A gizmo can't define it's own purpose since its purpose is defined by the gizmo's inventor. In the same way, if you accept that you were created by some sort of higher power, then the purpose you were created for was also defined by that higher power, and isn't something you can create or even change.

In a way, it reminds me a bit of the Presbyterian philosophy of pre-destination, that God created the universe and being omniscient, he knows everything that has happened and that will happen to the end of time. Not being a Pres myself, I'm not perfectly sure I described that correctly, but I think I got the jist of it.

I've had to think about this a lot, because I have always been of the philosophy that ultimate responsibility is always your own, thus, you ultimate choices and actions are yours alone. This challenges some basic beliefs that I have and it's a little uncomfortable.

However, the also distinguishes between what your 'purpose' in life is and what your goals in life are. Goals are things that you set for yourself, standards you hold yourself to, etc. Purpose is the plan made by God for your life, how it will affect the world around you, and how it will lead you to eternity.

Does anyone 'really' ever just live their life about themselves? We are social animals, even at our most primitive. While there are such a thing as hermits, as a rule anywhere you see people you see them living as part of a society, thus, they live as part of something that is bigger than the individual.

On one hand, I understand exactly where you are coming from because I feel the same way, but on the other hand, I also recognize that there are forces in the world that sometimes make me do things I'd rather not do because my life is chained to the society that I am a product of. My life is also chained to relationships with other people, and I would do many things that would not be strickly in my own self interest for the sake of these other people (for example, I do a lot of stuff that I think is silly for the sake of my wife, like putting furniture in my closet...or hanging new curtains when as far as I could tell there wasn't anything wrong with the old ones (except they apparently didn't match the new sheets and covers for the bed, which begs the question why did she buy new sheets and covers that didn't match the current curtains...).

From that standpoint, it would be a very rare individual that can truly claim that all aspects of their life are completely at their own whim, because duties, responsibilities, and relationships are almost as powerful a force in shaping your purpose for waking up and going through the motions of your day as your own will is. So, it's not really a 'slam dunk' that you can say your life is all about you, because your life, whether you like it or not, affects others around you who have formed relationships with you, or who had relationships with you thrust upon them by the simple act of being born to the same family.

In a way it's a bitter pill to swallow, because if you are like me you take full responsibility for every single thing that you do or say (for better or worse), and when you take the full responsibility, you like to think that gives you the right to say you have full control. The reality of life however, seems to suggest that perhaps that isn't quite true.

It's something to think about. It's something I'm having to do a lot of thinking about.