What a great concept. Searching for the "meaning of life" naturally encompasses purpose. I believe that is what a lot of people use religion and mysticism for--to discover that answer.

Taking it one step further, why does any life exist? What's the importance of life? Why does life long for itself? What's the purpose? Are we all here to accomplish something? Learn something? It's all magnificent, but baffling E O Wilson remarkef if all humans were to Die Tomorrow the Earth would revert back to a state of abundance. If all insects were to die tomorrow the entire Ecology of the planet would collapse into chaos

"Purpose" is another one of those subjective issues. I don't believe it can be defined uniformly or universally. Each person must identify it for themselves. Or not. I don't particularly agree that we all "need" purpose. Then again, I've never been much of a fan of societal norms or labels. I tend to push back against such things. If there's a trend, I'll buck it. If everyone is turning one way, I'll turn the opposite. Perhaps my purpose is to be defiant. To reject the things that are "expected". To question everything. To trust precious little of what I'm told. I don't like the idea of conformity. Consequently, it seems to me that being told I should endeavor to find "purpose" to be happy with myself, makes me want to be happy with being a contrarian. Or maybe that all just makes me an asshole. I'm not going to judge myself on that. There are more than enough people who will judge me for no other reason than they're breathing. It doesn't concern me enough to worry about it.

You have asked the question. It has been asked since humans have had the ability to think. below are some ideas from a few recent great thinkers. I would say purpose is perception.

"It is not what we expect from life, but rather what life is expecting from us." -Frankl
"Mans unique opportunity lies in the way in which he bears his burden." -Frankl
"I have but one hope, that I am able to be worthy of my suffering" -Dostoevski
"There is no truth, there is only you and what you make the truth" -Oberst
"Measurement is everything. At the quantum level, reality does not exist if you are not looking at it," -physicist Andrew Truscott
"The purpose of life is to make the person next to you happy" -Tolstoy
"to wake up in the morning and not be sad" -Musk
“Don't aim for success, but rather dedicate yourself to someone other than yourself and success will come as a result” - Frankl

I would recommend "Man's Search for Meaning" Viktor Frankl

“Some lived for family, others for work that they felt needed to be completed, others religion, then there were those who had no reason that they could find for living. These were the ones who died in the camps first.” - Man's search for meaning Viktor Frankl

I've discovered that I'm here so unstable people will have someone to date too.

No, we don't.

But, if you're into Japanese culture (and origami) have a look at this. Give you something to do which works,

I consider the brain to be a <meaning-finding organ>. That is one of its main jobs: to make sense of the input it receives, whether sensory input, ideas, or feelings. The brain is so good at assigning meaning, that it will attempt to "make sense" of even random input, such as white noise. When a "meaningless" event occurs, such as the unexpected death of a child, the brain will struggle to make sense of such an event, to find a meaning behind it. This can lead a lot of people into religious explanations for things that are otherwise incomprehensible. Apparently, there are evolutionary advantages to certainty, even when the person is mistaken. Scary, huh? Research into quality of life issues appears to confirm that those with a meaning, or purpose, in their lives, are happier, and live fuller lives, than those whom purpose evades.

We were in a program hosting Japanese students enrolled in the many English language programs in Seattle. Our first student, Risa, was from Okinawa. Okinawa is a tropical island S. of the main part of the country. What you say about longevity is true but only for the older people. Unfortunately, the American military is based there and have brought fast food. The younger generation have thus become one of the most unhealthy parts of Japan.

There is an expression "hari hachi boo" which means eat only until you are 75% full.

We had students for 3 years and it was so rewarding. One student was with us 13 months and I still communicate with her.

This sounds very interesting. I thought my purpose in life is to gain wisdom and pass it on to my girls. But I would prefer to play a role in dismantling Christianity and revealing it as bullshit to as many people as I can.

We are put on this Earth to fuck and die.

I think we have inborn traits that make us more suited to certain kinds of work. We also have loves that we have acquired that work the same way. That is one of the things that David Seabury talks about in The Art Of Selfishness. To be happy we must discover our own nature and be true to it. I'm pretty sure that will also extend your life.

Yes, to serve somebody, even keeping your mouth shut when your religious mother wants you to go to a Rosary. Serve. People who don't serve anyone or anything are usually not worth a damn.

Biologically, yes. Cosmically, no.

The meaning (purpose) of life isTO LIVE. There's an excellent 'proverb' in Terry Lane's little book 'God, The Interveiw' which deals with this thought nicely.

I feel that as atheists we probably have greater purpose in life than most believers because we tend to live each day for itself while many religious folk live for an afterlife and miss out on each glorious day we have. They also tend to have hangups about sex and everyday life that doesn't bother us. My purpose is to do everything I can to leave my home, the earth, as a place fit for my child and future generations. I don't give a crap about floating around on a cloud with some bastard wanting my adoration.

Of course, I could say that the purpose of life is to live a life of purpose. The great motivators out there will have their say no doubt as to what constitutes a purpose in life. It can simply be reduced to what interests and pared down from there.
To the best of my knowledge I am living on a little backwater planet that revolves at approximately 1,000MPH in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is said that the galaxies are flying apart at 270 miles per second and there is no discernible direction in all of this....LOL

It implies that there is something above what we have dictating what we should do to feel happy. It's a comforting thought but it's just not that simple. Happiness isn't a state of being, it's a feeling we chase. Find something that you enjoy doing, do it until you hate it, then find something else.

Death and taxes.

I think our purpose is to fit into the entire circle of life harmoniously on this planet. Everything living thing is connected in an intricate dance of life. When that is out of balance I think that turns into pathology - the overgrowth of humans. Maybe our purpose is to fit into that delicate and beautiful balance to make it all work efficiently. Maybe I am here to learn how to inhabit the relationships that give life, its source, substance and beauty. I will use my senses fully in daily appreciation until I am dead, disintegrated into basic elements and start that journey in the circle once again, in thousands of mycelia that feed the trees etc. Asking for any more than that would feel greedy to me.

I don't think there's a plan, but I think people who find their niche can say they've found their calling.

no

Well alrighty... to invent things to make us smarter. To have children and help them do the same. Keep doing this till our inventions do all the work and we no longer have to do anything...lol... I guess! Heck! I told my wife a king and queen from the old days don't have as good as we have it today. Even poor people have it better then king and queens from the old days. We have everything. 10 times more then people from the old days. We getting smarter.

My purpose was to raise three amazing daughters to adulthood. As long as they need me I will be happy to stick around. I grew up without a mom after age 14, I would not wish that on anyone. My girls still need me, as does the first grandchild,and a second en route. And just making it from one day to the next is purpose enough.

We are not special, humans have no higher purpose than other life forms. We are for the most part social animals, and therefore it seems we must have roles in our society and performed like trained animals so. 94% of the population accepts this (random number plucked out of the air) most of the rest may not accept it, but appear as if they do. Are we any different to a dolphin, seal, or any circus animal board and raised in captivity? Not knowing any different and totally out of touch with the life that their DNA is adapted to exist in.

My Purpose seems to change with the woman or loneliness in my life.