How to live a meaningful life
We all dream of living a meaningful life, but few of us believe that that’s possible for us. Mostly we just work to pay the bills, and accept that there’s something missing in our lives.
But it is possible. Living meaningfully means being excited about everything you do. Feeling fulfilled because your actions are aligned with your personal values, you’re pursuing worthwhile goals, have good relationships, and are contributing to something bigger than yourself.
Some people say that means following your passion, because living a meaningful life is all about loving what you do.
Others say it means doing something worthwhile, because living a meaningful life is all about being committed to a worthy cause.
Have fun
But what if your passion is watching TV series all day? Or you’re committed to a good cause, like reducing poverty, but your role in that involves endless repetitive admin work that’s utterly boring?
Clearly, neither of those are enough. And of course, not everything has to be deeply meaningful. Sometimes we do things just to relax or have fun. So a balanced life probably won’t be focussed on a single activity.
What gives a life meaning is direction. So rethink your whole life, including how you’d like to be remembered. Because money and possessions lose their significance, compared to creating something that will still be there when you’re gone. That includes your children of course. But also your contributions to society. The things you do that make a difference to other individuals and live on in their memories. Wealth is meaningless in the long-term, compared to the way people remember you.
Think about your values and experience, and what you’d love to do every day if you could. What you’re really good at. What you’ve achieved that you’re proud of. Things you do that are so absorbing you lose all sense of time.
Socially valuable work
Don’t do things for approval. You need to be true to yourself, not to other people. Be willing to take risks, and commit to your ideas. Because people who deeply enjoy what they do are always very happy.
Use your knowledge and abilities to make a difference in the lives of others. Look for socially valuable work, and opportunities to guide the next generation. Knowing that you’re creating something that will outlast you will give you great satisfaction. As will helping to make changes in society that benefit others.
Live in the moment, enjoy life’s simple pleasures, be committed to your goals, get up early, and recognise that life’s bigger than any of us.
Be kind and forgiving. And remember that the happiest people are the ones with the deepest relationships. So build them into your life. Little else will matter if you end up all alone.
Live modestly, spending and owning little. Accept yourself just the way you are, and appreciate that life’s about much more than a career. Until one day, you’ll realise that you really are living a truly meaningful life.
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