How to Find Meaning in Your Life

Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning.”
~ Joseph Campbell

Good morning lovely you!

As I type this and sip my cup of tea, golden morning light is pouring in through my office window, casting tree shadows on the far wall. Such simple pleasures bring abundant joy.

Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self to not try so hard to figure out what life is all about; that life is about finding joy in all its forms. There is deep meaning in finding the joys of life.

So many of us spend our life looking for the BIG meaning. The “What’s it all about?” meaning of life. This is a mystery that none of us will really understand while we’re here on this planet.

This lack of meaning leaves so many people empty. And I believe this emptiness can and often does result in inner darkness and eventually the development of disease. As Joseph Campbell said, “… Being alive is the meaning.” But many people aren’t really alive. They have a pulse, they eat, drink, walk around, buy things, work hard… but they aren’t really ALIVE. Eventually their soul gets the message, “There is no life here, let’s get out.”

Find the Meaning of YOUR Life

As I said, none of us can be certain about what the meaning of ALL life is. But we can find the meaning in our own lives, so that we may truly LIVE while we’re alive.

If you feel your life lacks meaning, here are some ways you can find some:

Practice Gratitude

When we can’t see meaning in our life, we are often overlooking the many, many things present that we should be grateful for.

It’s important to stop looking for the BIG, obvious things and be open to all of the joy your life currently holds. Do you have a sense of sight? Can you see your loved ones faces? Can you hear the rain outside and your neighbor’s wind chimes? Can you taste your cup of morning coffee or your mom’s pot roast?

Do you have friends and family who care about you? Can you drive a car and get around by yourself? Do you have some money in the bank, even if just a little? Do you have a nice place to live? Do you have any four-legged babies in your life who worship the ground you walk on?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, I’ve got news for you. You are living a pretty good life with plenty to be grateful for.

When you take time to truly feel grateful for all your life holds, you find meaning in the gifts you have already received. Give thanks, much thanks, for these gifts.

Lose Your Baggage

Are you so busy being involved in unnecessary drama in your life that you are completely overlooking the meaning that is there? Are you involved in toxic relationships? Addiction? A poor working environment? Gossip? Jealousy?

Most of us are easily swept up into negativity and spend all of our time giving things with no meaning all of our attention. Try and clean your mental and emotional house. Get rid of as much negative, toxic baggage as you can to make room for the good.

Stop and Smell the Roses

We live in a society that worships “busy.” We’re all so busy getting ahead, getting that promotion, earning more, advancing our career and on and on. Or if we’re not busy on these big advancements, we’re busy on all of the little chores and tasks that need to be accomplished like laundry and grocery shopping and cleaning. Of course these things need to be done. But it’s important that you take the time to be still and enjoy your life. Enjoy your loved ones. Enjoy your hobbies. Enjoy nature by indulging in outdoor hiking and other activities that help you appreciate nature. Learn more on great outdoor activities on campingfunzone.com. Otherwise the meaning of your life is to busy yourself with things that, in the end, don’t really matter. You can’t take your laundry with you when you die (thank God) and you can’t take the fancy car or big promotion. So STOP. Enjoy what you have.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Your cousin has a boat and you don’t. Your coworker has a better parking spot. Your friends are thinner, one is prettier. Your boss has more money. Your neighbor has nicer kids.

We spend so much time comparing our lives to other people’s lives. The worst part is, we think we actually KNOW what other people’s lives are truly like. How many Facebook friends do you have with timelines that show fabulous photos of vacations and their home redesigns? Are they really happy? Do they have any flaws? Do they live with regrets and disappointments?

You can’t know another person’s truth. We all want to make the world believe we are fantastic when we aren’t. It’s a defense mechanism. Like how animals don’t want to appear weak to other animals. We do the same thing.

Stop comparing your life to others’ and start focusing on yourself and all that you do have.

Meaning is like the air you breathe. It is there, though you often can’t see it. But when you start to pay attention, you notice how branches are bobbing up and down and blades of grass are swaying, and you see what was once invisible to you.

Pay attention to your life. I promise you there is great meaning in it.

Sending love and light…
Prue

https://www.pruesplace.com

3 Responses

  1. Kerrie Meunier
    |

    Hi Bernie,
    I so admire you and your advice. You have helped me grow so much over the year’s.
    Wishing You A Blessed Day!

    Kerrie

  2. Marjorie Hall
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    Thank you Bernie for ALL of your many writings over the years and today’s was really what I needed!

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