Critical thinking is an invaluable tool for testing information and determining what might be true as you make a decision or take an action in the real world. For example, you might be looking for a toaster on the internet and see one that is highly rated. Critical thinking would prompt you to ask yourself, “Is this really the best toaster, or is...
Read More“If I only had _______, then I would truly live my life to the fullest.” More money. A degree. When your kids are older. If only you didn’t have that one thing in your way, you would truly be your true self and live your true life. There’s another saying, though: “It’s always something…” So what is holding you back in life, and what is it holding...
Read MoreWhere do we come from? How did we get here? What happens when we die? Where do we go? These are a few of people’s big questions about how reality works. They are interesting philosophical questions, and, unfortunately, they are ones that I cannot answer definitively because I only speak about things that can be scientifically proven in my book and...
Read MoreWhen talking about the meaning of life, you always have to start by defining your terms. Why? Because people almost always equivocate when you don’t. You can look up the definition of life in the dictionary, for example, and no one will claim that that’s what they meant. In addition to the literal definition of life, other meanings of “the mean...
Read MoreThere is one unifying goal in all of life: the positive outcome. Everyone is looking for that one meaning in life that makes them feel fulfilled: service to others, love, happiness, pleasure, achievement, learning, personal growth, financial success, respect, or appreciation. The truth is that it is all growth-related, as everyone looks forward t...
Read MoreAs discussed in The Meaning of Life: A guide to finding your life’s purpose, growth underlies humans’ sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. Whether it’s helping others grow, growing themselves, or developing relationships through fun and excitement, growth is key to meaning.
Read MoreThis might seem like one of the most profound questions anyone ever asked themselves: “How do I find greater meaning in life?” After all, it sounds like a grand mystery that will never be solved. Yet it has one of the simplest, most straightforward answers: help others. How can this be, and why is that the only possible answer that could ever ex...
Read MoreBeing the most controversial assertion in The Meaning of Life: A guide to finding your life’s purpose, this blog post is probably long overdue. There is a long-standing belief that the meaning of life is to be happy, and much of positive psychology is focused on maximizing happiness as a result.
Read MoreWhen people are busy with school, work, extracurricular activities, and keeping a roof over their heads, they might not have time for much else. Consequently, they might wonder what people are doing being reclusive and pondering their existence. After all, why do people think about the meaning of life instead of simply living? Well, there are tw...
Read MoreWhen you’re feeling cynical, miserable, or pessimistic, you are likely to say words to this effect: “Life sucks, and then you die.” What causes this? Well, all life situations are a result of nature and nurture: so some of your life outlook is built in your genetics, and some of it comes as a result of your life experiences.
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