Post 11: Life and the Search for Meaning
-To be satisfied in life we need something to do, someone to love and something to look forward to -
I came across this old saying from a dear friend of mine who wrote to me recently while she was in Thailand doing a month long writers programme.
It reminded me of the book “Man’s Search for Meaning” - by Viktor Frankl, which had a profound effect on me. The idea being that man’s deepest desire is to search for meaning and purpose once your basic survival needs are met.
We all need a reason to wake up in the morning, to feel like we are useful and fulfilling some desire within. To contribute in some way. At our deepest level I believe we all want to be loved, to feel worthy and feel that we belong.
We all need to look forward to something, a goal, something that drives us forward especially if where we are at now is not where we want to be.
At the deepest existentialist level we all have some kind of fear that drives us to survive and create some meaning to our existence. If we are not merely existing we search deeper to understand our human condition, what is it all about?
And here’s the thing. As unique spiritual beings with unique talents and gifts we experience our world, our reality, our lives from our own perspectives, our own unique points of view, shaped by early programming, beliefs and filters we create in order to survive in this reality.
So, we attach the meaning we wish to have in our lives. What matters most to one person may not matter to someone else. As creator beings we are creating and constructing our life story in all the choices we make, the decisions we take. We control what we can to make sense and order in our lives knowing so much is without our control. We live in a volatile and at times unpredictable world full of forces we may or may not understand.
We are all at some point busy living or busy thinking and contemplating about living. We go through many transitions and beginnings and endings.
Whatever stage you are on in your own journey, whatever meaning you ascribe, know that we are all trying on some level to make sense and meaning of our lives.
I believe we do need purpose, someone to share our love with and to look forward to something we may be dreaming of.
Rob Ipsen