People are constantly searching for the next goal, the next source, or the next step. Their search is commonly geared towards happiness, but are we truly looking for happiness? Is happiness the ultimate goal? Should happiness be the ultimate goal?
In my 11 years of working in the mental health field, I have constantly heard the word ‘happiness’ loosely thrown around as if it’s something physical and attainable. As if it’s a tangible piece of our reality waiting for us at the end of some road. But honestly, there is no real evidence demonstrating this or any real formula telling us how to reach this happiness. In fact, happiness is an emotion, a byproduct of what we construe in our lives. People that I’ve encountered, who have reached true happiness have only done so by creating ‘meaning’ in their lives. As Frankl states in his book the feeling of meaningless ‘the more one makes happiness an aim, the more that aim is missed.’ He further explains that ‘meaning’ is the true quest of human existence.
When we speak about ‘meaning’ we are talking about those values, those purposeful acts that fulfill us, and make us wake up in the morning. These ‘meanings’ in our lives fulfill our soul and ultimately give us a sense of happiness, something that is quite unique to each and every one of us.
Now as we begin a new year and think about all the things 2020 has left us with or their lack of, how are you construing ‘meaning’ into your life? How are you going to get there? Whether it’s through art, creativity, reengaging that long lost passion, 2021 is your year to reconstruct and create new ‘meaning’ into your life.