Meaning in Life

Meaning in Life

Why am I Here? What is the meaning of life? What should I do with my life? These are questions that everyone asks themselves at one time or another, but the answers are often fleeting or misguided.

Find out how inquisitive and trusting you are. Many people find religious belief systems more than adequate to fill their lives with meaning. Being a "True Believer", however, will only result in giving up your identity for the identity of the collective. Conflicts and mid-life crisis inevitably arise when the adopted concept of self conflicts with the true self. If you are inquisitive and trusting of your own intelligence, the first step is to find your true self. Self revelation is not for the squeamish. Take the time to let go of societal and personal preconceptions, letting your identity emerge without construct. Let go of language. The universe was here before Humans and certainly before language, and requires no pedantic explanation. Words are not things or actions. They are vibrations of the air molecules or squiggles on a page. Mistaking words for reality is the mistake that puts politicians in office and sells all of the products, religions, and systems of government on the planet. Saying "Tree" is no more a tree than saying "I love you" means that someone loves you. To perceive reality as it is, one must accept that words are a vehicle for the transference of our perception of reality, not reality itself. To bring meaning to your life, you must be able to perceive it without language. The frailty of language will undermine your search. Seek without purpose. The universe will unfold and become clear when you seek knowledge without prejudice. Knowledge is not a destination, but a journey. Human knowledge is also imperfect. But don't despair, we know enough to come to firm conclusions. A 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. Work with what you can know, not what you can imagine.

Know that the universe is under no obligation to conform to your expectations. It is what it is whether or not you exist. Know that your life in civilization is a construct, not a law of nature. Our lives and the way we live them are human constructs of what we think is the best way to live. It is littered with over 6000 years of myth, superstition, and dogma. Don't confuse the truth with the things you do to survive. Society doesn't, and very often won't make sense. Understanding yourself, the universe, and your place in society, it will be easy to find meaning because you will determine what is meaningful. You will be able to separate the noise of language and society from the true sound of yourself. Define for yourself what brings meaning to your existence. Your meaning will be different from everyone else. You will know your life is meaningful because you will not fear death, getting old,or the various travails all of us encounter. Your destiny, your reason for being here will be apparent every waking hour. Contentment and bliss will follow.

Meditation is a great exercise for seeing things clearly as long as you don't get caught up in the technique. Many people think they're meditating when all they're doing is performing a ritual. Watch what you put in your mind. Television, mass media, and modern music can be detrimental to the process of discovery. Initially, question everything. This will sharpen your intellectual and observational skills as well as irritating everyone closest to you. You will know your meaning of life is substantial when you can defend it to others. Open dialogue about the meaning of life is a valuable shortcut to the process.

Most people are comfortable with their world-view, and uncomfortable trying to justify it. Don't force your new meaning of life on others. It will only serve to place barriers between you and those around you. But don't be afraid to explain your meaning of life to others. Remember that many people in society today lack the capacity for free-thought, and still more lack the ability to think outside of the societal bubble that they may be living in. Your self-awareness could be viewed as strange or rebellious to some, don't share your views with everyone you meet.