The Big Question (Part 4)

What Can We Conclude?

It’s time to bring this series to an end. We’ve examined the “big question” from both the religious and secular perspective. We found that from a religious perspective there’s more to be said than “God has a wonderful plan for your life, and He’ll let you know what it is.” From the secular perspective there’s more to be said than “We make our own meaning.”

The question now becomes what conclusions can we draw that will help shed light on the subject of finding meaning in life that deeply satisfies? I believe that it is possible to find meaning in life and that it is different for each one of us. As I’ve thought about this question I’ve come to the following conclusions:

Meaning that satisfies is not pre-destined.

As we saw from our look at Hebrew history, God very rarely “called” someone to a particular mission. Mostly He let the people alone to pursue the dictates of their conscience and live according to what they believed was right. There was a framework of laws which constituted what it meant to be united to God, but that framework was of a general nature, applied to all and did not spell out specific details for individuals.

From genetics we learn that there is a basic framework. Each person has the same type of genes. Each set of genes produce a human being with specific differences, yet those differences can be modified. They are not set in stone. External and internal influences can modify the individual aspects of the framework, but humans always produce humans.

These observations, I believe, can lead us to conclude that within the bounds of our humanity we are by nature free. We can make choices and pursue goals that are completely personal and we thrive when we do so. To live any other way is contrary to what, at our core makes, us human.

Meaning that satisfies is discovered not made up.

This is a very important distinction. Mihály Csíkszentmihályi has spent years studying the concept of “flow.” This is the mental state where one is fully engaged with what he or she is doing. When in this state we feel energized, focused, completely involved and successful. This is not something you feel when you simply “make up” meaning. However, discovering something that draws you into this state creates deep satisfaction and quiets the question.

Meaning that satisfies acts in harmony with evolution’s main goal: human flourishing.

Meaning is more of a direction, than a place. What I mean by this is that a satisfying answer to the meaning question will lead you to take action and make movement, rather than rest on your rear. For it to be deeply satisfying, the movement must be in the direction of improvement; of production rather than consumption.

Meaning that satisfies is discovered through a rational process.

This process is one of choice, experimentation, evaluation, and contemplation. This means that in order to discover a satisfying meaning for your life, you must turn off the TV. You must quit trying to kill the question through constant entertainment and begin to do the hard work of thinking. You must take the risk of choosing a path. You must become aware of the results of your choice and accept the responsibility and consequences of it. You must contemplate the results and make new choices.

This means you must wake up and be a mover in the world, not a passive onlooker. If you do not, then the question of meaning will continue to haunt you and lead you to boredom and frustration. If you do, then you’ll find a whole, wonderful world open to you.

Picture by flicker user Ralph Hockens under Creative Commons License. Use of this picture does not constitute an endorsement by Ralph Hockens of the ideas in this post.

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