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Why you're questioning the point of life and how to see meaning in it
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What’s the point of life? This seemingly simple question is a complicated one to answer, and people have been arguing and philosophizing about it for millennia. In a nutshell, many believe there isn’t one single point to life. What brings people a sense of purpose and importance can vary widely, and each person is free to do what they want with their life and create their own meaning. In this article, we’ll explore what the point of life is from different perspectives and show you how to find your purpose. We’ll also dive into why you may be questioning the point of life in the first place.
What is the meaning of life?
There’s no one thing that gives life a point. Some believe their purpose is to raise a family or leave the world better than how they found it. Others may be motivated by personal success or just having fun and enjoying life. Existentialists say life has no inherent meaning, giving us the freedom to make our own.
Steps
Section 5 of 5:
How to Find Your Life Purpose
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Help others and volunteer more in your community. Volunteering lets you see how your unique skills and interests can make a difference in the world, all while meeting new people who share your passions and can become a supportive community for you. This makes it easier to find and sustain a purpose in your life. [17] X Trustworthy Source Greater Good Magazine Journal published by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, which uses scientific research to promote happier living Go to source
- Try reaching out to community centers, nonprofits, shelters, or organizations whose missions inspire you to do good.
- If you’re not sure where you’d like to volunteer, ask yourself “What problem would I solve if I could snap my fingers and fix it right now?” Then, look for groups that work toward that cause.
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Strengthen your relationships and cultivate new ones. For many, their friends, family, communities, and loved ones are the point of life. Rich, deep relationships can give you a sense of direction or meaning, so try opening up to people and sharing your feelings, goals, and hopes with others to increase your intimacy. [18] X Research source
- Try to meet some new people, too. You might attend a networking event or a class for something you’re passionate about to find like-minded people.
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Pursue your interests, hobbies, and passions. What activities do you enjoy so much you lose track of time? What do you naturally succeed at? These skills and interests can be highly rewarding and motivating, as well as the foundation of your life’s mission (whether you decide to make a career, side hustle, or simply a recreational hobby out of them). [19] X Research source
- If you’re not sure what your passions are, ask the people that know you the best what they think. You may already be pursuing them without being aware of it. For example, you might already be a stellar role model for youth in your community, so why not become a formal mentor?
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Practice gratitude to find abundance in having enough. Feeling and showing thankfulness for what you already have in life (no matter how small) highlights all the good things around you and can positively reframe your circumstances, mood, and stress. It also helps you identify what you really want and need in life, which can guide you toward creating a more fulfilling, purpose-driven life. [20] X Research source Try incorporating gratitude into your day by:
- Writing letters of thanks to someone who’s impacted you.
- Making a gratitude list of things you’re grateful for.
- Expressing thanks during prayer, meditation, or another spiritual practice.
- Taking a short moment to reflect whenever you feel grateful for something or someone.
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Become more self-aware and present through mindfulness. Being more mindful of your thoughts and feelings in real time can positively impact your mood, make you more resilient to stress or depression, and help you identify things that resonate with your sense of purpose or meaning. Developing your self-awareness also keeps you centered and boosts your creative thinking, helping you appreciate your place in and contributions to the world. [21] X Research source
- To start, try meditating or journaling with no particular goal in mind. Just let your thoughts flow and see what comes to mind.
- As you form goals and more concrete thoughts, narrow your focus to how your inner feelings interact with the world around you. Why do you feel the way that you do? How does your environment affect you, and vice versa?
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Explore new spiritual practices. Spirituality doesn’t have to be tied to religion or specific rituals. It’s simply a broad concept or set of values and beliefs that make you feel connected to something larger than yourself. So, experiment with different belief systems and practices to see what resonates with you or gives you a new perspective on life.
- If you’re religious, attend a service or read the holy books associated with your religion. You might even study or attend services of different religions to broaden your views.
- Other spiritual practices that invite you to reflect and ponder your place in the world include meditating, manifesting , journaling, yoga, or even just going for a walk in nature.
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Start to trust yourself and your intuition more. If you’re constantly comparing yourself to others or doing what they expect of you instead of what you want, you may feel insecure making big life choices that impact your sense of meaning. Instead, trust your own instinct or “gut feeling” when you make decisions and remember that only you know what’s best for your life.
- For example, if your family is pressuring you to be an engineer when you want to be an artist, assert yourself and follow the path that will bring you more fulfillment and happiness.
- If you’re afraid to trust yourself, think back on all of the successful choices you’ve made that brought you to where you are today. This can help you be more decisive .
- Trusting yourself doesn’t mean to make rushed, impulsive decisions, though. Still take the time to evaluate your options fairly and make the smartest decision for yourself that you can.
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Rediscover and commit to your core values. Your values represent what you consider essential for a well-lived life and speak both your psychological needs and the norms in your community. These can be broad ideas like kindness or generosity, or more specific things like supporting small or local businesses over large corporations. Write down a list of the values that move you the most, as well as a few sentences about why (with some examples). [22] X Research source
- For example, if supporting small businesses is a value of yours, you might say it’s because you like your purchases to directly benefit locals and your community and it makes you feel accomplished.
- An example of this might be a time you made a large order at a local bakery and the owner thanked you because the income helped them order more supplies.
- Identifying a set of values that are meaningful to live by can make you feel more enthusiastic and fulfilled by your life and choices.
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Set meaningful short- and long-term goals that align with your values. Once you’re sure of your values, set goals that support them and make you feel like you’re making a difference. [23] X Research source For example, if one of your strongest values is preserving the environment, you might make a short-term goal to clean up litter from your neighborhood or a local forest preserve, while a longer goal might be to establish an environmental position on your town’s leadership board.
- Short-term goals and projects help give you a sense of purpose now , while bigger goals give you something to work toward (a point) over a long stretch of time.
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Embrace change and get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Clinging to the same old routines and ideologies probably won’t help you see more of a point to life, especially if you’re not happy with your current circumstances. Instead, get out of your comfort zone from time to time and try something new to experience novel challenges and perspectives.
- Start small. You might cook a new dinner or take a woodworking class simply because you’ve always been interested in it.
- When you’re more comfortable trying new things, go bigger. Travel to a new state or country, talk to people from different cultures, or consider switching career fields if your true interests are elsewhere.
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Stop comparing yourself to others. Social media makes it easy to feel inferior or like your life is pointless compared to the picture-perfect images that influencers (and everyday people) curate online. It’s important to remember that what other people show on the outside isn’t comparable to the complex and unique you on the inside . So, spend less time scrolling your Instagram feed and remember these tips to avoid comparisons: [24] X Research source
- Stay away from accounts or posts that trigger your comparisons. For example, if you’re self-conscious about your body, avoid fitness influencers whose entire livelihood is their “perfect” body image.
- Remember that money doesn’t buy happiness. That lavish vacation on your friend’s story looks amazing, but it doesn’t mean their life is more fulfilling than yours.
- Stay grateful for what’s good in your life and remember that it’s enough when you see posts that make you feel like you’re lacking or behind.
- Follow and interact with role models who inspire you. If you’re a musician, for example, following artists you respect can give you exciting new ideas for your own work.
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Try working with a mental health professional to heal past traumas. A therapist or counselor can help you analyze patterns and beliefs you have that hold you back from exploring new things and find fulfilling ways to make your life more meaningful, especially if these behaviors or thoughts are the result of unaddressed or chronic trauma. Therapists or psychologists are especially helpful if you’re dealing with a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, as this can impact your views and feelings on the point of life. [25] X Research source
- For example, neglect or abuse from a parent when you were young may make it hard to open up or trust others, leading to relationship issues that impact your feelings of pointlessness. A therapist can unpack this trauma and suggest strategies for moving forward and coping with your feelings.
- If you’re uncomfortable with therapy or want less intensive help, try talking to a life or career coach, a spiritual advisor, or someone else you trust who can give you an outside perspective or advice on how to make your life or work more meaningful.
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about human psychology, check out our in-depth interview with Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS .
References
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