The Life Purpose Equation: How to Find Your Purpose and Create Meaning For Yourself

For example, answers that used words like “reading” and “exercise” were classified as mentioning “activities and hobbies.” Responses could be coded as mentioning multiple topics or none at all. For example, responses that mentioned “reading the Bible” were identified as both mentioning reading as an activity or hobby, and Christianity, faith and spirituality. For Benatar, the bads of existing (e.g., pains) are real disadvantages relative to not existing, while the goods of existing are not real advantages relative to not existing, since there is in the latter state no one to be deprived of them. If indeed the state of not existing is no worse than that of experiencing the benefits of existence, then, since existing invariably brings harm in its wake, it follows that existing is always worse compared to not existing. Although this argument is illustrated with experiential goods and bads, it seems generalizable to non-experiential ones, including meaning in life and anti-matter. The previous two sections addressed theoretical accounts of what would confer meaning on a human person’s life. Although these theories do not imply that some people’s lives are in fact meaningful, that has been the presumption of a very large majority of those who have advanced them.

The third component – one’s life making sense – is a cognitive component, akin to significance. To understand how belief in a higher power as a source of meaning may benefit psychological well-being, MNT spoke with Muhammad Abubakar, doctoral researcher in clinical psychology at Fielding Graduate University and senior student at Qalam Seminary. It provides the view that everything in the universe — from human bodies to intergalactic objects and the physical laws that govern them — is contingent on the existence of this all-powerful being. “Self transcendence is the most popular way that people try to have meaningful lives — by helping or contributing to others,” said Prof. McGregor. Others end up on Dancing with the Stars.Notice that it’s the athletes who aspire to be the best at their sport for some greater reason—to build a charity, to start a business, to transition into another career—who handle retirement the best.

Religious perspectives

If “creativity” is at the top of your list, but you work as an accountant, you may want to think about a job change, or find ways to incorporate creativity into your life (like taking a painting class, writing in your free time, acting in a community play, etc.). Refuse to give up or rest on your laurels until you have created the meaning you wish to express in the world. The point of the story as you no doubt understand is that many of life’s events come and go, although the things that remain important to you should be acknowledged and revered since these are the things that really matter. The key is to not allow yourself to be defined by what others view as success, since in doing so, you will be living up to an unattainable goal, one that you Sober Home will never reach. Redefine success by giving it your definition as opposed to someone else’s. They cleverly recite their rewards and achievements believing all too well that having accomplished or acquired these things, that they will be more content and have achieved their purpose in life. While I do not discount the value of this selfless work, the truth is that we can give meaning to our life through our own power to define what is important to us. How about going to a museum, having lunch at an exclusive hotel in you hometown, or pampering yourself at home for the day? You are probably so stuck in a routine you think you don’t have the time for it. If you make use of the tips provided here, you really can create more meaning in your life.

• In contrast, by the latter, having a soul and putting it into a certain state is what makes life meaningful, even if God does not exist.
• The findings join a body of prior research documenting longitudinal relationships between meaning in life and social functioning, net wealth and reduced mortality, especially among older adults.
• Being finite, the spouse must obtain his or her importance from elsewhere, perhaps from the sort of work he or she does.

Life can be tough, and there’s no reason to be ashamed or afraid to sort things out with someone who’s trained to help. Don’t feel alone if you’re going through a hard time and have been asking yourself “What’s the point?” It’s hard to find meaning when everything seems to go wrong or when bad things happen to good people. However, while many aspects how to create meaning in life of life are beyond your control, you have the power to turn seemingly senseless suffering into something meaningful. Every now and then, remind yourself who you are, what you’ve been through, and which lessons life has taught you. Recount how you grew up, times in your life that felt the most meaningful, and the most important people in your life.

Psychological significance and value in life

Per secular humanism, the human species came to be by reproducing successive generations in a progression of unguided evolution as an integral expression of nature, which is self-existing. Human knowledge comes from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis , and not from supernatural sources; the nature of the universe is what people discern it to be. Likewise, “values and realities” are determined “by means of intelligent inquiry” and “are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience”, that is, by critical intelligence. “As far as we know, the total personality is of the biological organism transacting in a social and cultural context.” Plato, a pupil of Socrates, was one of the earliest, most influential philosophers. His reputation comes from his idealism of believing in the existence of universals. His theory of forms proposes that universals do not physically exist, like objects, but as heavenly forms. In the dialogue of the Republic, the character of Socrates describes the Form of the Good.

The patterns highlighted in this report hold up even when controlling for the length of the responses as well as the demographic characteristics of respondents. Recording the small details of our daily life can help us to feel more grounded, more connected. The act of writing helps us to prioritise our fears and concerns. It’s OK to say “This bothers me,” but it’s another to let it take hold of you. It’s not always easy, but sometimes you have to let something go and keep it away. And the truth is that however many times it comes back to your thoughts, that’s how many times you can let it go.