6 ways to Find More Meaning in Life

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

Oscar Wilde

What is the meaning of life? Philosophers have been wrestling with this question since time immemorial. Whether it’s the existentialists like Nietzche, the absurdists like Camus, or the stoics like Marcus Aurelius, the meaning and purpose of life lie at the core of every philosophy. 

The American Psychological Association defines purpose in life as ‘the mental sense of a goal or aim in the process of living or in existence itself.’ Finding meaning and purpose in life is crucial for psychological well-being. Psychologist, Holocaust survivor, and the founder of logotherapy Viktor Frankl wrote in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.” Hence it won’t be a stretch to say that finding meaning and purpose in life is essential to survival.

A study published in The International Forum for Logotherapy has shown that a higher sense of purpose levels relates to greater life satisfaction, positive affect, grit, and hope. Psychologists have also found that a sense of purpose appears to have evolved in humans and is adaptive, helping the individual and the species to survive. 

Often, people wonder why they were born and whether what they are doing makes them happy. These questions plague everyone from teenagers to older adults. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of Flow: The Psychology Of Optimal Experience and one of the pioneers of positive psychology says, “There are so many choices around us and none of them is guaranteed to make us happy, so we try the more obvious ones; the ones we’ve heard about from our parents or read about in books.”

If you are losing sleep over such questions, read on to find out how you can find more meaning and purpose in life. 

1. Read

Reading outside the school or college curriculum can expose an individual to new ideas and points of view, opening up new horizons and helping them know themselves better. In a survey, Raymond A. Mar and colleagues found that adolescents reading poetry have a greater sense of purpose. By reading about others going through the same crisis as yours and finding purpose in their lives, teens are more likely to see it in their own lives. In this sense, finding purpose can be an act of the imagination. So, if you’re constantly pondering the meaning and purpose of your existence, the library might be the place to get some answers. Pick up a book that matters to you and you might see what matters in your life.

Read More: What are the Psychological Benefits of Daily Reading?

2. Find what makes you happy & foster a passion

Often someone’s passion adds meaning to their lives and gives them a purpose. To find out how you can turn your passion into something more fulfilling, take a cue from the Japanese practice of Ikigai, translated as “a reason for being.” It represents the intersection of four elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Ikigai involves seeking fulfilment in life by finding a balance between these four elements. By pursuing activities and goals aligned with our skills, passions, societal contributions, and financial sustainability, we can lead a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Read More: Ikigai: Secret to live a joyful Life

3. Find and build a community

Invest time and energy in connecting with people who share the same interests. You can find ‘your people’ in events related to your interests such as art exhibitions, a climate rally, or even at the local bookstore. Use online forums to reach out to people like-minded people. Having such people by your side would increase your chances of professional success while adding meaning to your life. Human beings are social animals and with the support of a tight-knit community, we can build a meaningful life.

Read More: Why are Human Beings called Social Animals?

4. Mindfulness

According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, “Mindfulness is the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” Most of us just go through life without paying attention to the wonders of nature and without enjoying the fleeting moments.

By practising mindfulness, one can appreciate the mundane and stay grounded in the present moment, developing a greater appreciation for life and eventually finding a sense of purpose. Studies have found that mindfulness is associated with a sense of purpose in life and engagement in activities. Moreover, higher mindfulness meant higher levels of happiness and lower symptoms of anxiety and depression. Mindfulness exercises such as practising gratitude, mindful eating, journaling, mindfulness meditation etc. can help find some answers to this all-consuming question.

5. Take control of your environment 

According to Heintzelman & King (2014), a cognitively coherent environment can boost ratings of meaningfulness. They suggest that routines, patterns of behaviours ( both yours and your family’s), time blocking, and clean environments can contribute to an increased sense of meaningfulness. To induce a cognitively coherent environment, you can follow these tips:

• Create a fixed routine and set aside time for unexpected tasks. 
• Schedule downtime for exercise and passions
• Maintain a tidy environment, and organise your surroundings (like work desks, cabinets, etc.)

However, do not beat yourself up over last-minute changes in your schedule. Unexpected challenges are bound to pop up but will have fewer negative effects if you already have a sense of control over your environment.

6. Don’t be Impulsive

Don’t rush in the process. It might get overwhelming as one gets older and still feel untethered to life. However, it is important to remember that there’s no deadline to find meaning and purpose in life. Take things as they come and learn from every experience. Listen to people and their stories. Finding meaning and purpose is a dynamic lifelong process and it is normal to change gears even during adulthood. As long as you are doing what makes you feel alive and making a positive contribution to society- you’ve found meaning in life and the purpose of your existence.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Maya Angelou