6 Ways to Add Meaning to your Life
Do you ever feel like you’re living your life on autopilot? Everyday you wake up and go through the motions, but feel disconnected from who you are and what you want. Have you ever woken up and had an “existential crisis,” asking yourself what is the purpose of all of this? You’re definitely not alone. If you clicked on this blog post, then you must be interested in living a meaningful life.
Is There One True Meaning to Life?
Almost every person tackles this question at least once in their life (if not countless times). I’m not sure there is one true meaning, at least not one that I can comprehend as a single person. Ultimately, I believe finding meaning in life is a personal journey. What may be meaningful to me may not be meaningful to you. This means you are able to create a meaning that best fits you, which can be both freeing but also daunting. Below I will summarize some practical ways to find your meaning.
6 Strategies for Finding your Meaning
Make a list of your values
The first step you can take is to write down a list of what is important to you, aka your values. Over your lifetime, you may find that this list changes. What was important to you when you were 15 might be very different than when you are 35. Try to write at least your top 5-10 values and ask some questions to better understand your relationship to these values, such as:
- Why is this value important to me?
- How does this reflect who I want to be or who I am?
- In what ways am I acting in line with this value? In what ways am I not?
Develop and foster your relationships (romantic partners, friends, and family)
Making and maintaining connections with others is a great way to develop meaning in your life. Find the people in your life who make you feel your best and work on fostering those relationships. Finding or joining a group of like-minded people (like a bowling team, book club, or online community) can also help develop your passions and increase meaning.
Practice mindfulness
Practicing more mindfulness in your life works two ways. First, it can help you engage less in your “auto-pilot mode” so you can be more aware and intentional in your life. Second, it will allow you to more clearly monitor what feels good and not so good in your life. You may be able to realize that a certain activity or person who used to make you feel good, no longer does so. Maybe you’ll notice something new that is exciting you. Follow the good feelings to find purpose and meaning.
Create something or do something
Personal meaning does not have to be some grand purpose, like influencing world peace or solving poverty. Meaning can be “small-scale” and totally personal. Maybe you find purpose and meaning in creating scrapbooks, knitting scarves for friends, or maintaining a garden. Meaning can also be found in what we spend our time doing, such as eating yummy food, listening to music, athletic activity, dancing and more.
Experience new things
Are you feeling at a loss in finding anything in your life that brings you joy, purpose, or meaning? One strategy is to step outside of your comfort zone and try experiencing new things. Make it a point to experiment with new things and practice mindfulness to see how you feel when you do it. You may discover that you have a passion for bird watching, playing dungeons and dragons, or tasting different hot sauces. If something doesn’t click right away, you can even make your meaning be about trying new things in itself!
Adjust your attitude towards suffering
The last strategy involves examining your beliefs about suffering. Tragedy and suffering are unavoidable parts of life. Tragedy reveals our vulnerabilities, which can cause us to suffer, feeling helpless or weak. However, research shows (source) that experiencing tragedy can also lead to increased meaning in life. It can cause us to feel empowered to change, appreciate life, strengthen our beliefs, and connect more strongly with others. This does not mean that every tragedy in your life “happens for a reason.” What it does mean is that you can give reason and meaning to the suffering in your life.
Your Next Steps
If you are ready to create more meaning in your life, you can start today with a pen, paper, open mind, and the strategies above. Finding meaning in your life may be a life-time journey, but it can begin today. I hope that today’s post inspired you to bring intention, awareness, and purpose to your life. If you would like some guidance in achieving a more meaningful life, I am currently accepting new clients and would be happy to help you on your journey. To get started today, contact me here.
