Subtitled: Finding fulfillment in a world obsessed with happiness
What a gem!
Based on what I’ve experienced, alllll of the other books and research I’ve read, as well as what I see in my clients – Smith really captures the core elements of creating a fulfilling life. And she does so without getting either too academic or too mystical. She sprinkles in research and stories to illustrate her points, striking a great balance of data and real-world examples.
She lays out four pillars of meaning:
- Belonging
- Purpose
- Storytelling
- Transcendence
Belonging is pretty much how it sounds – when we feel like we are a part of a group – even if it’s just one or two deeper relationships – we can create meaning in our lives more readily.
Smith describes purpose as finding something worthwhile to do with our time and talents. That’s a fantastic way to look at purpose!
Storytelling is a aspect most people don’t really think about when creating meaning in their life, yet research shows that when we are able to make some sort of sense out of events we experience, our lives feel like they have more meaning. And it’s up to each of us to craft that story. We might lean on tradition or religion or culture to help us with the framework, but the narrative we land on is one we have to fully believe in.
The fourth pillar – transcendence – is all about connecting to something bigger than ourselves. This is usually a higher power, but can also be mystical in other ways – feeling connected to Nature for instance, getting lost in the awe of a sky full of stars and galaxies. Seeing our own self as a tiny speck in this huge space might at first feel daunting – that our own lives are pointless in this grand scheme of things – and yet the opposite is true. When we experience moments of awe – a beautiful performance of music, a generous act of kindness, a breathtaking view – our brains recalibrate so to speak, providing us with a fresh perspective on the world and our living in it.
But why is meaning even important? What IS the power of meaning anyway?
It turns out that having a meaningful life – not happiness or success – is what moves people forward, turns them away from depression, despair and even suicide. Knowing that our life is worthwhile – has meaning – strengthens us much more than happiness.
So let’s lean into meaning. Let’s give our attention to the four pillars:
Belonging
Purpose
Storytelling
Transcendence
Check out this book to craft your meaning and then let me know what your top takeaways are!
