David Heinemeier Hansson

The post discusses the importance of having a purpose in life and how it can prevent psychological challenges. It mentions the insights of Viktor Frankl, Eric Fromm, and Dostoevsky on the topic. It also explores the concept of logotherapy and the idea that men most want to be respected while women most want to be loved. The post emphasizes the need to pick a purpose and diversify one's life to find happiness.

Picking a purpose

However, the issue may really be finding a purpose. Personally, it’s the hardest thing.

Any choice you think you have in your purpose is an illusion given what you see as valuable was either shaped by those who raised you before your memory begins or dyed into your genetics already, but cute application of the general illusion of choice that society has decided to con us into believing in a shallow enough way to make the economic machine keep churning out golden eggs for those at its top.
You don’t really have to think about it, your nature alone sets you up to having little choice but to conform to your dharma even if kicking and screaming being pulled behind the cart as the oxen rushes forward at full speed or if you are pulling that ox along with the cart way in front of both. If you manage any alternative it is for only a short flash before the forces of nature itself grind you into adharmic blood and bone meal consumed by something not trying to cut against the grain of the universe generally without even noticing what you did there.
The difference between the two experiences (dragged or leading the cart with its big blue ox named Babe) is how you feel about it as it happens. Considering that we cannot take our money, our power or our pleasure organs with us to the next life but we do take our experiences and our memories to whatever awaits, seems to me pretty obvious that its better to be enthusiastic and enjoy whatever it is coming around the bend instead of being some rattling bones making the cart passing through even more annoying or pathetic like so many these days discovering at the end, despite numerous warnings prior, the whole of their life was a waste as they are finally before the ultimate judge of such, themselves with no self deception to hide behind left to cower under.
Don’t be that fool, read the Bhagavad Gita if you need more convincing Arjuna. ;]

Purpose is to be a millionaire 😌