How to give your life meaning

How to give your life meaning (Photo: iStock)

Hi Chris,

All my life I've studied and worked hard, but I've realised that there's much more to life than that. I've slowly come to realise that it's not about happiness, wealth or material success either. But what is it? What do I have to do to make my life feel meaningful?

Meaning

Chris says,

Hi Meaning!

You've reached one of life's most important transitions. Many people don't make it and never ask themselves what life is all about. But you've realised that giving your life meaning is an important goal.

For life to be fulfilling, it has to achieve more than just happiness. Happiness is about enjoying the present. Meaning is about giving to the future. Happiness is about receiving. Meaning is about giving. Happiness is about enjoying. A meaningful life achieves far deeper levels of satisfaction.

Meaning is what you feel when you're doing things beyond yourself. That's the joy of the brilliant artist, teacher, nurse or coach.

But it's possible to go further. Some people go to another level. So why not you? Start by studying our society and asking why we do things the way we do. Because other cultures do it differently.

Think about the moral principles that should guide our lives, whether religious or secular. Because it's people like that who campaigned against injustices like slavery, even though it had existed almost everywhere for thousands of years and was considered normal at the time.

It's similar to people today who fight for human rights such as freedom of speech, equality and corruption-free government. Often against great odds.

These people are few, but they continue to make the world a better place.

Driven by objective standards of what's right and wrong, they live their lives for the benefit of others. But not only that. They change the world.

The meaning of life comes from the determination to improve society for the benefit of all. We're fascinated by the rich and famous. But we remember the people who made everyone's life better. Could you be one of them?

All the best,

Chris