Wow, that is a huge opener this week. You are quietly going about your business…working, checking emails, maybe on social media and up pops this blog and That Question.
Do I really want to be thinking about the meaning of my life in the middle of all the craziness that is our current lived experience?”
And yet again, I am struck by the timing of this blog series on the keys to happier living in our Covid recovery, as outlined by Action for Happiness.
Because if anything is going to stop us short on our gerbil-wheel lives and make us consider what their meaning is, it is a global pandemic.
Meaning is about having a connection to something bigger than ourselves.
Meaning can be found in many places.
For some, it will be a religious faith or spiritual connection. For others, it could be commitment to any number of causes, and on any scale. Climate change is a highly relevant and hot topic that brings meaning to the lives of many, not least with COP26 being hosted in Glasgow this year. Maybe we are involved in campaigning for a local project, fundraising for a charity that is personal to us, or petitioning the government on some issue at national or international level. In asking, what is the meaning to your life, for some the answer is right where the roots are, in homes and family.
The important thing is to have something in our lives that gives us that sense of meaning and purpose, something bigger than ourselves to which we make a contribution.
How do we get there?
One starting point is to consider what people, activities and belief systems create in us the strongest sense of purpose. Ask yourself:
- What really stirs me up?
- What do I get on my soap box about?
- What am I really passionate about?
- What would others say I don’t stop talking about?!
Answering those questions will give you a clearer idea of what matters most to you. The next step is working out how you can get involved in activities linked to that bigger issue, or prioritise such activities. Often life whips past us at such a frenetic pace that we miss the opportunities to be involved or to contribute what we can, and we lose sight of what gives our lives meaning.
What is the meaning of your life?
Another approach is to flip that perspective around and consider what legacy you want to leave.
- What do I want to leave behind at the end of my life?
- What do I want to be known for?
- What would I like to be said about me once I have departed this earth?
I don’t want to get all morbid or morose here but the global pandemic we have lived with for the past year has certainly made us face our mortality. This is simply about challenging ourselves to live in a way that brings meaning to our lives and contributes to the lives of others in a meaningful way.
One final thought.
Meaning is for me as much about WHO I am as to what I do. Having integrity in one’s character in a way that inspires and empowers others to live free to be themselves. Who are the people that matter the most to you and how do they impact the way you live and the person that you are?
Meaning is about answering the question: Why am I here? Relationships with others is a big part of the answer to that
It’s about aligning our thoughts, values, character and actions so that who we are on the outside mirrors who are on the inside. Think about the role models you have had in life, and what it was about them that gave your life meaning. And not just that, but how they inspired you in living a meaning-full life?
As we consider how relationships give our lives meaning, think about these questions:
- Who are the people who have had the biggest positive impact on you?
- Who are those who have taught you something worthwhile?
- Who are those who have inspired you to stretch yourself and believed in and with you for what you want to achieve?
Now consider this: to whom would YOU be the answer to any of those questions?
What is the meaning of your life and how has Covid changed and shaped that? As we gradually emerge from the weirdness and challenge of these dark months, how do we make choices that align how we live with that meaning – be it a cause, relationships, faith.
I leave you with that question.