Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” Indeed, “man’s search for meaning,” as Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl deemed it, is a fundamental driving force in life.
Discovering one’s purpose in life and living in a way one finds meaningful is not a task for only the uber ambitious or the high achievers of society, but for everyone, for every life exists for a reason.
When one focuses one’s life on meaningful pursuits and aims to understand what’s important in life and for what purpose one lives, challenges become opportunities, difficulties become lessons, goodness and beauty leave one in awe, and life becomes a magical journey.
Be Present
Start by training yourself to be present in the moments of your life, to awaken your senses to what you’re experiencing, to slow down, to quiet the thoughts of the past and the anxieties of the future, and to maximize your awareness and appreciation of the present moment. Don’t denigrate interruptions and curse fate when it doesn’t go according to plan.Practice Gratitude
As you take notice of your life with fresh and awakened eyes, be grateful—for every big and small blessing you can recognize and also for every big and small difficulty you encounter, for it is in challenge you’ll have an opportunity to learn.Take Stock of Your Life
Carve out a quiet morning for yourself, ideally with a journal or notebook in hand, to consider the various aspects of your life. Recall the best moments of your past, revel in the miracles that have presented themselves to you over time, take heart in the suffering you’ve overcome. Notice and appreciate the journey you’ve completed so far and the ways it has shaped who you are now.Identify Areas for Improvement
We are all works in progress. In fact, focusing on our own progress and development gives meaning to our lives. What areas would you most like to improve?Look for Lessons
As we go about our lives, we’re presented with a wide variety of experiences, circumstances, personalities, challenges, opportunities, and adventures. Within it all lie opportunities to learn about the world and about ourselves. What is your life trying to teach you?How Can You Improve?
“Atomic Habits” author James Clear advises focusing on getting one percent better each day. “Here’s how the math works out: if you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done.”Get Back Up
As you go about life, you’re bound to trip and fall, to fail and flounder, or to feel lost or broken. The key is to always get back up as quickly as possible. Plant in your mind the standard that when you fall, as we all do from time to time, you’ll pick yourself back up and keep going.Don’t waste the days, the hours, even the minutes of your precious, beautiful life. Utilize this gift in the best way you can conceive of, steward well every blessing you’ve been given, take on the responsibilities you’ve been bestowed with, and do what you know in your heart you should do. Every day, aim to improve just a little bit more, to let go of what you should and to develop your character and conduct in the best way possible. In so doing, you’ll find the meaning you’re looking for.
