(This is a serious question, despite my username)
There are plenty of studies that show that having a "purpose" and working after it is correlated with higher happiness or well being. "Purpose" is vague enough, so to make things worse I am going to conflate it with "life meaning", "calling" or "personal values". I recently came across the Japanese "Ikigai" which seems related.
Ok, I buy this, however, what is this "purpose/ meaning/ calling/ value" thing? What does it mean, really? How do I find mine?
I think this is the kind of thing a fair amount of people here in HN have thought about, so I thought of asking.
Is there any research that goes into what is "purpose" and how to figure it out? I've come across plenty that talks about how good it is, but nothing that goes into how to find it. Any serious books that you may recommend?
Purpose/calling is meaningless IMHO. I opted for "pushing my comfort zone". Something I learned from a woman I was dating when I was 20 (she was 9 years older and entering the Peace Corp). Now rapidly reaching the other side of 50, I seek to be content and without dissonance in my day-to-day life. I have routines I enjoy, no bucket list, and time to let my mind wander to whatever tickles my fancy.
Instead, expand your horizons as much as possible. Read. Study. Try new things. They don't have to be expensive things, this isn't about privilege. Anyone can try drawing, or writing music, or reading philosphy, or long distance running, or volunteering, or sexual experimentation, ... things that push your comfort zone and force you to see the world a new way. If you have the means, travel to foreign countries and get lost, skydive, surf, scuba dive, play in a band, take a dance class, take any class at a college that seems interesting, take a Toastmasters class and give speeches, change jobs.
The more you bend yourself (without breaking) the more you will learn about what gives your life contour.
You might never find purpose, but hopefully you will find peace and delivery from the restlessness you have expressed.