“Humans may resemble many other creatures in their striving for happiness, but the quest for meaning is a key part of what makes us human and uniquely so.” – Roy Baumeister et al.
Do
we even have time to talk or ponder about the meaning of life? Even if we all
want more purpose in our lives, do we spend enough time thinking about it? The
concept of meaning in life dates back to Ancient Greece and can be found in
famous works by writers like Victor Frankl, as well as in the study of
psychology today.
The three components of life's meaning are: coherence – the feeling that one's life experiences are understandable and that they make sense; purpose – having goals and direction in life, that give a sense of meaning; and significance – a person's belief in the value, worth, and significance of his or her existence. While coherence provides an understanding of the experiences, significance and purpose give an evaluation of the value of that understanding. All the three and interdependent, and together, they form a holistic meaning of one’s life and life experiences.
We may develop or uncover our own unique sense of meaning. Individuals reporting higher meaning in life are more likely to have better relationships and better health; they tend to have higher well-being. However, the relationship between happiness and meaning in life is not that simple. Research suggests that creating meaning in life might cause experiencing negative emotions in a particular time, but still lead to resilience and well-being in the longer term. Having meaning in life might not guarantee happiness in the short term; however, in the long run, it might provide a route to a happier and satisfactory life.
The
meaning of life is found wherever we find purpose and fulfilment. As a result,
the greater our values, experiences, ambitions, and beliefs are, the more
meaning we can derive from our life. Meaning is one of the few things that you
can never have too much of; living a more meaningful life is always a desirable
goal, and you can never be too fulfilled or purposeful!
REFERENCES
https://positivepsychology.com/meaning-of-life-positive-psychology/
https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/health/having-sense-meaning-life-good-you-so-how-do-you-get-one
