Table of Contents
School of Life Quotes…
Each man must look to himself to teach him the meaning of life. It is not something discovered: it is something molded.
Antoine de Saint-ExuperyWhat makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.
Meaning of Life
What is the purpose or meaning of life? I don’t know of any more simple terms or catchphrases to say besides the beautiful message mentioned above. Life is now, and we create its meaning in the present moment. Yet, this simple query into life’s meaning does not satisfy my philosophical yearning to pick this concept a part, at least a little, in this foray into the psychospiritual depths all of us can undertake to make true meaning for our life possible.
The Philosopher’s Quandary?
I am often amazed by the field of ontology and its specific inquiries into meaning of life questions. While ontological questions form a foundation for many philosophies that hypothesize on the theories of meaning, this topic is highly individual.
Questions such as What is my purpose? What meaning of life is present for me in this task? What does my future hold? And others drive our nascent development. They prime the psychology of the individual, who must create meaningful storylines, one step, one answer, one task, one job, and even one dream at a time.
Finding life’s meaning arises from these simple forays into the psyche’s (soul) depths, where the heavenly flights of fancy possible in a dream can meet with the staunch grounding needed to produce a viable result from the dream’s presence. Where the depths and darkness of the water and the life-giving force of heat and light of a star unite, possibility forms within. This process occurs within a person in the same manner that the life-giving warmth and radiance of the sun beckons the nascent acorn seedling from its nurturing earthly watered source to aspire towards heights yet realized so that it may become the mighty oak tree.
While philosophy can lead to ever increasingly complex aspects of breaking down this simple equation, does it honestly answer meaning of life questions? Let us briefly break our chains of thought here and delve into the psychospiritual perspective.
The Psycho-Spiritual Perspective
If we examine one’s meaning of life, we will find it assumes physical, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. Is the meaning present in one or within all the beauty and complications that body, mind, and spiritual well-being create? Or do meaning of life questions transcend the quandaries man or woman will ask to make the realized Self-construct?
The nature of humanity’s consciousness arises from an ego state that will embroil itself in conflicts to initiate and nurture growth. Even in contemplative terms, Christianity shows in the beginning text of Genesis that humanity must fall as part of its journey to reunite with God.
22 Then the Lord God said, “See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— 23 therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 3: 22-24
When we fall from grace, we must pick ourselves up, take a lesson from the process, re-orient, re-plan, re-engage, and re-create a pathway to achieve the sanctity of what we strive for. This creates meaning for one’s life, but only when linked to crafting (working) one’s intent. As many may know and understand, when someone goes against their course or purposely takes advantage of others to attain their course, those actions create a vacuum effect that negates others’ abilities to make meaning within the life they wish to create.
Navigating the Desert to Find the Wellspring of Intent
Meaning of life questions create how a dream finds its nascent wellspring. Yet, it is only a seedling at this time, nurtured by the earth, striving to break from its soil to strive towards its life-giving force, the sun that bathes it in nurturing warmth.
As Mr. de Saint-Exupery espouses, we must first make space, listen, and be open to the self-reflective process that allows us to mold ourselves into that which will bring us life meaning. A wellspring is present. Yet we may need to find out exactly where it lay. Yet, with a bit of digging, a little work, and a little perseverance, we may happen upon, or even better, dig that wellspring into existence, creating the means for us not only to feast upon its presence but for others to take part in the celebration as well.
I know much of this was philosophical. I do not know if you can escape philosophy when it comes to meaning of life questions. There is no meaning to life but that which we create and assign. What can you do to create meaning now, today, in this moment? Create a vision, a goal, a dream, or an aspiration, and then take the steps needed to build momentum, meaning, and realization in their wake.
May your pilgrimage to find life meaning create the complex beauty associated with that journey as you envision, believe, achieve, and advance confidently in the direction of your dreams.
More from Dr. Thomas Maples
Shop Unique Aromatherapy Candles
It is our choice to believe in the beauty of dreams unfolding. When we direct our mind’s eye to belief, faith guides us in the direction necessary to realize our Self as it unfolds into its most optimal being.
Are you being your best possible Self? Dr. Thomas Maples explores our personal and collective journey to realize our ultimate potential through the lens of psychology, personal development, and the myths that drive our journey forward.
Fill Your Glass: The Disciplined Practice of Loving-Kindness – A Sacred Journey: Where Myths Unfold and Potential Awakens
- Fill Your Glass: The Disciplined Practice of Loving-Kindness
- The Architecture of Joy: Navigating Darkness to Find Your Light
- How to Find Spiritual Grounding: Healing a Fractured Soul through Integrity
- The Unshakable Anchor: Building Hope in a Fractured World
- Finding Grace in the Messy: Catholic Wisdom and the Psychology of Intentional Parenting
