I think the two are intertwined to an extent. Your identity can tend to define how you handle your purpose and your purpose can somewhat influence your identity.
I've struggled with what my purpose is, ever since I graduated university. I managed it for a while because I went back to school, and I had a boyfriend. However the bf dumped me, and I finished the school. Then it was just me and my work. All of a sudden I didn't have goal, something I was working towards.
I never plan to have children, and at that point it seemed like life was just going to be me alone, going to work and coming home. And I struggled with why should I even bother. This was an alert that I was in need of counselling.
Now I know I need to have a goal. No matter how small. So if I find myself falling into the same habits, I set small goals for myself and get focused again.
right now...they blur together. my purpose is to raise 2 amazing humans. but right now the only part of me that is identifiable is the mom part. sigh. everything i do, is ultimately for them.
some days its hard but for the most part i dont mind the sacrifice because i know its not a permanent one.
I'm a little like that bottle of boot cleanser that's under your sink way in the back behind the dish washing soap and the boxes of various scrubbing agents. You don't have boots anymore, so the likelihood that you'll ever use it again is minimal, but it doesn't take up too much space and you DID spend real money for it and, well, what the hell, maybe one day you'll buy another pair of boots.
My overall purpose and my identity are one and the same. It's all the levels and layers underneath that are full of conflict and the struggle of personal evolution.
Even a lake which appears calm on the surface is filled the hectic bustle of life, movement, and the struggle to survive.
Survival and Reproduction are my purposes. Just like all other life. My identity is just that. My identity. The assumption that I am who I am. The condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is: I am Tucker. I am me, not another. So the difference is that I am not Survival and Reproduction, though Survival and Reproduction are a part of me.
Hrm.... good question. I truly consider my purpose to be to make use of my creative talents to improve the world for the better. I like using what I can do both to help others, as well as to express myself. The fact that I'm able to make money doing it is simply a bonus.
I'm not sure it differs much from my identity, and I'm not certain this is really a good thing. In fact, I'm pretty sure it has the ability to become a dangerous thing. A lot of how good I feel about myself really depends on my ability as a writer and as an artist, as well as on how much success I'm able to achieve with those pursuits.
If something ever happened to me that would somehow keep me from writing or painting ever again, I know I wouldn't feel like I have any more worth. I'd just as soon be dead. Kind of a sucky way to think or feel, but there it is.
My Identity is somewhere between who I think I am and who others see me as, I am a wayfarer through life my purpose is to make my journey and to embrace the experiences that it brings my way and share experiences with others as the circumstances permit.
I am adding you, I like people who seek contrarian points of view
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 12:24 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 01:13 pm (UTC)I never plan to have children, and at that point it seemed like life was just going to be me alone, going to work and coming home. And I struggled with why should I even bother. This was an alert that I was in need of counselling.
Now I know I need to have a goal. No matter how small. So if I find myself falling into the same habits, I set small goals for myself and get focused again.
*hugs* Thinking of you.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 01:25 pm (UTC)Simply put?
Date: 2009-02-24 01:54 pm (UTC)My purpose: To be the best ME I possibly can.
I may take some lumps and bumps along the way; it's expected. I don't ever lose sight of who I am.
Now, if you want to discuss the tactics for completing my purpose - that's a whole other ball game.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 02:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 02:08 pm (UTC)some days its hard but for the most part i dont mind the sacrifice because i know its not a permanent one.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 02:13 pm (UTC)That pretty much covers the both of them.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 03:20 pm (UTC)Even a lake which appears calm on the surface is filled the hectic bustle of life, movement, and the struggle to survive.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 03:25 pm (UTC)The question is more of how well each is defined.
The more defined each one is, the harder it is to lose one in the other. But they will always intersect.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 07:50 pm (UTC)My identity is just that. My identity. The assumption that I am who I am.
The condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is: I am Tucker. I am me, not another.
So the difference is that I am not Survival and Reproduction, though Survival and Reproduction are a part of me.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 08:32 pm (UTC): )
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-24 10:09 pm (UTC)I'm not sure it differs much from my identity, and I'm not certain this is really a good thing. In fact, I'm pretty sure it has the ability to become a dangerous thing. A lot of how good I feel about myself really depends on my ability as a writer and as an artist, as well as on how much success I'm able to achieve with those pursuits.
If something ever happened to me that would somehow keep me from writing or painting ever again, I know I wouldn't feel like I have any more worth. I'd just as soon be dead. Kind of a sucky way to think or feel, but there it is.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-25 02:51 am (UTC)I am adding you, I like people who seek contrarian points of view
(no subject)
Date: 2009-02-27 08:08 pm (UTC)