The meaning of life: does it really exist and how can you find it?

The Ātman depends upon Brahman for its existence; the meaning of life is achieving Moksha through the love of God and upon His grace. To Baháʼís, the purpose of life is focused on spiritual growth and service to humanity. Human beings are viewed as intrinsically spiritual beings. People’s lives in this material world provide extended opportunities how to create meaning in life to grow, to develop divine qualities and virtues, and the prophets were sent by God to facilitate this. Friedrich Nietzsche characterized nihilism as emptying the world, and especially human existence, of meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, and essential value; succinctly, nihilism is the process of « the devaluing of the highest values ».

Feeling like you belong or being a part of something bigger than yourself can make life feel more meaningful and profound. If you find a deficit in a particular area of meaning, search for it in a productive way. Fortunately, you don’t have to figure out how to do it on your own—philosophical and religious traditions have been doing exactly that for millennia. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ One of the best organized strategies comes from Hinduism’s concept of the ashramas, or the four stages of a balanced life. The third is Vanaprastha—literally “retiring to the forest,” in Sanskrit—which ideally begins at about age 50 and entails stepping back from day-to-day demands to focus more on life’s deep meaning through reflection, meditation, and study.

Related Articles

The power of storytelling explains why journal writing and intimate communication with others can have such powerful organising effects on our mind and a positive impact on our physical well-being. Keeping a journal allows us to work through overwhelming emotions and observe our thought patterns, rather than simply reacting to them. After all, stories give us a sense of direction and a purpose.

Then, think of the things that drain your energy and those that don’t add value to your life. This example can apply no matter what your highest value is, just replace “family” with the thing you value most, and you’re one big step closer to figuring out what a meaningful life looks like for you. The definition of a meaningful life can change depending on the person. In fact, there are probably as many definitions and translations of a meaningful life as there are human beings.

What Is Meaning?

Purpose is one of the most relevant constructs when it comes to meaning. Purpose refers to the aspirations and missions we have for our lives and our value-oriented goals. Having a purpose in life means having a commitment to something beyond the immediate. Purpose guides decisions and shapes our behaviours, and acts like a principle that organises our lives.

I used to jump out of bed, frazzled, rushing to get my son to daycare, getting to work late, walking in out of breath, disheveled and exhausted. ✨Get lifetime, instant access to our evidence-based Mega Emotions Bundle designed to squash worry, anger, or big fears and teach kids to make better decisions in emotionally heightened situations. 🍂Special Fall Edition Gratitude and Kindness Kit available now!

To love, to feel, to enjoy the act of living

Let’s assume that there really is a single meaning to life. A BetterUp mentor will work with you on your individualized plan to never forget that you can find the purpose of your life with the proper mindset and strategies. Remember, you aren’t trying to find someone else’s meaning; you’re trying to find what enriches your own professional and personal life.

Kant is known for his deontological theory where there is a single moral obligation, the « Categorical Imperative », derived from the concept of duty. Kantians believe all actions are performed in accordance with some underlying maxim or principle, and for actions to be ethical, they must adhere to the categorical imperative.