At some point, all living things die. Why does it have to be that way? Well, it depends on whether you’re asking that question scientifically or metaphysically. Let's take a look at why lifespans are limited from a scientific perspective and then derive some positive meanings that one could find in that fact from a "meaning of life, the universe...
Read MorePeople recommend that you should always be honest with and true to yourself. When referring to being the person you want to be and doing what you want to do with your life, this is important advice. However, there is a hidden interpretation that many people make from this that "honest" means being "real"--i.e., being realistic. Hence, the idea o...
Read MoreDedicated to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934-2021) Photo courtesy of Ehirsh and Wikimedia (Public Domain). When I first heard of the idea of positive psychology, i.e., the study of living a healthy, happy life, the first names that came up were Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Considered to be the pioneers and leaders in the field, these...
Read MoreThe Meaning of Life Blog has a clear mission: To help individuals understand the primary drivers of humans' sense of meaning in life so that they can foster a greater sense of purpose in their own lives. Why is this so important, and what is different about how I help people with meaning and purpose compared to people who have been writing or speak...
Read MoreSetbacks can hit your psyche pretty hard. Major losses involve mourning and recovery processes. New roadblocks require resilience and new strategies. When success requires desire and belief, evidence to the contrary of your progress toward your goals can be difficult to look past so that you can retain your will to carry on.
Read MoreWould you rather be safe or free? Obviously, people want to say both, as many people use “free” and “safe” interchangeably when, for example, they claim that they want to be “free to go outside” during a pandemic or when a criminal is on the loose when they really want to be safe when they go outside. But freedom and safety are opposing goals mos...
Read MoreTo live your life in the most meaningful, flourishing way possible, you have to have freedom. In a modern, organized society, there is always an authority of some sort, almost always the government, that is meant to balance the freedoms and liberties of the individual with the safety and well-being of the group. The main means through which socie...
Read MoreIt is, generally speaking, a great time to be alive. There is less hunger and poverty around the world than in any other time in human history. Yes, it will continue to get better thanks to people who care enough to dedicate their time and effort to helping people and solving real-world problems. But there is also a rise in “manufactured problem...
Read MoreSuccess. It is what everyone talks about striving for. But what is success? Is it earning a lot of money or having a family? The American Dream, for example, was the secure job, the house with the white picket fence, the spouse, ~2 kids, and a dog. Is that success for you, though? And even if you could define what success was, how would you k...
Read MoreDuring COVID, I did not leave the house for six months out of pressure from my significant other. I ended up getting a severe Vitamin D deficiency, and my entire body started aching, I was tired all the time, and I didn’t feel like doing anything—not even getting out of bed. I would spend hours in pain wondering what was wrong with me, and it tur...
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