my cats, particularly Blackjack, that tore the guts out me properly.

Death of family relatives and freinds, not so much...

The point of life is to live it as well as you can, and I believe, come to recognise and understand God.through the holy office of service to cats.

Mines sitting next to me on our widened chair, making typing awkward enough before he starts scratching his head and catches my jumprer up in the process somehow...

No, not too heavy. Just the right amount of heavy. I’m sorry for your loss, but I thank you for this beautiful question. You know, maybe I was wrong after all, life can also be a bit about connections that last long past your death. Their life had an impact on you and by asking this question you transferred a piece of their life onto everyone here. Very corny, I know, sorry.

Thanks Iain. Just one of those late night thought processes brought on by the time of year and thinking about my own future. I never really grieved, which I believe is not uncommon for autistic people.

A said:

I was thinking about the house I mostly grew up in and in which he spent the second half of his life. How he and my mum moved in there and all the hopes they must have had and how it’s all gone now, for nothing.

It took me a long time to come to terms with the impermanance of life and all the things around us. I eventually found a zen type of acceptance that nothing lasts for ever so accepting its transience gives me a sense of the process being natural and nothing to fear.

It doesn't stop some stuff hurting, especially the passing of loved ones, but it helps being able to frame this as natural helps the grieving process for me.

A said:

Sorry if this is too heavy!

Talking it out can be a very good way to process the feelings - if this works for you then go for it. We are here to listen and help if you want this.