
The 3 Pillars Of A Meaningful Pursuit
“What is to give light must endure burning.” — Victor Frankl
Ever since I experienced something like it’s opposite, I’ve been fascinated with the concept of meaning. What is it? How do I get it? And why do I need it so bad?
Such questions have occupied my mental sphere for quite some time, because I’ve recognized the value of possible answers. Meaninglessness — or anything less than meaning, for that matter — is simply not something to wish for.
Meaning is how we get through life. It’s how we endure its inevitable suffering. Friedrich Nietzsche, the great philosopher, said it best: “He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.”
In my quest for answers — reading, meditating, conversing — I’ve found something like a process; a process of meaning. It’s a pursuit — that once followed, allows you to find meaning in life.
It consists of 3 pillars:
- Aim. The psychological literature clearly states that there’s a link between having an aim — a purpose — and experiencing meaning in your life. Without it, you have nothing to shield you from the inevitable tragedies of life.
- Act. It’s great to have an aim, but it’s not enough. Action is needed in order to move — in order to encounter the meaning. Without it, you can’t realize your potential.
- Adjust. Acting out your aim is at the forefront of success, but adjustments need to be considered too. When you allow adjustments, you can continually calibrate your pursuit. If you’re not willing to, you might end up in the wrong places — because your initial aim might have been wrong.
Below are three short excerpts, one for each pillar.
Aim
Like a golfer aiming for the hole in one, you too should find something to aim for. You should pick something, rather than nothing. Even if you’re just facing the right direction — towards the flag — it’s better than facing nothing and being lost. Because you know, you don’t need a hole in one to have a good life. You know that playing is enough — the game of life. And you accept that you might need a couple of shots to get there; you might be stuck in the sandpit for a while, or even land in the depths of a waterhole. But you know that the alternative is worse.
Not having an aim, is not having something to live for. Without an aim, you’re lost. You spiral into meaninglessness, and drift into places that you might not want to visit. But you can’t stop. Like gravity, pulling you down, human negativity takes over. You suffer needlessly, but you don’t have to. Why won’t you just take an aim?
You need to find something to aim for. Search your soul and ask the God(s). Inquire about your values and look at the morality landscape; seek what is good. Aim up. Aim for a better world. Aim at something. You and everyone else could have it better. Existence could be more. So take an aim or be lost.
Act
Embody your philosophy — your aim — and act out your very being. Like a lion bursting towards its prey, you too should act (almost) instinctively towards your aim. Because your aim — your purpose — deserves to be taken action upon. So, put your fears behind you, and with courage overcome them. Act, and move forward in this wonderful world. Make your decisions, follow your plans, and establish quality routines. Every behavior counts.
Design your movement forward. Act with intent. Pursue what you know to be a worthwhile aim. Place yourself in situations, which will demand everything you got; select environments that compels you forward; and find the things that will aid you in your quest. It’s up to you to discover your way of action. Live, or stand still.
Without action, you’re at zero. You’re stuck in a fairytale world, robbing yourself from the life you could live. You could have things, if you acted upon them — and only action will move you towards them. You could have what you’ve aimed for — the dream — if you acted in a way that would make it come true. So find the behavior that matches your words. Suit the action to the aim. When you act in alignment, everything unfolds.
Adjust
Be willing to change course; and like a plane, be able to calibrate your flight. You’re always on the move — through time and space — and adjusting keeps you from crashing. Liberate your movement. Engage in pursuit. Be free to follow what’s good. Pay attention, tell the truth, and listen to your soul. If not, you might end up where you least want to be.
When you’re avoiding adjustment, at all costs, you’re living in blindness. It’s deceit. You keep yourself from the truth, because it’s easier that way. It’s safe to do what you’ve always done. The truth hurts sometimes, but living in ignorance — protecting your ego or some else’s version of success — isn’t a long-term solution. Life is long; and you can afford to re-calibrate. You can afford to be wrong.
Learn to enjoy the pursuit — your life — even if it needs adjusting. Learn that you can be wrong sometimes, but realize you don’t need to figure it all out at once. Learn to be humble. You got a lot of life to live, full of meaning if you please. In time, you might find what you’re looking for. So take an aim. Take action. Adjust, and let the truth set you free.
Conclusion
When you Aim, Act and Adjust, you’ll find meaning. It’s a process that allows you to become.
Try it. Take a leap of faith. You never know what you’ll discover. Live, and remember the words of Søren Kierkegaard “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
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