<p>Hey I was just wondering if anyone else feels this. Like for example, most ppl here are taking lots of AP classes and are really involved and are on "the path" to success, but then I question is any of it really worth it? Like what if after all that you still don't feel true happiness or satisfaction, and eventually u see that ppl do stuff and occupy themselves needlessly to just busy themselves to "have sumthing to do" and make themselves believe they r living productive ideal lives. I suppose my question is what do u do personally to feel fulfilled in life? This excludes ur goals bc goals in a sense can distract u from reality and once goals r ahceived u r left with a sense of hollowness.</p>
<p>Uh oh, I'm seeing signs. I was diagnosed with depression and an eating disorder a few months ago, and that was exactly what I was saying as I was spiraling down, down, down....Don't take that as an attack, though.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm seeing a therapist now and figuring that out for myself. I'm finding that a lot of the things I did just for show really do fulfill me if I put my heart into it. Music, for example. Once just an outlet to win first prizes, now a mode of expression and a world to channel curiosity. AP courses to get the highest GPA turned out to teach me so much about life and other people, it's wonderful! I can't look at a book without feeling all warm and tingly. I'm serious.</p>
<p>Genuinely, I think I couldn't just do anything to keep myself busy. If I do, I can examine exactly what I am doing, and suddenly it's fascinating. I suppose I'm supposed to answer that I only need the simple things like friends, family, my cats, etc. But the truth is I am happy being a busy beaver, as long as I appreciate being a beaver. Does that make sense?</p>
<p>yea makes sense thx 4 input</p>
<p>other thoughts?</p>
<p>I think I started things (like most of my clubs and taking the hardest courses possible) just because that's what's expected of most of the people I surrounded myself with. But now I'm truly passionate about everything I do - and I don't care if I go to an Ivy or to my local state school or whatever, because my job is not going to define my life. I am so much more than my grades and activities, but they - for the most part - make me happier. So my life right now is not just the means to get somewhere else in life. This <em>is</em> my life, at least for the time.</p>
<p>theoneo--did u really post at 4:00 AM? Do u not sleep or just hav CC "cravings"?</p>
<p>I suppose my question is what do u do personally to feel fulfilled in life? </p>
<p>Take care of our children and enjoy their personalities and growth.</p>
<p>Tutor and counsel at a youth shelter. </p>
<p>Help others out, as opportunities arise, using my particular skills.</p>
<p>Play a musical instrument.</p>
<p>one of my problems is that when i do sumthing that i like (like drawing or painting) i start getting over critcal and just quit althogether bc in my opinion its just not good enough. Like this, its become hard to be good at stuff even school, i give up too easy.</p>
<p>When I play my instrument, naturally I'd like to play well but I see my first goal as the process itself: the enjoyment of the basic sound, the feel of practice, the experience of the discipline of practice and learning. So if I can't play well on a given day, I still believe that progress occurred.</p>
<p>You are making progress even if you don't "succeed" on a given day, week, month. Your muscles and neurons are learning and that will show in your results, sooner or later.</p>