#Search for Meaning

[vintage-tigre]

[lost-mossy-garden]

Sometimes you really just need to get lost in nature for a few days to sit and talk with your grief to find your anger and then sit and talk with them till you can start to reminisce your loss and remember it fondly rather than painfully

But whatever you do, dont let the memory sit till it is bitter

[diaryofadoctor-kreativeangle]

Humans have this amazing ability to smile and joice even amongst the darkest times and the suffering their own race inflicts upon them.

[losttcontrol]

[aheadofgold]

My Search for Meaning

Searching for meaning feels redundant. I never thought about it until I needed to do it. I lived and moved through life and I didn’t have a lot to question. I’ve had plenty of discomfort, and I've grown from it and allowed it to shape my perspective. I’ve even allowed it to shape my compassion. And over the past year things have changed.  

I’m at least half way through my life. I’m not where I want to be because I had no plan to be anywhere. I thought things fell into place or opportunities approached me or I would meet someone who would change my direction. And those things didn’t happen. So now I search for meaning.  

But everyone searches for meaning. It has been written about by billions of people since the invention of writing. And here I am, in the same dark night of the soul, with only myself to make sense out of it. Their words all make sense, and in certain ways can be comforting, but this is not their life. This is my life. It comes down to actually participating in my experience, making choices for myself, prioritizing my own path, and shedding habits and ruts and expectations. 

At times I've thought myself a sort of regular, ordinary person. I’ve thought that I have an average perspective and that my opinions align with most other people’s. I’ve thought that the same things make sense to most of us and that we generally find the same things reasonable. Now, more than ever, I question that. 

I’ve always been a lover of the wonder and beauty and complexity of life around me. I grew up running around cornfields as they grew higher and higher through the summer. I wandered through streams and woods and climbed trees and sat by fires. I spent cold winter days getting lost in snow, and then lost in my own thoughts in the silence of the frozen world. That is no longer my world, and I realize that for the majority of people I encounter it has never been their world. This is a disappointing disconnect for me to accept. 

It bothers me that our bird populations are declining rapidly. It bothers me that our soils are poisoned by pesticides and fertilizers and motor oils. And it bothers me even more that it doesn’t bother anyone else. It bothers me that people don’t see these things, much less want to talk about them. It bothers me that to most people, humans are the only lives that exist in the world.  

Everything is always in the context of the human experience.  And it makes sense. I’m here writing about my own human experience. We all live in our own minds with our own preferences and worries and things to do. But it’s sad how there is no room for other life. When we speak of war, it is only in reference to how war kills people.  No mention of the flowers and land.  No mention of the rabbits and butterflies.  No mention of the rivers.  No mention of anything but humans.  As if it would be possible to live in a world of only humans. As if we could ever find happiness in a world of just humans.  As if destroying all life around us, polluting the air, water and soil, so long as humans can live, would be ok.  As if that would even be possible.  As if humans can live independently.  As if our food does not come from the land, as if our breath does not come from the sky, as if our blood sweat and tears are not made from the rains and oceans.  As if inspiration and beauty do not come from forests and mountains.  From birdsong and the breeze through trees. 

I feel like no one understands this.  No one sees that all life is interwoven and linked and interdependent. Humans focus on our one piece, as is that one piece stands a chance at survival without the other pieces. This disappoints and distresses me. 

I think maybe the core of wanting to blog is to exist in reality.  As the deep version of myself.  To at least put things out there.  Maybe I don’t try to have these conversations with people in my life.  Maybe my relationships and connections are shallow or short.  Maybe people don’t enjoy talking about deep things or real things.  Maybe I don’t have the right context to have these conversations.  I know that there is more to life than being a monk in a wildflower meadow.  I love being that monk.  That witch.  I love it.  And, I also want to live in the world.  I want to talk to people and do things and go places.  And maybe for now it’s just through the electricity of the internet. 

Or maybe this is quite selfish.  For me to dump and upload and empty and vacate and expose and cut and chop and throw up and out.  Maybe it’s just self-aggrandizing and desiring recognition for my existence.  Maybe that’s it.  It’s possibly that simple.  But I'm bored and tired of just fading away.   

I possibly have a lot of life left in me.  This mid-life crisis can lead me in many different directions.  There were many things that I did not choose in the first half.  Where I was born, who was my family, who were my peers, how I looked, whom I was attracted to, the tools I had to handle life.  But in one way or another, I am choosing almost everything in this next half.  My jobs, my downtime, my hobbies, my friends, my evenings, my disposable income, the media I consume, the places I go. 

Whatever change is happening to me, for me, around me, within me, cannot be managed by force.  I can’t surround it with rules and schedules and punishments and rewards. I have tried that, and I keep trying to try that again because it hasn’t gotten me where I'm trying to go, and so far I haven’t developed a different way.  But I have a new idea: I’m going to love myself into evolution.  These things that I see as obstacles and inconveniences and stressors, I'm going to look for the opportunities they provide. 

There are invasive species all over my land. The Autumn Olive, Multiflora Rose, Oriental Bittersweet, Burning Bush, Garlic Mustard.  For the most part they stress me out. But the other day I saw that they give me the opportunity to get outside and be on the land.  My relationship to my spirituality has become stale and obligatory, but this Samhain I saw that my rituals are opportunities to be under the moonlight and that the moonlight is an opportunity for me to practice my rituals.  I have opportunities to breathe, to rest, to reflect, to write.  I can stop running from my life and start living in it.  The obstacles become my path.  There is nothing for me to avoid, because this is the life that I have and that I'm living.  It’s all I have.  I want to live it.  I don’t want to keep running from it, like it’s misdirected or needs to be corrected.  All of my joys, all of my hesitations, all of my fear and petty annoyances.  These are what I have.   

I’m recognizing a shift for me. The repercussions of that are many when I give myself time to think about them. I need to clear space for this. I need space to expand and contract freely. It means I'm drinking less, which means I’m seeing my friends less. It means noticing when I'm just going through the motions of watching videos or scrolling or playing games and then finding something else, anything else, to do. Maybe that’s boredom. But I need to have open, free space for something new to land and grow. I need to be ok not knowing what I'm doing, and not knowing where I'm going, and being uncomfortable. Maybe for a while. It means to stop people pleasing, and start prioritizing my own life. In some ways it feels like going all the way back to the person I was, wandering through cornfields and jumping streams.  

There was no doubt that I loved who I was back then. That I enjoyed my own company and that I was content to do whatever came up. I didn’t need to have a plan because I was secure in my own position. I was my own stability. It didn’t matter what happened around me, I was sure inside. 

What would it feel like again? If I allowed people to have their opinions without trying to share my perspective on top of it? If I didn’t care whether people liked what I thought or wrote or whether anything I did was helpful to other people? What if I just planted wildflower meadows and watched the life they attract, and built birdboxes and watched them live and breed and fly away, and sat outside in the breeze or the snow or the sunshine and just allowed myself to be happy with what I already have and what I already do? 

I would breathe easier.  I would smile more.  I might even be a nicer person. 

I can’t save the world. I can’t make people care about rabbits and soil health. But I care. And I can live in that, and enjoy that, and support that. I don’t need anyone’s permission for that. And all it would really take is a little shift, a little time, a little space and freedom for these things to take root in my life and transform me. I don’t know if a seed knows what kind of plant it will become. But it reaches down for its water and reaches up for its light, and it becomes whatever it is. I don’t know what I'm going to become. I’m just going to reach for the things that I need. 

[icewindandboringhorror]

(also feel free in the tags to clarify Why you made the choice you made!! :0c)

[spiritualkhazaana]

Man’s Search for Meaning: Finding Light in the Shadow of Meaninglessness

In a world often obsessed with material success and fleeting pleasures, Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” stands as a timeless testament to the indomitable human spirit. More than just a memoir, this profound work, born from the unimaginable horrors of Nazi concentration camps, offers a powerful and deeply moving exploration of the human drive for meaning, even in the face of unimaginable suffering. This blog post delves into the core tenets of Frankl’s masterpiece, providing a comprehensive summary and insightful review of both its harrowing narrative and its transformative psychological framework. More details…

[romaniaroxme]

The philosophy behind endurance

Author: Tim Krabbe Genre: Cycling/Fiction “Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing but to turn it into glory.” -William Barclay Continuing my tryst with cycles, this week I tend to explore a piece of literature that captures the mental grit and poetic rhythm of competitive sport like cycling. This novel is supposedly a landmark in sports literature and is originally written in…

[omg-erika]

In Search of Meaning

by Dr.Harald Wiesendanger– Klartext What the mainstream media is hiding Serious illnesses or disabilities raise questions about meaning – for those affected as well as their families. Doctors remain silent. Does my AUSWEGE foundation/ WAYS OUT charity have answers? How do we help patients who despair about the purpose of their suffering? “For heaven’s sake, give me a therapy spot!” the caller…

[themeaningoflifepodcast]

When Do We Start Questioning the Meaning of Life?: Exploring the Timeline of Existential Inquiry

Is it a childhood curiosity, a teenage angst, or a midlife crisis? We delve into the various stages and triggers that prompt us to ponder life's big questions.

The Inevitable Inquiry: The Universal Human Question

It's a question that unites us all, whether we voice it out loud or keep it tucked away in the back of our minds: When do we start questioning the meaning of life? It's not like there's a specific alarm that goes off at a certain age. Instead, it seems to bubble up at different points, triggered by a variety of experiences.

Childhood Curiosity: The Seeds of Wonder

For some, the questioning of life's meaning begins in childhood. Those endless "why" questions that drive parents a little crazy? They're often the first seeds of existential inquiry. Kids have a natural sense of wonder and curiosity about the world, and they're not afraid to ask the big ones: "Why are we here?" "What happens when we die?" These early inquiries, though simple, lay the groundwork for a lifelong exploration.

Teenage Angst: Identity and Uncertainty

The teenage years are a breeding ground for existential questioning. As we grapple with identity formation, hormonal changes, and the pressures of adolescence, we often start to question our place in the world. "What am I supposed to do with my life?" "What's the point of it all?" This search for meaning during adolescence is often fueled by a sense of uncertainty and a desire to find our own path.

Adulthood's Challenges: Triggers for Re-evaluation

Adulthood brings its own set of triggers for questioning the meaning of life. Career pressures, relationship struggles, the responsibilities of family, and the realization of our own mortality can all prompt us to re-evaluate our priorities and search for deeper significance. This existential inquiry can be particularly intense during periods of major life transition, such as career changes, divorce, or the loss of a loved one.

Midlife Crisis: A Moment of Reckoning

The "midlife crisis" is a classic example of a time when many people grapple with the meaning of life. As we reach middle age, we may begin to question our accomplishments, our relationships, and our overall direction. "Is this all there is?" This period of reflection can be a catalyst for significant personal growth and a renewed search for purpose.

Lifelong Exploration: An Ongoing Journey

The truth is, questioning the meaning of life isn't confined to any single age or stage. For many, it's a lifelong exploration, an ongoing process of reflection and discovery. We may find ourselves revisiting these questions throughout our lives, as our circumstances and perspectives evolve. It's a journey, not a destination.

Featured Quote:

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

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additional tags:

When do we start questioning the meaning of life, questioning of life's meaning, existential questioning, search for meaning, existential inquiry, meaning of life, purpose, life questions, life purpose, existential crisis

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Blog Disclaimer:

The content on this blog reflects the author's personal views and for general information only, not professional advice. We're sharing perspectives, and you're responsible for how you use this information. We're not liable for any outcomes. Think of this as a conversation – your insights and actions are your own.

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The Meaning of Life Podcast

Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/tmolpod/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TMOLPODCAST

Please Read Below:

Episodes are originally distributed on Spotify. All episodes are then re-uploaded and published onto YouTube 24-hours after the original publication date.

Podcast Disclaimer:

Please note that 'The Meaning of Life Podcast' explores complex and personal topics. The views and discussions presented are intended for thought-provoking exploration and should not be taken as definitive life advice. Listen with an open mind and consider what resonates with your own experiences and values.

[brenda-walsh-ministries]

Today's Audio Daily Devotional: Doubt Can Be Healthy Bible Texts: - Romans 15:13 - Hebrews 11:6 - James 1:6 - Proverbs 3:5-6

[1whoconquers]

What If Life Has No Meaning? – Examining the Fear of Insignificance

The Silent Question We All Ask Have you ever stared at the night sky, overwhelmed by the vastness of the universe, and wondered—Does my life even matter? The thought can be unsettling. If we are just tiny specks in an indifferent cosmos, what’s the point of it all? For some, this question is a fleeting thought, easily drowned out by daily responsibilities. For others, it lingers, gnawing at the…

[nixtumble]

[kosher-martian]

I'm not making a case for apathy, but sometimes I just want to watch TV. Not everyone is born to be a main character. Some of us are filler and scenery. The older I get, the more I'm convinced my dad is right. He watches TV, he plays puzzle games on his iPad, and he enjoys life thoroughly. How? I don't know. I will commune with the reruns and let you know.

[wickedzeevyln]

What the Mountain Said

Got out of the bed, slid the key in the ignition, and sped away. I watched the city sink in my rear-view mirror until the lights were a memory. Today, I had to turn everything off. Turn the care off. Turn my mind off. Set myself in autopilot, steered the wheel, let go and lifted my coffee mug. I climbed up, clambered up the mountain, ignored my groaning limbs and the weltless rash on my skin…