What Is the Meaning of Life?
The following contribution is from the Poclet Mindfulness website, which defines itself as: Pocket Mindfulness consists of stopping for a moment and analyzing what is really happening around us. Because if we allow ourselves to be silent for a moment, stop analyzing the past and trying to predict the future, we gain mental clarity.
The author is Alfred James.
At first glance, this seems like the most unanswerable question, a question that torments us from beginning to end.
And paradoxically, the more we integrate mindfulness into our daily lives and realize that the only reality we have is the present moment, the more pointless life seems, because we live as if that were all there is to it.
But, judging by what we perceive, I think looking up at what «could be» is a waste of energy, because for me, life undoubtedly happens «down here.»
No matter how strong our faith in a particular religion or theory, believing in something doesn’t make it more true.
Knowing something, based on evidence that can be critically evaluated, is likely a more accurate assessment of what it is.
In short, saying «I believe» is never an adequate substitute for being able to say «I know.»
Faith is primarily about belief, as it relies on second, third, fourth (and so on) explanations for things that may or may not be true.
But let’s be clear: the goal of this post is not to question anyone’s faith or propose an alternative school of thought about what might exist in another realm, but simply to present what is real.
And by this, I mean what we are able to perceive and logically deduce from that perception.
Do we even know what we are doing?
For over 20 years, science has suggested that we might have very little control over what we do, which calls into question the concept of free will.
Studies have shown that the brain knows what you will do before the compulsion to act reaches your consciousness.
In short, our thoughts and actions are triggered by neurological processes beyond our control.
In fact, a study published in Psychological Science suggests that the very moment we make a decision, our mind rewrites history, making us believe that this decision—which was actually completed after we unconsciously perceived its consequences—was a decision we had made all along.
Realizing that we are technically on autopilot and without free will adds a new dimension to the question: «What’s the point?»
If there is nothing after this existence, and I don’t have full control of my actions in it, then what’s the point of all this doing, competing, fighting, striving, working, accumulating, etc.?
What is the point of life?
If the only reason you live is because you firmly believe you’ll go to a better place afterward, why not leave now?
Well, perhaps leaving is conditioned on living first. Still, can you truly live a life if it’s hampered by constant thoughts about what might come next?
There’s nothing wrong with having faith that there can be something better after this life, as long as it doesn’t restrict or distort your reality to the point of preventing you from living and flourishing fully in it.
And by this, I simply mean appreciating any blessing, however small and fleeting, that exists in your existence right now.
The only reality, the only thing I truly know, is this moment, here and now. There is nothing else.
And it’s at this point that science and mindfulness/being fully present merge beautifully: because, although there was a neurological process before I thought of writing this post, it still required my conscious action to act and write it.
The reality, the control I have—the living and the being—lies in doing in the moment.
I can take full control of my life in this instant. I can act with full awareness on a particular thought of my choice. I can take advantage of this moment to act.
We have a million thoughts a day, over which we have no control.
We can’t filter thoughts or discard the ones we don’t like, but we can choose which ones we act on.
Or can we?
Well, actually, I don’t think it matters.
Go back to the beginning of this post, where we talked about «believing» something versus «knowing something.»
I don’t «believe» that I will one day write this post. I «know» that I am writing it. This is reality. It exists right now, as I act.
However questionable the reality of my action may be—whether it’s by free will; whether it’s happening, or whether it’s happening in my head; or whether it’s just me, a conglomeration of atoms vibrating in a meaningless void—the perception of the action is what I know to be true.
In this simple concept, I believe (ironically), lies the meaning of life.
The meaning of life is life itself.
So it makes sense to me that the meaning of life is to live what you know is real.
Of course, what seems like reality may not actually be as we perceive it, but science allows us to continually learn about this, and our understanding will evolve with the answers.
The truth is, we don’t know what awaits us, what happens when we die, or even the true extent of the control we have over our lives.
But what we do know is that we have the awareness of being here and now.
Stop for a moment and look around you…
That’s an awareness that looks through your eyes: you are a physical being, a personality, a beautiful individual that cannot and never will be replicated. You are unique. Truly.
That awareness, that feeling of being here right now, that individual role you and I play in the world—that is the meaning of life.
That is the only answer we have.
There is nothing to look forward to in the future, because it doesn’t exist, but everything is perceived in the now.
So, to me, this is the point. You are the center of your existence, along with all the other living organisms that surround it at this moment.
The center of your life is happening now. Beyond that, it is irrelevant because it doesn’t exist.
The tiniest, seemingly insignificant insect you see on the ground is a fundamental part of the center, because you know it exists here and now.
When we begin to live from this perspective, the center of your life makes sense; it suddenly acquires context, substance, and meaning.
From this acceptance comes a profound shift in consciousness.
We are relieved of mental suffering when we see life this way. There is no need to compete, strive, or blindly grasp for anything better.
Why? Because most of these actions are based on empty beliefs about a better time, a better place, a happier, more fulfilled you; things that transcend, transform, and recede the closer you think you are to them. But let me clarify something before I sign off: My point of view doesn’t imply that reflecting on the future, life after death, or talking about faith and higher consciousness isn’t valuable—on the contrary.
But self-prophesying «beliefs» unfounded in reality, or at least in our most realistic perception of it, can prevent us from living life to the fullest.
7 Strange Questions That Help You Find Your Life’s Purpose
The following post is from the Mark Manson website, which describes itself as follows: Mark is the author of «The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,» a three-time number one New York Times bestseller, among other titles. His books have sold nearly 20 million copies, have been translated into more than 65 languages, and have reached number one in more than a dozen countries. In 2023, Universal Pictures will release a film about his life and ideas worldwide.
Written by Mark Manson
One day, when my brother was 18, he proudly walked into the living room and announced to my mom and me that he would one day be a senator. My mom probably treated him like she was saying, «That’s great, honey,» while I’m pretty sure I was distracted by a bowl of Cheerios or something. But for fifteen years, this purpose influenced all of my brother’s life decisions: what he studied, where he chose to live, who he associated with, and even what he did on vacations and weekends.
After almost half a lifetime of work, he is the president of a major political party and a judge. He also ran for state congress at 30 and narrowly lost.
Don’t get me wrong. My brother is a weirdo. This basically never happens.
Most of us have no idea what we want to do with our lives.
Even after finishing school. Even after getting a job. Even after making money. Between the ages of 18 and 25, I changed career aspirations more often than underwear. And even after owning a business, it took me another four years to clearly define what I wanted for my life.
Chances are you’re like me and have no idea what you want to do.
It’s a struggle almost every adult faces. «What do I want to do with my life?» «What am I passionate about?» «What am I not bad at?» I often receive emails from people in their 40s and 50s who still have no idea what they want to do.
The Problem with Searching for a «Life Purpose»
Part of the problem is the very concept of «life purpose.»
The idea that everyone was born with a higher purpose and that now our cosmic mission is to find it.
This is the same absurd logic used to justify things like spiritual crystals or that your lucky number is 34 (but only on Tuesdays or during full moons).
The truth is this: we exist on this earth for an indeterminate period.
During that time, we do things. Some are important. Others aren’t. And those important things give meaning and happiness to our lives. Unimportant things basically just kill time.
So when people ask, «What should I do with my life?» or «What is my purpose in life?» what they’re really asking is:
«What can I do with my time that matters?»
This is a much better question. It’s much more manageable and doesn’t have all the absurd baggage of the «life purpose» question.
There’s no reason for you to be contemplating the cosmic meaning of your life while sitting on the couch all day eating Doritos.
Rather, you should get going and figure out what matters to you.
One of the most frequent questions I get via email is people asking me what they should be doing with their lives—what their «life purpose» is.
It’s an impossible question to answer. After all, as far as I know, that person loves knitting kitten sweaters or shooting gay bondage porn in their basement.
I have no idea.
Who am I to tell them what’s right or what’s important to them?
But after doing some research, I’ve come up with a series of questions to help you figure out for yourself what’s important to you and what can bring the most meaning to your life.
These questions are by no means exhaustive or definitive. In fact, they’re a little ridiculous. But I made them that way because discovering our life’s purpose should be fun and interesting, not a chore.
So, whether you’re looking for your dream job, thinking about starting a second career, or just don’t want to spend your whole life wondering «what if…?», hopefully you’ll find some meaningful answers to these ridiculous, yet somewhat thought-provoking, questions.
What Is the Meaning of Life?: Why You Might Feel This Way
The following contribution is from the Verywell Mind portal, which defines itself as follows: Our mission is to help you prioritize your mental health and find balance. At Verywell Mind, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health and well-being, because we live it with you every day. That’s why we’re the only platform dedicated to mental health and well-being, supporting you in every aspect of your life: whether you’re living with a mental illness, managing daily stress, seeking to improve your relationships, or learning about fascinating psychological theories, we hope you feel empowered to take the next steps and become your best self.
The author is Kendra Cherry, MS, a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of «Everything Psychology Book.»
Table of Contents
Signs
Why You Might Feel This Way
How It Relates to Depression
What Gives Life Meaning?
Strategies That Can Help
How to Get Help
It’s normal for all of us to wonder about our purpose. However, at times, we might question existence to the point of asking, «What is the meaning of life?»
When these feelings are accompanied by hopelessness, helplessness, sadness, and disinterest, they could indicate a mental health condition such as depression.
If you’re wondering if life has a purpose, remember that meaning is different for everyone. For some people, life’s purpose may be to make the world a better place.
Others may believe that the meaning of life is to find and achieve personal fulfillment. And some may feel that the meaning of life is simply to enjoy it to the fullest.
Finding meaning in life can be difficult for anyone, but it can be especially difficult when struggling with low mood and depression.
If you struggle with finding meaning in your life and its purpose, it may be helpful to learn more about why you feel this way and what you can do to find meaning.
Signs You Feel Like Life Has No Meaning
There are several signs that you may be struggling to find meaning in life. Sometimes you might think «what’s the point?», but in other cases, these feelings may be less obvious:
– You may feel like nothing you do matters.
– You may have stopped caring about the outcome of events.
– Things that once brought you joy may ring hollow or seem empty.
– You may feel hopeless.
– You may feel like none of your efforts will help you achieve your goals and aspirations.
Why do you feel this way?
We all go through times in life when we feel unsure of our purpose.
We may feel lost.
We may be unsure of who we are.
Or we may wonder if there is a deeper meaning to life that we simply can’t see.
There are many different reasons why someone may feel like they don’t understand the point of life.
– Perhaps you are going through a stressful or difficult situation that is making you question its meaning.
– Perhaps you feel dissatisfied with your job, studies, relationships, or hobbies and wonder if you are missing out on something else.
– Perhaps you feel like your accomplishments don’t matter or don’t have much impact.
– Perhaps you feel unsure about what you should do with your life or what steps to take next.
– Perhaps you struggle with setting goals because you’re unsure of what you really want.
– Perhaps you have a mood disorder, such as major depressive disorder, dysthymia, or bipolar disorder.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone in feeling this way. Taking steps to find what feels meaningful to you is an important first step.
Why is life so difficult? How to cope with this feeling
Depression and feelings of worthlessness
People with depression frequently experience a sense of worthlessness. For many, everything seems meaningless. After all, they might think: what’s the point of life if you’re not happy?
According to some research, losing the ability to see life’s purpose may contribute to the onset of depression.
Recognizing this feeling and taking steps to combat it can help improve mood and help you find greater purpose.
In a 2019 study published in the journal Qualitative Psychology,
researchers found that many people living with depression felt their symptoms were related to life changes that affec
