What matters to you?
Challenging the meaning of life is the truest expression of the state of being human
Viktor Frankl
Just recently a friend of mine pointed out that when we were young there was a feeling that the world was moving forward—hard and terrible things happened, of course, but it seemed that lessons could be learnt and things would improve. Do young people feel like that nowadays? Does anyone feel that way? Our lives feel intense and challenging as we try to make sense of events happening around us.
During his time in a concentration camp, Frankl observed that those who maintained a sense of purpose, who strived to find meaning amid the horrors of day-to-day living were the ones who survived longest. In his work he recommended finding meaning through three kinds of experiences:
through our actions
through a medium like beauty through art, or music, or love through a relationship
through suffering—he did not see suffering as an end of meaning but rather fertile ground in which to grow and learn.
His research found that when life lacks meaning we tend to fill the gap with hedonistic pleasures, power, materialism, hatred, boredom or obsessive compulsions. He saw a strong relationship with criminality, addiction and depression.
What Matters to You?
Joining in the
conversation
Is a page that explores some of the themes that interest me and I hope will be of interest to you too.
For each topic you can download a discussion piece that goes through some points of interest and poses some things to think about.
Each download has a form attached for you to offer any insights or thoughts of your own.
Every so often I will summarise and publish a few of the points that come in.
As a Buddhist, waking up to life is a continuing practice. It always amazes me how easy it is to get stuck in habits and opinions.
On this first download we take a look at how we work with change and recognising nothing lasts for ever.
Waking up to life
Creative ageing
For me the whole idea of creative ageing is a day-to-day journey which feels like an important learning curve.
In this first download we take a look at the increasing proportion of older people on the planet.
Flourishing at each stage of your life
Life goes by very quickly—it’s good to take note at each stage along the way and ensure we’re present for all of it.
In this first download here’s some more information on Frankl’s approach to the importance of meaning.
Connection
The relationships we have, the people we don’t know, those we’ll never even meet—yet we all share this fragile world.
In this first download we take a look at how deep down each and every one of us just want to be happy.