Could your mission in life be very simple?

Sara, no offense intended, but I wonder if this isn't a kind of dehumanizing concept.

Calvinists have traditionally believed in the notion of everyone having a "calling," and that notion largely supports the assumptions you're using in this question.

But I wonder: Is any human being so simply constructed, and also so simple in our tastes, talents and needs, that we really only have ONE important thing we need to do in life?

Isn't it more likely that we need to do MORE than one?

Marx criticized Adam Smith's famous notion of the "division of labor in society" on the grounds that super-specialization reduces human dignity. The libertarian conservative science fiction writer Robert Heinlein came to also the identical conclusion in his novel "Time Enough for Love," where he wrote:

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

The Chinese revolutionary Mao Zhe Dong had a slightly different but similar take: being a good revolutionary, he wrote, was like "playing the piano: it requires both hands, both feet, all ten fingers, and one's eyes and one's ears and one's brain. And you also have to know the melody and practice until all work together in harmony."

Obviously, neither Marx nor Mao nor Heinlein was a human god; all were feisty & sometimes obnoxious mortals, and all made mistakes. Mao, despite his historical greatness, also organized the killing of huge numbers of people.

But I think there's something in the idea that each of us is called upon to be more than a simple function in somebody else's design, no matter if this be God's design, or Nature's, or capitalism's.

Aren't all of us, or at least the great majority, in need of doing much more than 1 thing in life?

For example, being loving children, good parents, diligent and successful workers at some job or profession, responsible citizens, caring friends, skillful and loving wives or husbands, compassionate neighbors, intelligent students, and (if you're religious) also devout Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, etc.?

And also eating right and getting enough exercise while we do all of these other things, which likewise enjoying the glories of nature?

I think some specialization is good. In fact, I think it is likely essential for our own happiness & the good of society. But too much specialization risks turning humans into insects, or into machines.

Hey Nightlife :-) It's a very good mission. Happiness is subjective, so only you can tell if you've actually found it. The only thing is, I'd say not to go consciously searching for it, because you'll always be looking for something better and you'll never be happy. True happiness normally sneaks up on people, just take things as they come and you'll be fine. Optimism plays a big part in this particular mission too, so keep an open mind...

My greatest mission in this life is that I do not want to come again in any life. For that I have been baptized in sikhism and doing all the possible practices to achieve the target.

I don't think there is need for me to prove my self a best son father or husband, but try to give best possible justice to all relations, because the prevailing circumstances have also been created by that God. All the relations of sister, brother, son and wife etc are the result of our actions in previous life. Therefore their association with us is already decided.

मात पिता बनिता सुत बंधप इसट मीत अरु भाई ॥

Mother, father, wife, sons, relations, lovers, friends, and brothers,

पूरब जनम के मिले संजोगी अंतहि को न सहाई ॥१॥

meet because of association of the previous births, but in the end, none of them extends a helping hand. {Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Raag Jaithsree 70}

I do not forget the target as I always remember that I have to die one day and answerable to God for my sins. More over if I am succeeded in getting my target, my relatives and friends will also get its advantage equally.

जिनी नामु धिआइआ गए मसकति घालि ॥

Those who have meditated on the Naam, the Name of the Lord, and departed after having worked by the sweat of their brow -

नानक ते मुख उजले होर केती छुटी नालि ॥२॥

O Nanak, their faces are radiant in the Court of the Lord, and many others are saved along with them! ||2|| {Guru Angad Dev Ji, Raag Maajh 146}

My mission is to "serve". Whatever and however God asks this of me, I will do my very best.

This life is not about me. It is "all" about God. He has blessed me with many gifts and blessings to enable me to accomplish this task. It is my greatest honor to do His will.

In my life, I have accomplished many things to serve 'self'. I have since learned; the more we give of ourselves to others, the more meaningful and fulfilling our endeavors become. I have indeed lived many years to learn something so simple, just common sense. If I had learned this so early on, just think what I could have accomplished for my fellow man - and for 'self'!

My one desire was to join Queen Alexandra' Royal Army Nursing Corps http://www.qaranc.co.uk/

but I missed an intake. I found an office job where I met my future partner. We were together for 42 years.

Rose P.

My one great mission in life is to Love. To Love each and every person without differentiation between rich/poor, pretty/ugly, old/young, christian/muslim/hindu etc. male/female, American/foreigner, and on and on. Without expectation of return, a one-way flow of Love from me to All. No matter the person's choices and beliefs, I am here to cherish them and myself as one complete and total Being, and to make my every act based in that knowledge.

For me it's simple. To get through life leaving the smallest footprints, but the largest amount of love.

Live my life in relationship to God. Everything else will naturally follow after.

The one and two+ are our division, whatever the one we have contains all other, may not be in the same way as others would have it the same.

Its very simple. Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. even if you didn't believe in God to treat your neighbor as you would like to be treated would solve most worldly issues.