Jordan Peterson - What To Do If I Don't Have Any Goals?

Summary

In this dialogue, a student asks Dr. Peterson for guidance on setting life goals when unsure of one's direction. Dr. Peterson suggests starting with small, positive actions, like cleaning one's room, to distinguish between chaos and order. He emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's immediate environment and the transformative power of small, consistent improvements. This practice not only brings about personal growth but also helps in gradually developing a vision for one's future.

Takeaways

• 🎯 The importance of setting life aims and goals was discussed, emphasizing the need for direction in one's life.
• 🤔 Dr. Peterson suggests that if you're unsure of your life's direction, start by avoiding behaviors that would lead to a miserable life.
• 🚫 He references the Old Testament's approach to morality through a list of prohibitions, which can serve as a starting point for children's moral education.
• 👶 Parents are advised to guide their children to become likable and socially desirable, which involves setting boundaries and prohibitions.
• 🧹 Dr. Peterson recommends 'cleaning up your room' as a metaphor for starting with small, manageable tasks to improve one's life and environment.
• 🌟 He emphasizes the value of distinguishing between chaos and order and the importance of acting to create order, which is a form of personal development.
• 🏡 The act of tidying up one's space is presented as a form of meditation and a divine act, symbolizing the transformation of chaos into order.
• 🔍 Dr. Peterson shares that true ownership of a space comes from actively engaging with it, cleaning, and personalizing it.
• 💪 Incremental improvements in one's environment and self can lead to increased strength and the ability to tackle larger tasks over time.
• 🌱 By consistently making small positive changes, one may eventually develop a clearer vision of what positive actions can be taken in life.

Q & A

What is the main issue the student is facing according to the transcript?

The student is facing difficulty in setting aims in life and finding a direction to work towards, as they are unsure of where they want to go.

How does Dr. Peterson suggest starting the process of setting life goals?

Dr. Peterson suggests starting with prohibitions, similar to the Old Testament's approach to morality, by identifying and avoiding behaviors that would make one's life miserable.

What does Dr. Peterson propose as a practical first step in personal development?

Dr. Peterson proposes cleaning up one's room as a practical first step, which is more useful and harder than people think, to learn the distinction between chaos and order.

Why is cleaning up one's room considered a form of meditation according to Dr. Peterson?

Cleaning up one's room is considered a form of meditation because it helps in practicing the ability to distinguish and produce order, which is a valuable skill for personal development.

What does Dr. Peterson believe about the relationship between physical ownership and true ownership of a space?

Dr. Peterson believes that physical ownership of a space does not equate to true ownership until one has established a dynamic relationship with the objects in that space by cleaning and personalizing it.

How does Dr. Peterson link the act of organizing one's environment to divine acts?

Dr. Peterson links organizing one's environment to divine acts by suggesting that taking chaos and creating order is a powerful and transformative process, akin to divine creation.

What is the 'compound interest' effect that Dr. Peterson mentions in the context of personal development?

The 'compound interest' effect refers to the idea that consistently making small improvements and taking on slightly larger tasks each day leads to significant growth and progress over time.

How does Dr. Peterson view the process of setting positive life goals?

Dr. Peterson views the process of setting positive life goals as an evolution from merely fixing negative aspects of one's life to envisioning and pursuing positive actions that contribute to a meaningful direction.

What advice does Dr. Peterson give for identifying small tasks that can improve one's life?

Dr. Peterson advises reflecting on small tasks that can be done to make the next day slightly better and to ask oneself, as if in prayer, what small thing could be done to set things more right.

What is the significance of the biblical stories in Dr. Peterson's discussion on setting life aims?

The biblical stories serve as an analogy for Dr. Peterson's discussion on setting life aims, illustrating the transition from prohibition-based morality to a more proactive approach that includes positive actions.