What do you think is the purpose of life?

[Anonymous]

Especially when I am alone with myself, I think about the purpose of life for a long time. I wonder why we live and whether there is an absolute purpose to our existence. Think about it, we have options and the thousands of possibilities they bring. Let me give you an example: One day, you were leaving school/work and going home. There were two crossroads in front of you. You chose to go right and somehow a man appeared in front of you. You met him, fell in love, then got married, etc. What if you chose the other path? What would happen? Can you live the life you live today? I've always wondered about this. Every time I make a decision, I think about what would have happened if I had chosen the other one. These thoughts keep me awake at night and gnaw at me. Have you thought about this before?
-Kind regards, Kyalfeo

[abc3643]

The purpose of life is to discover the purpose of life.
I know that sounds crazy, but it's true.

Try to think about it like this.
When you're a kid and you are going to school, you complain "Why do we have to go to school anyway?"
BUT, when you finally finish school and are a functioning adult in the real world, you understand why you had to go to school and what it did for you and why every kid needs to go to school.
So, in a sense, "The purpose of going to school is to learn the purpose of going to school."

It's the same way with life.

There can be some religious overtones with that, but I won't discuss those.

[Asker]

I understand, but do you think life has an absolute purpose?

[abc3643]

Yes. And I answered the question as best as I should.
You see, there's a process...
Going to school isn't just going to school to learn something.
If that was the case, then no one would need to go to school because we could "Just ask Siri." Going THROUGH school teaches many other things as well.
It is the process of going to/"through" school that gives you an education in life that ultimately enables you to realize yourself (without being told) why school was necessary.

Now, I don't want to get into anything specifically religious, but ask yourself this:

Why do your parents want you to go to school?

Then, ask yourself this:

Why would God want you to go through life?

The answers are pretty much the same.

[boggboss]

For me the purpose of life is to enjoy it I use to overthink a lot but stopped getting caught up on the choices I could have made stop u from enjoying the new ones u make going forward

[Likes2drive]

Yeah if I have too much time to think I wonder if I could have made better decisions since I’m alone too but did have kids

[Asker]

The most complicated part of thinking is getting lost in the possibilities that can happen.

[Likes2drive]

At least you’re young still and don’t have any regrets yet like me

[jahaims]

Philosophically there isn't a purpose. Reproduction to carry on Evolution would be nature's purpose for life.

[Anonymous]

To live and let live

[Asker]

Doctor?