From where do we derive our meaning?
Is it adopted -- an attitude taken from our culture?
Imposed, something forced upon us during our childhood?
Or, discovered, something that we find during our lives.
No matter who you are, we all have defined some sort of meaning to life.
Even the nihilist have meaning in their nothingness.
As humans, we require meaning in order to function well. More importantly, we require a purpose.
I think it has something to do with our psyches and our need for goal oriented behavior.
Life can be challenging, surely at times it is painful : it is meaning that allows us to weather the storms and harness our innate ability to overcome struggles.
Where does this meaning come from?
Religious zealots would argue that the source is divine; however, I think the answer is far simpler.
Meaning comes from within.
It is a man made construct; more so, it is individually fabricated.
Even though certain groups choose to define the same meaning, we all have and must create meaning on our own.
The lack of meaning is what brings about our existential angst -- facing the vastness of the universe without anything to explain it our ego's tremble and quack with fear.
For it is through meaning that we derive our personal definition -- who are we other than an actor in this great cosmic play. Even the lowest of citizens has a place and therefor a value in society. Without a definition, a quantification of ones wealth, how do we allow ourselves to feel good? How can we be anything if we are nothing?
God has left us longing -- with certain promises coming short of the mark. For this reason we must take it upon ourselves to define our own meaning. This definition, while fluid, is critical to our well being. For better or for worse we are beasts of burden, built to struggle and strive. We are most fulfilled when we are riding that fine line between being challenged and being overwhelmed. Boredom, lack of purpose, lack of drive -- these are the things that suck our life force like no other, leaving us depressed and craving.
Find meaning in your life. It needs no rhyme or reason -- simply create something that is purposeful to you. Something you are passionate about -- something you love, something you logically think is right or definitively think is wrong. You will find value surely as you have created it through your own definition. The only judge is yourself and once you have deemed something worthy it will remain so until you change your mind.
PS: Love like you have never lost, live like you will never die, and leave fear behind as its burden has no value like the freedom of bravery.
