The modern world often feels like it was almost purposely designed to instill in people a feeling of meaninglessness. From jobs that seem socially useless to the increasingly shallow relationships we share with those around us, many of the ways in which people used to derive meaning from their lives are now absent. This leaves a lot of us feeling unmoored, as if neither we nor the world around us matters.
In fact, some have argued that this increased sense of meaninglessness is directly responsible for the increases in depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders which we see around us (The Vervaeke Foundation, 2023). It stands to reason then, that increasing our ability to find meaning in our lives can decrease our negative emotion and increase our positive. There is even a type of psychotherapy which holds meaning as the key driver of positive mental health change (Wong, 2010).
Meaning itself sounds somewhat vague, so let’s break it down. It has been argued that there are 3 types of meaning. The first is the meaning we find from doing things we enjoy. The pleasure one experiences from walking through a forest or sitting down with a cup of coffee and a good novel. This is the easiest aspect of meaning to add to one’s life, and something which most of us already do to whatever extent we can.
The second form meaning can take is goal-oriented meaning. As people, we find pleasure in moving towards a goal. Improving one’s skills on the piano in order to finally be able to play that difficult song, for example. The practice and progress a pianist feels in that scenario can be deeply meaningful. This aspect of meaning is also available to most of us. Just find a goal and begin moving towards it!
The form of meaning most lacking these days, I would argue, is the third type of meaning: transcendent meaning. This is when people have something larger than themselves to be a part of. From a Christian who is very involved in the local church to a sports fan who is always rooting for the team, as humans we derive satisfaction from being a part of a group, organization, or cause.
But who is likely to gain more meaning from their group, the person active in the local church, or the sports fan? I think most of us would instinctively think the church-goer, but why? Vervaeke (2019) notes that in order to derive a lot of meaning from our connection to something bigger, it has to be something which matters to us, but also something to which we also matter. The sports fan may invest much of their time, money, and attention to their team, but they realize on an unconscious level that if they disappeared tomorrow, their team would never notice. The person who plays a large role in their church community, however, is actively important to that community as well. Their absence would be a big loss for the organization.
When we think about this, it makes sense. Why is something like being a parent so meaningful for people? In part because their child will be very important to them, but also because they will be incredibly important to the child. This relationship seems purpose built to be meaningful.
Of course, none of this is to say that if you lack meaning you should join a church or have a child. Every individual has to decide for themselves what is important to them, what they wish
to pursue. But this knowledge can help us realize in which areas of our lives we may be missing meaning, and in filling in those areas we are likely to become happier with our lives.
The Vervaeke Foundation. (2023) What is the meaning crisis? https://vervaekefoundation.org/what-is-the-meaning-crisis/
John Vervaeke. (2019, March 15). Ep. 9 - Awakening from the Meaning Crisis - Insight [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkWNBdBDyoE
Wong, P. T. P. (2010). Meaning therapy: An integrative and positive existential psychology. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 40(2), 85-99.
