Your Path To Serenity
Fill your bowl to the brim
and it will spill.
Keep sharpening your knife
and it will blunt.
Chase after money and security
and your heart will never unclench.
Care about people’s approval
and you will be their prisoner.
Do your work, then step back.
The only path to serenity.
This 4th century excerpt from Tao Te Ching outlines how to live with integrity and goodness.
There is consensus around defining meaning in life as “the extent to which people comprehend, make sense of, or see significance in their lives, accompanied by the degree to which they perceive themselves to have a purpose, mission, or overarching aim in life” (Steger).
Hundreds of scientific studies have firmly linked meaning in life to lesser suffering and greater psychological and physical well-being. People who report greater meaning in life are better relationship partners, neighbors, and citizens. In fact, several of the most prominent theories of well-being and human flourishing consider meaning in life to be a fundamental cornerstone of happiness and the best life people can attain.
While it is wonderful to feel good about your life and yourself, meaning is not a fairy dust, helping you prop up your smile and inflated perception of self-importance. Instead, meaning is about your personal growth, ego strength, self-control, and responsibility. Those who find their lives to be meaningful express more positive feelings and opinions about themselves. They score higher in self-esteem, self-acceptance, and positive self-image. It is no wonder that people with high sense of meaning report a greater degree of autonomy, ambition, and mastery in their lives.
There is an inherent self-transcendence to meaning in life, such that meaning increases as our concerns expand beyond our own interests to include the stakes of others and perhaps even all of life and the universe around us.
Spirituality deepens the purpose of life. It is a lifelong process that intertwines seamlessly with other dimensions, fostering peace, calm, and a profound sense of purpose. Spirituality helps us better know ourselves, self-actualize, and transcend into our greater spiritual self. Spirituality fuels our desire for new awakenings. When we are on the journey of spirituality, we seek new ways of thinking and viewing the world. Our spiritual exploration helps us embrace the mindset of continual learning and encounter diverse array of experiences on this irresistible journey of meaningful life.
Martin Seligman emphasizes the importance of belonging to and serving something greater than ourselves as a source of meaning and purpose. Whether derived from family, community, science, art, or politics, a meaningful life is often rooted in our connection to the broader world.
Meaning is subjective and personal. There is no right or wrong way of cultivating meaning in our life. We can each create life of meaning by building some of these pillars in our lives: belonging, purpose, and transcendence.
A meaning-centered life approach transforms how we navigate negative experiences. When we attach meaning to life's challenges, we are more likely to uncover positive potentials even in adversity.
Sense of purpose guides us through important decision-making, influences our personal development, and, essentially, carves our ideal path in life. Like Joseph Campbell mentions “Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life.” Clearly, we are the answer.
What is a meaningful life to you?
Is it a life infused with purpose, guided by value-based decisions and a belief in the positive impact of your actions? Or is it about making a difference, fueled by the conviction that your life holds inherent positive value?
In the kaleidoscope of existence, meaning is the vibrant thread that weaves a tapestry of purpose, fulfillment, and enduring joy. Embrace the journey of self-discovery and purposeful living, for in doing so, you become the architect of your own meaningful and extraordinary life.