“What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general, but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.”
— Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
“It is not the critic who counts. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. Who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short time and time again; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. His place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
Meaning
There may come a time when we wonder what life is really all about. We may be successful in our careers, have a great family, pursue hobbies we enjoy, and even get a lawn covered with pink flamingoes for a milestone birthday (see picture at left), but we may still wonder “is this all”? Or, if we haven’t yet accomplished all we set out to do, we may wonder if we’ll ever get there.
Or, we may be too busy to reflect on our lives until we encounter a crisis, like a job layoff, death in the family, divorce, or illness. Then, when we get such a “wakeup call,” we may begin to reflect on, even question, the meaning of our lives.
Many people throughout history—artists, writers, psychologists, philosophers, even “ordinary” people—have speculated, reflected, and shared their own searches for meaning. Do we really get satisfaction from chasing one short-lived pleasure after another? What will bring us lasting happiness and real contentment? Can meditation or another spiritual practice help?
- Define your direction for the future, and clarify your path toward this future.
- Learn to achieve the life you want.
- Deepen your spiritual side.