What does it mean to be human? What is the purpose of our life?
Why do we need meaning? How does meaning affect us? What even is meaning? Philosophers have spent countless hours considering the concept of meaning, as well as the “meaning of meaning.”
Existence is having a presence in the world, an awareness of yourself, and your interactions with the environment. For humans, it means experiencing life through our emotions and senses. What does it mean to exist is a deep philosophical question that we often ask ourselves; or should ask if we have not. Finding meaning and purpose is the core of happiness, fulfillment, and well-being. It anchors us and functions as a compass in living our lives.
We are biologically programmed to procreate; it is a fundamental aspect of existence. This drive ensures that we survive and that our species continues to exist. This aspect of existence is shared by all living organisms. Psychologically, our existence is consciousness and self-awareness, providing us with the ability to think and reflect on ourselves. Socially, we form relationships for survival and a sense of belonging; we are social creatures.
“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible.”
Viktor Frankl
Survival or flourishing
Our existence can be seen as encompassing survival and flourishing, each playing a significant role in our lives. Our most fundamental needs of food, water, shelter, and safety must be met before we can progress to higher levels of self.
There are no true answers to this question of the meaning of our existence. The answers will be as unique as each of us, as this is a profoundly deep question. So, one likely answer is that we create our own meaning. For some, it is tied to family, work, faith, or community. An artist or musician might find meaning in their creative work. A teacher, doctor, or firefighter might find meaning in serving others.
The search for meaning has been a pilgrimage throughout human history. Meaning can be cultivated through self-reflection, active searching, or embedded through your upbringing or cultural environment. For those who follow a divine presence, their meaning may be entirely derived from their faith.
The concept of our existence having meaning comes down to “Does your life matter?” We define our purpose, sometimes taking decades to cultivate a definition. Our purpose could be connecting to others or in the interests we pursue. Meaning and purpose vary greatly based on our beliefs, values, and experiences. We will not flourish until we have found purpose.
“We’re not sure exactly where meaning comes from, if it is inherent, or if it is ‘real’ at all; what we do know is that humans flourish when they have it and suffer when they don’t.”
Positive Psychology
Our existence is connected to the past, present, and future. The past provides a framework for our present. We live in the present. The future is the realm of possibility. Our identity is built on our environment and memories, helping us understand who we are and where we want to go. In other words, we construct our reality from past, present, and imagined future experiences. Our view of our existence is based on our understanding and construction of the world, our worldview.
Do we exist? by Lazy Owl
Shared meaning and purpose
We also have shared meaning and purpose through the community to which we belong. This shared meaning gives us a sense of belonging and well-being. It can help us establish a sense of direction. Beyond procreation, early humans formed social groups for basic survival. Today, we form those social connections for fun, sports, self-improvement, and improvement of our community and world. When our basic needs are secure, humans strive for self-actualization, reaching for our highest potential. Thus, great cities have been built, and exquisite works of art created, symphonies of musical instruments, and voices have blended to become one experience.
What Is the Meaning of Life According to Positive Psychology, by Courtney E. Ackerman, MA.
Uncovering the Meaning Behind Our Existence: The Quest for the Purpose of Life, by Abhinav Shai
We have infinite ways of finding meaning and infinite potential sources of meaning. Some find meaning through their suffering. Stephen Hawkings was diagnosed with a debilitating disease, in a wheelchair, unable to speak, yet he made groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics and cosmology. He found his purpose despite limitations. Malala Yousafzai survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban, yet she became a global advocate for girl’s education. Her suffering led her to her meaning in life; she became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Others lose a family member to cancer, or heart disease and then dedicate their life to research, advocacy, and education.
Conclusion
The paradox of existence: are we just a dot in space and time? A paradox is a statement or situation that seems to contradict itself or goes against common sense but is true or possible. It is a statement that seems to contradict or contain two conflicting ideas. For example, we see ourselves as continuous beings, but in actuality, we are continuously changing. Time is a paradox that we all participate in, blending our past, present, and future. Time is linear, yet although our existence is in the present, our every move is influenced by our past experiences, memories, and our imagined future.
In essence, we are programmed to procreate, which is the foundation of our existence. However, humankind has evolved to create advanced civilizations and technology, art, music, and literature, profoundly expanding how we find meaning and purpose.
We creatively express our emotions, ideas, and experiences. We tell stories and build communities where we can seek continuous improvement. Humans pursue knowledge through education and lifelong learning to expand our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in.
“Everything can be taken from a man but… the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.”
Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl, a neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor, developed a therapy for treating the lack of meaning before World War II. After he was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp, he wrote Man’s Search for Meaning. The main point in his book is that humans are driven by their desire for meaning in their lives.
Frankl believed everyone has a healthy core and the internal resources to utilize this core. He also believed that no one is owed happiness or fulfillment, but that life offers each of us purpose and meaning. Reading his book is a grueling task as it describes life in a Nazi prison camp, yet you come away with the belief that man can overcome the worst of challenges and that we can find resilience and hope in the darkest of days.
We create our own meaning through our life’s work and accomplishments, self-exploration, social connections, love, hope, and faith. This meaning and purpose anchor us to our reality, validating our existence.
“Those who have a ‘why’ to live can bear with almost any ‘how’”
– Nietzsche.
We design the life we want by the choices we make. Who are you today, and who do you want to be tomorrow? Survival is the structure upon which flourishing is built. Survival means meeting our basic needs to ensure we continue to live. Flourishing enriches our lives, providing meaning and purpose. Both are critical to human experience.
Practice self-reflection and seek answers to what is means to exist for you.
Recommended Reading
Man’s Search for Meaning, by Victor E. Frankl
Purpose: What Evolution and Human Nature Imply about the Meaning of Our Existence, by Samuel T. Wilkinson
A Wonderful Life: Insights on Finding a Meaningful Existence, Frank Martela Ph.D.
Why do we exist?: A possible rational concept and an incommodious personal path to the answer, by Samuel Vozeh
Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier, by Arthur C. Brooks, and Oprah Winfrey
Past Blogs: In Search of Meaning
Peeling Back the Layers: A Journey of Self-Reflection and Identity
Destiny by Design: Crafting Your Ideal Life Through Manifestation
Designing Tomorrow – The Path to Intentional Living
Self-Actualization – Finding My Self
Citations
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