We recently concluded our popular weekly wellbeing lunch series with a look at meaning. (If you want to catch up on the wellbeing lunch series you can check them out here). The field of meaning is where philosophy meets psychology. Understanding the meaning of life is a philosophical question, but looking at how we find meaning in life is psychological.
A great place to start when contemplating how to find meaning, is a look at the work of Viktor Frankl – his seminal book ‘Man’s search for Meaning’ is a recommended read. Frankl proposed we can discover meaning in life in three ways:
- By creating work or accomplishing some task.
- By experiencing something fully, or loving somebody.
- By the attitude that one adopts toward unavoidable suffering
(Good Therapy, 2015).
“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
Contemplating meaning in your life, and how to find some, can feel pretty overwhelming – it’s a big question! And one that certainly deserves some serious reflection and consideration. But a great place to start, is by simple considering what makes a meaningful experience to you? Writing down some examples of where you have found meaning, or had a meaningful experience in your life, can provide valuable insight to help you answer the big questions.
And of course, it goes without saying that psychologists have developed a ‘Meaning in Life questionnaire’ (MF Steger) to help you measure how much meaning you have. The questionnaire includes the following items:
- I understand my life’s meaning.
- I am looking for something that makes my life feel meaningful.
- I am always looking to find my life’s purpose.
- My life has a clear sense of purpose.
- I have a good sense of what makes my life meaningful.
- I have discovered a satisfying life purpose.
- I am always searching for something that makes my life feel significant.
- I am seeking a purpose or mission for my life.
- My life has no clear purpose.
- I am searching for meaning in my life.
You can check it out here.
The work of Simon Sinek on finding your ‘why’ is also highly recommended, and a great process to go through when looking for meaning.
A few further ideas from the psychologists to help you find meaning include:
- Foster a passion
- Develop and foster social relationships
- Foster relationships that increase your sense of belonging
- Monitor your mood
- Take control of your environment
And finally, we love the idea of finding your ikigai! It’s a great framework for thinking about finding meaning at work
If you can find something you love, you’re good at, that the world needs and you can get paid for, then you’ll find your ikigai. If you think you have found yours, get in touch we’d love to hear from you!
