Meaning
At once the universe’s most abundant resource and the one currently in short supply.
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. ~ Joseph Campbell
Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. ~ Victor Frankl
He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
According to the lead author of a recent study on meaning’s impacts on mental and physical health, Dilip V. Jeste, MD, “Those with meaning in life are happier and healthier than those without it.” Dr. Jeste continues, “When you find more meaning in life you become more contented, whereas if you don’t have purpose in life and are searching for it unsuccessfully, you will feel much more stressed out.”
The findings by Dr. Jeste and his team seem obvious. Hardly worth the money spent verifying them. They echo what countless philosophers and theologians have been saying for centuries.
It’s hard not to wonder about some potential unintended consequences arising from discussing meaning in the context of its potential health benefits. Meaning is not like exercise. One cannot simply set aside a little time on the calendar…
