I think one of the things we all struggle with is the perceived lack of meaning to life. If we aren't able to find our own purpose (that makes sense to us- even if it doesn't to anyone else) then- when we struggle- we tend to logically think- why SHOULD we struggle like this? What's the point?
It's actually such a bizarre concept in itself- meaning. What is meaning? How COULD something as complex as a life have a single meaning or purpose? To obey rules in order to get to heaven seems a bit dull really. To fulfil ones potential maybe. That seems all embracing enough. We're usually pretty miserable when we don't fill our potential. Still- what if we have the potential to be really evil?
I think we tend to tie this concept of meaning up with reward... What will I get if I do all that is required of me on this earth? I guess in some religions- it's heaven.
I'm not even sure if it would make things better if we knew there was a meaning behind all this! If I'm honest- I think there probably isn't... I'm becoming gradually convinced that consciousness and all that goes with it (religion, philosophy) is just an (unhappy) mistake.
Still- running with the theme- I suppose I'd like the world to be fairer. That if you try to be a good person and if you work hard- you will get rewarded rather than exploited. Especially on this planet- I'm not too keen on the idea of an eternal afterlife, although- a brief reunion with loved ones would be nice. I suppose choice then as well. Freedom to choose and a fairer input to reward system would probably be my preference.
What would you like the meaning of life to be? Do you think it would actually help if there was a universal meaning to it all?
It's actually such a bizarre concept in itself- meaning. What is meaning? How COULD something as complex as a life have a single meaning or purpose? To obey rules in order to get to heaven seems a bit dull really. To fulfil ones potential maybe. That seems all embracing enough. We're usually pretty miserable when we don't fill our potential. Still- what if we have the potential to be really evil?
I think we tend to tie this concept of meaning up with reward... What will I get if I do all that is required of me on this earth? I guess in some religions- it's heaven.
I'm not even sure if it would make things better if we knew there was a meaning behind all this! If I'm honest- I think there probably isn't... I'm becoming gradually convinced that consciousness and all that goes with it (religion, philosophy) is just an (unhappy) mistake.
Still- running with the theme- I suppose I'd like the world to be fairer. That if you try to be a good person and if you work hard- you will get rewarded rather than exploited. Especially on this planet- I'm not too keen on the idea of an eternal afterlife, although- a brief reunion with loved ones would be nice. I suppose choice then as well. Freedom to choose and a fairer input to reward system would probably be my preference.
What would you like the meaning of life to be? Do you think it would actually help if there was a universal meaning to it all?
