What To Do When You Can’t Stop Wondering, “What Is The Meaning Of Life?”

“What is the meaning of life?” is a soul-searching question that religions, philosophers, and scientists from many cultures have contemplated. Meaning in life is personal and unique to each person and is important for positive psychological well-being. In this article, we’ll explore why people contemplate the meaning of life and outline some ways that people find meaning in their lives.

Why are you questioning the meaning of life?

Some common reasons for this kind of questioning may include:

Personal tragedy

Experiencing the loss of a loved one may prompt someone to think about life and death. When grieving, someone may reflect on the life and accomplishments of the loved one they’ve lost, which may then lead them to reflect on their own life.

Major transitions

Moving from one significant stage of life to the next may also provoke big-picture anxieties. People undergoing these shifts often wonder whether they’re on the right path, which could raise questions about what they value most and what constitutes a meaningful existence. You might face this type of existential quandary as you approach changes like:

• Leaving school
• Marriage
• Divorce
• Having children
• Changing careers
• Retirement

Aging

Gradually getting older may also provoke questions about the meaning of one’s life, even in the absence of major life upheavals. Around 10% to 20% of Americans generally report experiencing a “midlife crisis,” which often involves an attempt to clarify what gives their lives value.

Mental health conditions

Studies have also found that conditions like depression seem to be associated with challenges in finding a sense of personal significance. Symptoms like apathy, decreased emotionality, and lack of self-worth may make it harder to view yourself as living a meaningful life.

Is it possible to uncover the meaning of life?

Part of the reason why it can be distressing to question life’s meaning is that many people may feel the answer is unknowable. Neither science nor philosophy seem to provide any definitive, ultimate meaning, though they may reveal new ways of thinking about it. Some may take comfort in believing that life is unfolding according to the plan of a higher power. Yet this larger purpose may seem very hard to discern in the lives of individual human beings.

That said, finding a sense of clarity may not require discovering the objective meaning of human existence. Some feel that the significance of life is only what you make of it. Surveys suggest that many people feel they lead meaningful lives, even if they don’t necessarily have all the answers.

Believing your life is meaningful can have a variety of practical benefits. Researchers have learned that people who believe they lead a meaningful existence seem to have:

• Better health
• Higher income and net worth
• More robust psychological well-being
• Longer lifespans

How to discover the meaning of life

Understanding that finding meaning in life can help you live longer may not do much to resolve your questions. What can you do if you’re seeking answers about life’s meaning?

Consider the answers of others

One possible place to start may be to consider the answers other people have found. When surveys ask people what they feel gives their lives meaning, they often give responses like the following:

• Relationships: Having strong bonds with other people — especially family members and romantic partners — can offer a source of value that seems deeply rooted in human nature. Some may feel that a person’s life is most meaningful when experienced as part of a greater web of human connection.
• Careers: Though some people may be hesitant to attach too much personal significance to how they earn a living, others may gain great satisfaction from doing work that challenges them or makes the world a better place.
• Service: Some people may derive feelings of fulfillment from having a positive impact on the lives of others through activities like volunteering, giving gifts, community organizing, or simply finding ways to show kindness to those around them.
• Creativity: Some individuals find that creative expression may provide a significant feeling of fulfillment. Taking up a hobby, such as music, drawing, poetry, or dance, might provide the dimension you believe your life needs.
• Faith: Though this approach may not be for everyone, those with religious or spiritual beliefs frequently report that they provide meaning that goes beyond the concerns of the physical world.
• Nature: If you’re not religious, contemplating your place in the natural world may still offer a sense of connection with something greater. Some nonbelievers may feel a deep reverence for the natural systems in which every human person is embedded.

Consider the elements of meaning

A 2016 paper summarizing the results of psychological research on meaning concluded that it generally consists of three distinct elements:

1. Coherence: The sense that the elements of your life are connected and form a larger whole
2. Purpose: The feeling that you’re working toward something specific and have aims in life that matter to you
3. Significance: The belief that your life has importance beyond yourself

Contemplating these components of a meaningful life may help you understand what you feel is lacking in yours.

Does it seem like the elements of your life are disjointed and at odds with each other? Are you feeling adrift and purposeless? Do you worry that nothing you do makes a difference to others? By identifying where your feelings of meaninglessness are coming from, you may be better equipped to work through them.

Take time for reflection

Questions about the significance of existence may not be bad in and of themselves. Still, they may become quite distressing if they’re constantly disturbing and distracting you while you try to concentrate on your day-to-day responsibilities. 

It may help to budget some time specifically for contemplating these deeper concerns, setting all the rest of your endeavors aside. Even if it’s as little as 30 minutes or an hour each day, giving appropriate weight to your existential questions might relieve the emotional strain they can cause. 

This doesn’t necessarily have to mean just sitting and thinking. You could devote some of this time to reading works of philosophy or biographies of personal heroes in search of inspiration. Engaging with works of art or music may help as well. Expressing your inner thoughts through journal entries, songs, paintings, or any other creative medium you can employ may be useful.

Mindfulness meditation can also be a useful activity in this regard. Some researchers have reported that engaging in this relaxed, non-critical awareness practice seems to promote a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life.

Work with a therapist

Another possible way to uncover the meaning of life is through therapy. Logotherapy, one branch of therapy, tends to focus explicitly on helping clients discover their sense of life’s purpose. Studies indicate that this practice can help with conditions like death anxiety, depression, and the mental health conditions that can accompany chronic illness.

Even therapeutic methods that don’t primarily address questions of meaning could still prove helpful. Psychotherapy can help people understand and overcome their doubts, fears, resentments, and self-limiting behaviors. This can make it much easier to address your existential anxieties clearly and effectively.

Many people experiencing emotional distress may feel that they can’t wait weeks or months for an available appointment to see a therapist in-person. Online therapy platforms allow clients to connect with a therapist in as little as two days. You can also message your therapist at any time, which may be helpful if you’re navigating symptoms of anxiety or depression throughout the day.

Online therapy may be a newer method of mental health treatment, but studies have shown its potential to address various mental health concerns. While more research may be needed regarding the efficacy of online therapy in addressing questions about the meaning of life, the existing research generally suggests that online and in-person therapy tend to be equally effective. An evaluation of health data for more than 27,000 patients with mood and anxiety disorders shows that online therapy has a similar clinical effectiveness as in-person therapy.