Living a Meaningful Life
- Jan 16, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 18, 2024
A way to attain happiness and strengthen our wellbeing is by giving oneself in service to others. It is based on Aristotle's concept that genuine fulfilment comes from doing what is worth doing. It is about living a life of meaning. What then, is worth doing, and how do we live a meaningful life?
Learn
In my last write-up, we looked at a type of wellbeing called hedonic wellbeing, which refers to caring for oneself, preventing pain or suffering and cultivating positive emotions (Deci & Ryan, 2008). Another way to attain happiness and strengthen our wellbeing is by giving oneself in service to others. It is based on Aristotle's concept that genuine fulfilment comes from doing what is worth doing. It is about living a life of meaning. What then, is worth doing, and how do we live a meaningful life.
Eudaemonia is a wellbeing construct that has little to do with obtaining happiness through pleasure. In contrast to hedonic happiness, it is about striving for the greater good, even if it means making sacrifices. According to researchers who examined Aristotle's work, the highest human good involves goal-directed and purpose-driven efforts, with the ultimate goal being to realise our full potential (Ryff & Singer, 2008). Even in the face of adversity, these efforts propel us forward, motivate us, and keep us engaged, providing us with a sense of accomplishment. Martin Seligman, one of the founders of positive psychology, suggests that these factors are associated with the five fundamental elements of wellbeing (Seligman, 2012). Read more about it here.
Speaking of happiness, in a documentary about Finding Joy in Troubled Times, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmund Tutu both agreed that pursuing happiness is not wrong, but happiness is often momentary. For instance, we feel happy when we eat our favourite ice cream, buy a new car, or receive a pay raise, but it only lasts for a short time. Before long, we crave another 'happiness hit', and off we go to look for it. Conversely, when we serve others, do acts of kindness and compassion, and give generously, we experience a more profound sense of meaning and fulfilment that gives us inner joy (Monroe et al., 2021). As a result, the positive emotion of joy strengthens our wellbeing, developing our resilience over time (Fredrickson, 2001). Researchers have also discovered that living a purposeful life, continuing growth and building meaningful connections with people are linked to physical health benefits (Ryff & Singer, 2008).
This is why I love working with individuals and organisations to clarify their purpose and create a strategic pathway for them to live it out. I can never go back to work as a graphic designer. Some of you have known me long enough to know that I take pride in my design work. I loved helping people with their branding, but nothing is more satisfying than empowering people to live out whom they are meant to be. Taking part in that process is not only an absolute honour but also rooted in why I exist and how I would like to contribute to the world. Instead of the endless cycle of chasing the 'happiness hit', I feel deeply connected with those I am helping while simultaneously serving my life purpose. I often experience the 'I am made for this' feeling in my work. That being said, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to sustaining myself to continue doing that work. It means self-compassion, boundaries, healthy relationships, not over-committing, good habits, self-acceptance, charge what I am worth, etc. As a creative person, it is easy for me to give myself to others, devote myself to mastering my craft and completely lose myself in the flow. If I am not careful, I could burn out doing the thing I love most.
Wellbeing is not just about being mindful, taking holidays, or working towards a goal. There is not a one size fits all solution that works for all of us. It is knowing who we are and understanding what works for us. We get to decide on what is needed for us to BE whom we are meant to be in the best possible way.
Have you got any questions? Perhaps you do not know where to start. You can start by picking my brain. Let us see if I can point you in the right direction. Book a FREE call with me, no strings attached, to chat about your or your team's journey.
Reflect
Reflect on what makes your life meaningful. How does serving others make you feel, and why?
If you are allowed to dream, what kind of world would you like to see, and how do you see yourself helping?
What are you doing now, even if it is in a small way, to make a difference?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how fulfilled are you in your service to others?
How balanced are you in caring for others and caring for yourself? What areas need improvement?
Read
The Path Made Clear by Oprah Winfrey
Everyone has a purpose. And according to Oprah Winfrey, 'Your real job in life is to figure out as soon as possible what that is, who you are meant to be, and begin to honour your calling in the best way possible.' That journey starts right here.
Oprah shares what she sees as a guide for activating your deepest vision of yourself, offering the framework for creating not just a life of success, but one of significance. The book’s 10 chapters are organized to help you recognize the important milestones along the road to self-discovery, laying out what you really need to achieve personal contentment and what life’s detours are there to teach us. Oprah opens each chapter by sharing her own key lessons and the personal stories that helped set the course for her best life. She then brings together wisdom and insights from luminaries in a wide array of fields, inspiring readers to consider what they’re meant to do in the world and how to pursue it with passion and focus.
Renowned figures such as Ellen DeGeneres, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brené Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert, Eckhart Tolle and Jay-Z share the greatest lessons from their own journeys toward a life filled with purpose.
Listen
No time to read? Listen in on a conversation that could change your life. Filled with wisdom, delight and humour, here are two different productions of the same conversation between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Finding Joy in Troubled Times
with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmund Tutu
Released: 2021
'Deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny, this documentary gives unprecedented access to the unlikely friendship of two international Nobel Peace Prize winners icons who transcend religion: His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Tutu. They offer neuroscience-backed wisdom to help each of us live with more joy, despite circumstances. With never before seen footage shot over 5 days at the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, the film invites viewers to join these luminaries behind the scenes as they recount stories from their lives. Through genuine affection, mutual respect, and a healthy dose of teasing, these unlikely friends impart ways to live with joy regardless of the challenges of life, whether extraordinary or mundane. Mission: Joy is an antidote for the times.'
The Book of Joy
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmund Tutu
Narrated by: Douglas Carlton Abrams, Francois Chau, Peter Francis James
Released: 2016
Two spiritual giants. Seven days. One timeless question.
'The ultimate source of happiness is within us.' (Dalai Lama)
'We grow in kindness when our kindness is tested.' (Desmond Tutu)
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama have been friends for many years. Between them, they have endured exile, violence and oppression. And in the face of these hardships, they have continued to radiate compassion, humour and, above all, joy.
To celebrate His Holiness's 80th birthday, Archbishop Tutu travelled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala. The two men spent a week discussing a single burning question: how do we find joy in the face of suffering?
This book is a gift from two of the most important spiritual figures of our time. Full of love, warmth and hope, The Book of Joy offers us the chance to experience their journey from first embrace to final goodbye.
Act
The path to becoming is made up of tiny practice steps. Nobody is perfect at being. There is no such thing as wrong or right regarding wellbeing. So we must allow ourselves to discover ourselves with curiosity. Only then can we understand what is needed to be the best we can be.
Refer to your reflections on what brings meaning to your life. Ask yourself what makes those things meaningful or valuable to you. Then think of ways to do more of those things and do them!
Clarify your purpose. Think of a time when you felt a sense of satisfaction from helping someone or being involved in something. What did you do? What was the outcome? What was so fulfilling about it? Jot down the keywords and see if you can find the core of who you are.
Reach out to care for someone today. Check in on a friend, help a stranger or pay for someone's shopping. Be intentional in showing kindness and compassion. Take notice of your feelings. How do you feel and why?
References
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2008). Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: An introduction.
Journal of Happiness Studies, 9(1), 1-11.
Fredrickson, B. (2001). The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology. The American Psychologist. 56. 218-226.
Gale, C. R., Booth, T., Mõttus, R., Kuh, D., & Deary, I. J. (2009). Neuroticism and Extraversion
in Youth Predict Mental Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction 40 Years Later: The hierarchical structure of well-being. Journal of Personality 77(4), 1025–1050.
Mark Monroe, Peggy Callahan, & Artemis Rising Foundation (Producers), & Psihoyos, L. and Callahan, P. (Directors). (2021). Mission: JOY - Finding Happiness in Troubled Times. [Video/DVD] Film Platform. https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/mission-joy
Ryff, C.D., Singer, B.H. (2008). Know Thyself and Become What You Are: A Eudaimonic Approach to Psychological Well-Being. J Happiness Stud 9, 13–39 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-006-9019-0
Seligman, M. E. P. (2012). Flourish / Martin Seligman. William Heinemann Australia.
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