This is one area thats very clear to me. You should search for not purpose but Meaning. Purpose is subset of the things that give meaning to life. Purpose is goal with meaning and is more action oriented. "man's search for meaning" by victor frankl is very good read in this area.
One should search for meaning and happiness will come as a by product. This is better than being hedonistic and searching for happiness.
There are 2 meanings implicit and third one you can persue.
1) Search for meaning is meaningful itself.
2) Human life has intrinsic meaning. I dont agree with nihilism that life has no meaning. Life has no 'given' meaning - correct. But since we are conscious, there is a living being going through experiences, there is intrinsic meanining to human life. Consciousness gives meaning to everything. In absense of consciouness, nothing has meaning. This intrinsic meaning is irrespective of life success. Even for a complete failure, since a real living being went through this life, the life still has meanining.
3) External meaning. This is related to success happiness relationships helping others etc. This is a bit fragile, since if you lose these things then you lose meaning. And if you are not successful, life might feel meaningless.
A healthy life is a balance of persuing external meaning and accepting and giving value to internal meaning.
note - This way of thinking is not happiness vs meaning. happiness is one of the things that gives meaning to human life.
One should search for meaning and happiness will come as a by product. This is better than being hedonistic and searching for happiness.
There are 2 meanings implicit and third one you can persue. 1) Search for meaning is meaningful itself.
2) Human life has intrinsic meaning. I dont agree with nihilism that life has no meaning. Life has no 'given' meaning - correct. But since we are conscious, there is a living being going through experiences, there is intrinsic meanining to human life. Consciousness gives meaning to everything. In absense of consciouness, nothing has meaning. This intrinsic meaning is irrespective of life success. Even for a complete failure, since a real living being went through this life, the life still has meanining.
3) External meaning. This is related to success happiness relationships helping others etc. This is a bit fragile, since if you lose these things then you lose meaning. And if you are not successful, life might feel meaningless.
A healthy life is a balance of persuing external meaning and accepting and giving value to internal meaning.
note - This way of thinking is not happiness vs meaning. happiness is one of the things that gives meaning to human life.