What’s the Meaning of Life: Simplified

In your quest to find meaning in your life, you might wonder what the meaning of life is in the first place.

It’s an often pondered question by people from all walks of life.

This list includes famous philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. But many others have attempted to find the meaning of life, like physicist Stephen Hawking, the spiritual Dalai Lama, and innovators like Elon Musk.

You might have given it some serious thought too.

What can we learn from their findings?

This article explores various angles to the meaning of life. And we’ll uncover practical ideas for finding meaning in your own life.

Are you ready to live a more purposeful life?

Let’s dive in!

• Is life meaningful?
• What matters most
• So, what’s the meaning of life?
• How to find meaning in your life?
• How to live a more meaningful life?
• You can always find meaning

Is life meaningful?

Before you can answer the question: “What is the meaning of life?”, the first question we should answer is whether life is meaningful at all.

Options already widely vary for this simple question.

In general, there are two contrasting ideas:

• Nihilism suggests that life lacks intrinsic meaning. It challenges you to confront the possibility that there’s no purpose at all.
• Optimism offers a brighter perspective and proposes that life is rich in purpose. It suggests that you can discover meaning in various things.

Which of those two do you lean more towards?

I’m more of an optimist, and I’ll tell you why in a moment.

But first, it’s important to understand that while figuring out the point of life is philosophical, it’s also very personal. 

Your culture, age, and background significantly affect your perception of life’s meaning. You may not realize it, but those aspects influence your worldview at your very core.

Here’s the key insight:

Life’s all meaningful. 

At the same time, life’s entirely meaningless.

Whichever you tend to lean more toward, you’re right.

That’s because…

What matters most is perspective

Your perspective is the lens through which you view your life and the world.

Your lens may be colored in a philosophical, scientific, religious, spiritual, or any other way. Perhaps a cocktail of them. Each approach offers a unique viewpoint about what it means to live a meaningful life.

And it shapes your beliefs and actions.

Now, the meaning of life has also changed throughout the ages. After all, it used to be about survival. 

But for most human beings, that’s no longer the case.

So, what’s the meaning of life?

The short answer is that no one has the answer. Perhaps the meaning of life being a mystery is what makes life so exciting.

The more complex answer? 

There are a wide variety of viewpoints and perspectives on the meaning of life, from all walks of life. 

You can merge the scientific, philosophical, and spiritual perspectives to find unique angles to understand life’s purpose. But perhaps, we must discover an entirely different lens to answer this age-old question.

Maybe we’ll find the answer once we turn into robots…

Who knows.

That said, one observation is clear to me: based on human evolution, the purpose of our life has evolved from surviving to, well, wherever we are now.

If there’s a universal meaning to life, perhaps it’s to live it well, do no harm, and leave the place better than you found it. 

At least, that’s my practical interpretation of life’s universal meaning. In other words, my answer to the meaning of life is this: 

The meaning of life is the meaning you give to it.

I love this definition because it makes you think. It encourages positive action. And it’s ultimately what matters if you want to create a life you love.

CREATING is better than endlessly debating.

Sure, there’s a time and place to debate the meaning of life. It can be a fun exploration. But it can also be a great tool for procrastination.

At the end of the day, you only have one life.

And how you live it, that’s up to you.

How to find meaning in your life?

While the meaning of life might not have an agreed-upon definition, the meaning of your life is deeply personal and up to you to decide. 

If you choose that it has no meaning, that’s fine.

It will likely make your life less exciting and enjoyable, but that’s up to you.

However, you can also decide to embark on the ever-lasting quest to find and give meaning to your life. Now, that’s an exciting adventure.

Do what is easy and your life will be hard. Do what is hard and your life will become easy.

– Les Brown

While finding meaning in your life requires continuous self-reflection and self-discovery, there are commonly agreed elements for a purposeful and fulfilling life:

• Know your WHY: Understanding your motivations – your reasons for doing what you do – is crucial. In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl emphasizes that even in the most desperate circumstances, such as his experiences in Holocaust concentration camps, you can find something worth fighting for. And thus, find meaning in your suffering.
• Do what matters most to you: Do things that genuinely bring you joy and fulfillment. This could be through pursuing a new passion or hobby, engaging your creative genius, spending time in nature, or nurturing meaningful relationships. You can also make career decisions that align with more freedom and joy, rather than just pursuing the highest salary.
• Make a positive influence on others: Meaning often stems from the impact you have on the lives around you. Whether it’s through small acts of kindness, lending a listening ear, or inspiring someone through your actions, making a difference increases your sense of purpose.
• Be grateful and appreciate the small things: Cultivating a sense of gratitude transforms how you view life. Finding meaning, beauty, and joy in small, everyday moments – a sunrise, a laugh, or a life-changing book – can significantly enhance your experience of life.

Incorporating each of these elements into your life will fill it with meaning and purpose. And it will unlock greater success and happiness.

Learn more strategies about finding your life’s purpose.

How to live a more meaningful life?

Living a meaningful life isn’t just about finding your grand life’s purpose; it’s also about finding joy in everyday experiences and interactions.

Being in the moment matters.

And your attitude and perspective matter too.

Let’s explore different ways to live a more satisfying life that also leaves a positive mark on those around you.

#1: Solve problems

Solving problems provides a sense of accomplishment and contributes value to the world. Focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on what’s wrong also channels your energy into positive and productive ways.

Here are actionable ideas:

• Identify problems in your community that you feel passionate about and think of ways you can contribute to solutions.
• Develop problem-solving skills through fun brainstorming exercises. For example, wonder how you would make [insert anything] easier to do. Or think about ideas to solve [insert any issue].
• Connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion through offline or online channels, and collaborate together.

Solving problems is fun, unlocks your creative genius, and connects you to a wider community. It’s a powerful practice to enrich your life in many ways.

#2: Give something back to the world

Contributing to the world reinforces purpose and connection. It creates a legacy of positivity and influence beyond your private bubble.

There are 3 ways to give back:

• Volunteer for causes you care about to make a tangible difference.
• Donate your money to causes that align with your core values.
• Practice kindness and generosity in your daily interactions, even if it’s as simple as complimenting, or better yet, smiling at a stranger today.

Everyone can give back and gain significance by enriching the lives of others.

#3: Creative self-expression

We’re creative beings. Creativity generates joy. And expressing yourself creatively is a way of communicating your inner world.

Actionable ideas for creative self-expression include:

• Explore creative pursuits and further engage in those that most resonate with you, whether it’s painting, writing, music, or coding.
• Share your creations to inspire and connect with others – even if you’re not feeling ready to publish your work into the world.
• Set aside regular time for creative pursuits.

Creative self-expression is a useful pathway for self-discovery.

#4: Help others

Helping others strengthens your connections to life and makes you feel part of something larger than yourself. 

It also increases a sense of personal responsibility and growth. That’s why the idea of encouraging members to support others is a central component of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Now, everyone can help others in small or large ways:

• Offer help to your friends, family, or community members in need.
• Listen actively and empathetically when others share their concerns.
• Be proactive in finding ways to offer a helping hand to others.

Help yourself by helping others.

#5: Set meaningful goals

Setting goals provides direction and motivation. It encourages you to align your daily actions with a larger and more meaningful objective.

Here is a simple step-by-step approach to set and achieve goals:

1. Identify your authentic self; who are you at your core?
2. Identify goals that matter to you. Which goal pursuits will truly be meaningful and joyful to you? And which goals do you only pursue for the results, like achieving material success for external validation?
3. Break your goals up into smaller, more manageable (daily) tasks.

Goals serve as a compass that guides your actions, infuses your life with meaning, and empowers you to live a life you love.

#6: Become attentive and grateful for the small things

Appreciating the small shifts your focus to the positive aspects of your life. It instills a sense of abundance and optimism.

Gratitude is a simple but effective tool in positive psychology.

Here are simple gratitude practices:

• Write your daily joys and appreciations in a gratitude journal.
• Practice mindfulness to become more present in the moment.
• Frequently express appreciation for others in your life.

Appreciating the small stuff enriches your daily life with a deeper sense of meaning and joy.

#7: Focus on your locus of control

Understanding what you can and can’t control empowers you to focus on the right things. Focusing on your locus of control channels your energy in more positive and productive ways.

Here’s how you can focus on what you can control:

• Identify factors within your control and focus your efforts on them.
• Cultivate a positive attitude towards things outside your control, like adopting the belief that everything happens for a reason.
• Learn to let go of the need to control every aspect of your life.

Focusing on your locus of control creates a sense of inner peace and freedom.

You can always find meaning

I said it earlier and I’ll say it again: 

Meaning is a matter of perspective.

Work is a great example.

Many people experience a job as a means to earn money. However, every job – no matter how boring or mundane – offers a way to find meaning and joy.

Here are a few examples:

• You can see any job as your highest mission, aiming to strive for excellence and become the very best at what you do.
• You can see your job as a vehicle to connect with others and make it your pathway to experience deeper and more positive relationships.
• You can aim to enlighten others through your work.

The same that goes for work also goes for your relationships, hobbies, and any other activity, experience, or adventure you pursue.

There’s always an opportunity to find and pursue meaning.

But whether you want to find it; that’s your personal choice.

What’s next?

Today, we uncovered a practical approach to the meaning of life. We explored different perspectives on what makes life meaningful. 

My suggestion? 

Find the viewpoint that best serves you in creating a life you love. After all, the meaning of life is subjective and highly personal.

Further resources

• The best books about finding life’s purpose
• The best-guided journal to explore your inner world
• The best personality tests to uncover your unique powers

Challenge: For the next week, start each day by writing down three things you’re grateful for and one small way you can help someone else. Notice how these actions impact your sense of purpose and happiness.

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