Man cannot stand a meaningless life.
Carl Jung
Vi ønsker alle at leve et liv, der betyder noget, som har et formål og en retning. Men hvordan finder man mening i sit liv? Hvordan skaber man et liv, der er tilfredsstillende?
In an old Peanuts comic strip, Lucy asks Charlie Brown:
– Why do you think we’re put here on earth?
Charlie Brown answers:
– To make others happy.
Lucy then asks:
– What are the others put here for?
This humorous exchange highlights the age-old question of what gives our life meaning and purpose. A question that has puzzled philosophers, theologians and scientists for centuries.
It is generally agreed that the meaning of life is individual and differs from person to person. Some people find meaning in their work, others in their relationships, and still others in their hobbies or passions. The search for meaning is a deeply personal and subjective journey that requires introspection, reflection and self-awareness.
Story
One of my favourite inspiring and insightful speeches about meaning was made by John W. Gardner. In this speech, Gardner shares his wisdom and experience on finding meaning in our lives and living a life of vitality and purpose. He speaks with honesty and humility, drawing from his remarkable career in public service, education, and business. Below is the heartbreaking and inspiring ending of his speech.
Many years ago, I concluded a speech with a paragraph on the meaning in life. The speech was reprinted over the years, and 15 years later, that final paragraph came back to me in a rather dramatic way – really, a heartbreaking way.
A man wrote to me from Colorado saying that his 20-year-old daughter had been killed in an automobile accident some weeks before and that she was carrying in her billfold a paragraph from a speech of mine. He said he was grateful because the paragraph and the fact that she kept it close to her told him something he might not otherwise have known about her values and concerns.
I can’t imagine where or how she came across the paragraph, but here it is:
Meaning is not something you stumble across, like the answer to a riddle or the prize in a treasure hunt. Meaning is something you build into your life. You build it out of your own past, out of your affections and loyalties, out of the experience of humankind as it is passed on to you, out of your own talent and understanding, out of the things you believe in, out of the things and people you love, out of the values for which you are willing to sacrifice something. The ingredients are there. You are the only one who can put them together into that unique pattern that will be your life. Let it be a life that has dignity and meaning for you. If it does, then the particular balance of success or failure is of less account.
Journaling prompt
Life is a journey that is often filled with ups and downs, and finding meaning in the midst of it all can be challenging. The birth of a child, a major accomplishment, or a moment of awe in nature are all examples of peak experiences that provide a deep sense of fulfilment and nourishment. However, discovering meaning in life is not limited to peak experiences. It’s also to be found in the small things and moments that constitute our daily lives. Finding meaning involves being open to new people and experiences, trying new things, and following your passion.
What gives your life meaning?
(Pick only one answer)
According to author Anaïs Nin, life’s meaning is subjective and individualistic: “There is not one big cosmic meaning for all. There is only the meaning we each give to our life, an individual meaning, an individual plot, like an individual novel, a book for each person.”. I share Nin’s view and recommend you formulate your answer to the question. Take a few moments to write your response in your journal.
I also suggest answering this question every three months or each year. Looking back at how your thinking has evolved and been influenced by experience tells you something more about yourself and gets you closer to a deeper self-understanding. My answers have ranged from love, my children and family, friends, work and career, helping others, spirituality, philosophy and religion, nature, personal growth, gardening, cycling, mountain hiking and camping.
Be curious about your answer and go deeper. Why is your meaning important to you? What is significant about your meaning? How is it connected to your deeper values?
Let’s take my gardening answer as an example. Why is it important to me? I came up with the three words joy, legacy and beauty.
Ressourcer
Definition: Eudaimonic well-being
Eudaimonia is a Greek term that means “good spirit” or “welfare”. It is derived from the words “eu”, meaning good, and “daimon”, meaning spirit. It refers to the idea that living in accordance with one’s character and virtue leads to a good life.
Eudaimonic wellbeing is a concept in positive psychology that refers to the subjective experiences associated with eudaimonia or living a life of virtue in pursuit of human excellence. The experiences derived from such living include self-actualization, personal expressiveness and vitality. Eudaimonic well-being is usually discussed in terms of growth, authenticity, meaning and excellence. It is often contrasted with hedonic well-being, which is about maximizing pleasure and minimizing displeasure. Some ways to promote eudaimonic well-being include standing by your values, writing down your biggest goals, and developing skills that bring you joy.
According to a study published in 2014, people who have a higher sense of personal well-being and feel that their life has meaning and purpose tend to live longer than those with a lower sense of personal well-being. The study followed about 9,000 people over the age of 65 for eight and a half years. The researchers gauged the participants’ well-being by giving them a questionnaire that measured how much control they felt they had over their own lives and how much they thought what they did was worthwhile.
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