"I" am not terribly important to me. Is there a way to change that?

Meaning is tricky and is different to happiness. Happiness is transient and related to the present. Hedonistic happiness is fickle and inevitably comes with the unavoidable price of boredom. It's a difficult thing to pursue.

What the Stoics called 'Eudemonic' happiness (or meaning), though, rather than being about the present, is about the future and past and how the present relates to them. This is not related to health or wealth or needs right now. That is all about happiness and contentment in the moment. But, generally speaking, you won't be driven to be healthy and wealthy and the like without a life goal. The Greeks (and modern well-being psychologists) believe(d) that eudemonic happiness can be pursued in the long run and allows for one to be content with their life direction even in times where they are unhappy, because they can rely on the past and present in their meaning even if in the present they are unwell or failing, etc.

Everyone has their own story but there are a few experiences that are common amongst people who have discovered their purpose:

  • Traveling abroad
  • Spending extended time in the natural world
  • Getting involved in a meaningful social change project
  • Establishing a contemplative practice

Getting involved in a camping trip into somewhere in the country close by one weekend would tick off one of these, for instance. Meditation is another activity that can be implemented easily. Go volunteer somewhere close-by in something or be a mentor to somebody in an area you know.

I have personally found my curiosity to be a great way to explore things. Rather than 'What should I do?' or 'What do I want?' I've found that when I ask 'What excites me?' and pursue that I've been much more successful in coming up with ideas and not derailing myself in the process.

/r/asktrp Thread