MEANING OF LIFE

                                                MEANING OF LIFE

Life Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, is a well-known phrase that is taken from the United States Declaration of Independence. These are three examples of our inalienable rights, which the declaration says, are granted to us by our creator and which our government is charged with protecting. I have often thought that instead of the pursuit of happiness, it should have read-- the pursuit of meaning in life.

Nothing gives us more purpose in life, than to have meaning in life. There is no way to make someone feel more worthless and useless then to take away all meaning in their lives and on the other hand, nothing inspires them more, then to give them meaning in life. It is the pursuit of meaning, not happiness, that drives us to be dignified, responsible and caring and out of that, to seek love, respect and integrity. Not only for ourselves but for others too.

To go to ones grave without having achieved, even one thing that you will be honored and remembered for by others, is to have lived a somewhat wasted life. I say that in the context that meaning does not lie in things. It lies in us. It is within the grasp of everyone to make a difference in this world and the world of others. For just one person to say “my life was made better”, because of him or her, has given that person, I speak of, that meaning. It may not have brought them happiness but it will have brought them meaning, even though they themselves may not be aware of it. Tony Robbins said,” It’s not what we get, but who we become and what we contribute that gives meaning to our lives.”

We come into this life unprogramed, virtually blank, with no identity and without meaning. But from day one, to the last day of our lives, we are fed a steady stream of what is important in life and what isn’t important and it is up to each of us, to pick and choose, what to keep and what to discard. These are the ingredients that in the end will define us and give us meaning and we must choose carefully. The pursuit of meaning is something that is unique to only human beings. People who have high meaning in their lives are more likely to share with others. Happiness on the other hand can be selfish and self-serving. Our quest for happiness can sometimes be our undoing, when we use or abuse others to achieve our goals, with no regard to their happiness.

Joseph Campbell said and I quote. “ Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question, when you are the answer.” We all want to be remembered after we are gone as someone who made a difference. But that end-- should not be the reward. The reward should be how we got there and the road we took to get there. Not the people we touched by dying but the people we touched along the way. We all want our lives to mean something.

I have heard a great saying that says, “The meaning of life, is life.” Everything you need is there if you look for it. It’s up to you to find it and it’s up to all of us to find meaning in our lives and help create and contribute to the meaning of life in ourselves and others.