What is the meaning of my life? That is the kind of question that I have let my mind wander way too often and too much.

Upon thinking a lot, I concluded that life meaning is quite a simple thing and the need that most humans have for a meaningful life has evolutionary sense.

So let’s go a bit meta here. What does meaning mean?

When reflecting on this, I like to use the example of words:

The meaning of a word is composed of other words. The meaning of that word is what defines it, defines what the purpose, the use, and context of that word are. Once you learn the meaning of a word, you understand how necessary it is to you, and how you will use it, what you will do with it.

Well, there you have it, now let’s change the word “word” for the word “life” in the text above.

We derive meaning from our interconnection with our environment. You feel connected to anything that needs you, and you need. 

What is your role in your environment and society? Who needs you to wake up in the morning? What thing in this world would stop if something happens to you? Of what system are you an essential piece? A musician makes music that his fans listen to. The fans define him, and he defines his fans. Every fan of his identifies himself as a person who likes his music.

There are also the things that make us “feel connected,” for example, nature, music, events, or even objects. This could be understood as a “feeling of belonging” as well.

Where does the need for a meaningful life comes from?

Imagine a word in your dictionary with an empty field in its description. No other word in the dictionary would use it in its description. Same with us, humans are more social creatures than humans realize. If your life has meaning, that means that others would want to protect you, check on you because you will be a meaningful person in their lives, have food, shelter, and be missed very quickly. You will be protected and taken into consideration.

It is very recently that we humans can survive by ourselves, without human interactions, thanks to technology and social infrastructures. Two hundred years ago, this would be very unlikely for those who are skilled in wilderness survival.

Is “Connection” and feeling connected a real need, or is it just a new age thing?

Believe it or not, you have systems and mechanisms built in your body that bias you to need connection. As Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman talks in his podcast, The Huberman Lab, in an episode related to stress and anxiety, he tells us that we create a molecule called Tachykinin from not being socially connected enough. The effects of Tachykinin can be considered almost as self-punishment. When high in our body, we experience paranoia, fearfulness, depression, lack of vitality, etc.

Is there meaning without others?

Yes, there is, but it is still based on the conceptual relationship between a person and its environment. We see this constantly with people that go to live in the wilderness or other lonely places. We can create a connection and bond so strong with nature that the need for meaning is flooded with connectedness and fulfillment.

What can we do to get more meaning?

First of all, journaling and reflecting on these matters is an excellent way to get started. At the end of this post, I have attached a worksheet for the “deep thinker” with a battery of questions that, when you reflect on and answer by yourself, you would have arrived at very personal conclusions that only you can answer.

If after reflecting on it, you feel that you want a more meaningful life, most likely you will have to start making changes in your life, after all, what you have been doing has led you to a life in which you think there could be more meaning. Get out, talk to people, express yourself, fix your problems and share the solution with the world.

Safety note:

If upon reflecting critically, you consider that your life has no meaning, most likely is a sign of depressed thinking and a rule of a thumb (from someone who has dealt with this depression too) is to don’t trust that conclusion. Take a rest and make the assessment later on. If this has been going on for a while, seek help. Seriously.

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