People are always looking for ways to make their lives more meaningful. From taking up charity work to fighting for a bigger purpose, it’s natural for humans to look for ways to make sense of their time on earth. For some people, clocking in and out of work on a daily basis just doesn’t cut it. This guide will cover some of the main ways you can make your life more meaningful.
Give your life a purpose
Ask yourself: “What am I doing it all for?” Why are you getting up at the crack of dawn, working all day, and doing overtime at the weekend? Is it to provide for your family? If so, that’s a noble purpose. Or are you doing it to line your own pockets? If you give your life a purpose, it’s much easier to make sense of it. For example, your purpose could be to make others happy, provide for your family, or help the homeless. It’s up to you to decide what the purpose is; just make sure it’s a good one.
Change the way you look at your job
Work can sometimes feel completely meaningless. When you turn up every day just to make money for someone else, it’s hard to justify spending so much time there. That’s why you need to change the way you look at your job. Some jobs are meaningful because they function as an important part of society, like trash collectors and store assistants. Other jobs can feel completely meaningless, like cold callers and sales. It’s these jobs that you have to reframe if you want to find meaning. Perhaps you could view them as a way to feed your family. Alternatively, can you find some meaning from the product or service you’re selling?
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Consider a career change
If your job is truly meaningless, maybe it’s time for a career change. You spend most of your life at work, so it’s important to do something that gives you fulfillment. Complete an ABSN online, and you can become a nurse, which is oneself development of the most meaningful jobs there is. The most meaningful jobs are those that involve you providing a service for others.
Whether that service is there to protect them (like the police or military), provide knowledge (like a teacher), or just make their day better (like serving staff). If you’re considering a career change, be aware that you might have to get a new qualification, and you might have to take a pay cut. These are small sacrifices if they can bring meaning to your life.
Choose your friends wisely
From a personal standpoint, it’s important to choose your friends wisely if you want to bring more meaning to your life. Are your friends empathetic and compassionate? Or are they a bunch of bullies? Be honest about the people you surround yourself with, and you might find that they are holding you back. Maybe suggest to them that you are trying to find more meaning in your life and see how they react.
Start meditating and eating healthy
Meditating and eating healthy won’t make your life more meaningful from day one. In many ways, it’s more of a selfish journey. However, it’s shown that a healthy body and mind will make you feel more positive. This could help you to find meaning in your life, without having to make big changes. Meditating is also a great way to clear your mind and find a new perspective on your existing circumstances. Who knows, you might find that after a couple of weeks, you feel that your life is full of meaning.
Choose a motto
Sometimes, it’s all too easy to forget what life is all about. In those down moments, you need a personal motto to lift your spirits and keep you pushing forward. One of the most famous examples of a personal motto is ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. This motto tells you to make the best of a bad situation. However, yours could be completely different. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be poetic either. It could be as simple as ‘tomorrow is another day. Choose a motto that sums up your new outlook on life.
Stop focusing on money
The pursuit of money is something that most people can get trapped in. There’s a lot of pressure to find a job, start earning, save up for a house, pay your kid’s college fees, etc. In fact, money is the thing that we center our whole lives around. But, to find true meaning, you need to let go of money and focus on the more important things like family, friendships, and helping others. You will quickly find that your obsession with money goes away after a weekend helping the homeless. Not only will you have a new perspective, but you will also realize that it’s being in service of others that brings meaning, not being rich.
Make a difference in small ways
You don’t have to change someone’s life to bring meaning to yours. In fact, helping others in small ways is just as valuable. Whether it’s helping your elderly neighbor with their shopping or offering someone a lift in the rain. Some people aim for one small act of kindness each day, which is a great way to give back to your community. Then, if someone asks how they can repay you, you just tell them to pay it forward. Small acts of kindness make the world a better place.
Think about the legacy you’re leaving
Some people become obsessed with their legacy. They want to be remembered for thousands of years. Problem is, that isn’t possible for everyone. Chances are, you are going to be remembered by your children and grandchildren. Then, your legacy will start to fade away. So, what sort of legacy do you want to leave? Do you want to instill kindness in your children? Do you want to be remembered as a good friend? Do you want to leave a house for your grandchildren to grow up in? Whatever you want your legacy to be, working towards it can bring meaning to your life.
