🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 5 (from laksa043)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa005.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life","crawl_time":1774857079,"first_indexed_time":1635860650,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"edu,berkeley!greatergood,\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life s443","src_root_hash":"12957858574685170805","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Three Ways to See Meaning in Your Life","meta_descriptions":["Struggling to find a sense of meaning in life? Researchers have identified three different pathways to it."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Feeling that your life has meaning is fundamental to the experience of being human, and people who feel this way tend to be\nhealthier and happier\n. Given the importance that most people place on meaning, how might we cultivate the feeling that life is meaningful?\nFor most of the 20th century, philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists argued that meaning in life is a rare, profound experience, attainable through an active search, deep self-reflection, or some other arduous way of creating meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. But we now know that most people, most of the time,\nreport\nthat their lives feel more meaningful than not. Although actively constructing meaning may be required in some cases—for example, when your world is turned upside down after a traumatic event—cultivating meaning in life may be as simple as detecting the meaning that is already there.\nResearchers’\ndefinitions\nof meaning in life typically incorporate three themes: the belief that your life and contributions matter to others and yourself, the feeling that your life makes sense, and the feeling that you are actively pursuing fulfilling goals. Other\nresearch\nfurther corroborates the idea that\nsignificance\n(mattering),\ncoherence\n(making sense), and\npurpose\n(orienting toward goals) represent three interrelated facets of, or perhaps direct pathways to, the experience of meaning in life.\nAdvertisement\nX\nBased on those three pathways, here are some relatively simple things you can do to maintain or enhance your experience of meaning in life. \nThe experience of significance in life\nThere is great comfort in believing that your life and actions matter in the grand scheme of things. This conviction is referred to as “\nexistential mattering\n” and is a strong component of the experience of meaning in life. While the concept of existential mattering often evokes images of famous (and infamous) people who have done extraordinary things in their lives—like Mother Theresa, Cesar Chavez, or Bill Gates—many people gain a sense of mattering through avenues more easily traversed.\nResearch\nshows that feeling that you have made a positive influence on others is, unsurprisingly, almost always associated with the belief that your life is meaningful. Existential mattering then is often rooted in a sense that you matter to\nothers\n—from\nhelping strangers in need\nand providing social support to loved ones, to simply being a reliable friend.\nThe feeling that your life is significant is related to more than feeling that your actions are influential to others. Significance is augmented when your behaviors, or experiences more broadly, matter to\nyourself\n. This aspect of significance is related to psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s\nidea\nof finding beauty and meaning in life through lived experience. For example, the experience of meaningfulness can be found by enjoying riveting musical performances, being in awe of natural beauty, or simply appreciating an authentic interaction with another person.\nOne way to perceive more significance in your life is to actively seek out intrinsically rewarding experiences, like (re)connecting with nature or people who make it easy to express your true self. Moreover, many cognitive or emotional regulation strategies, such as practicing\nmindfulness\n, savoring the positive aspects of situations,\ncultivating a grateful disposition\n, or learning to\nevaluate your experiences more positively\n, naturally foster the detection of significance in your life experiences.\nAlthough such experiences may lead the self to feel small in the context of vastness, they may also remind us that we belong to that vastness—that we are an indelible part of the wider universe in which we exist.\nSensing coherence\nCoherence is the feeling that your life makes sense. For most people, most of the time, understanding life isn’t a problem requiring a solution. We are natural sense makers, automatically comprehending most situations effortlessly. In fact, a likely reason we don’t think about meaning in life too much is that our lives simply feel right (that is, things simply make sense). Our lives are embedded in a natural world characterized by regularities—sunrises and sunsets. We overlay these regularities with our own routines—morning coffee or an evening walk. The regularities of life provide the rhythms that undergird the feeling that life is meaningful. \nOf course, life does not always make sense. For example, you may feel a sense of incomprehensibility after experiencing trauma or, counterintuitively, trying too hard to understand why your life has meaning.\nOf all of the facets of meaning, coherence likely represents a basic psychological need. Similar to the anguish we feel when our need to belong is thwarted, our world seems to fall apart when things suddenly do not make sense. Restoring a sense of coherence during these times can be challenging and often requires feedback and reassurance from others (like a therapist or parent), as well as the mysterious healing power of time to help the mind restore a sense of equanimity. Reconnecting with the natural order of the world, reinstating routines that give structure to life, and finding respite in the arts may help you make sense of life again.\nAlthough the inability to make sense of your life can detract from the experience of meaning, simply making sense of it doesn’t necessarily mean that life will feel meaningful. It is easy, for example, to think of an individual who possesses a cynical belief about how their life has unfolded. This worldview may help the individual make sense of their situation and life more broadly, but it seems unlikely to foster the belief that their life is full of meaning. This example illustrates how meaning is not simply about “connecting the dots” but also finding beauty in the picture that emerges.\nImbuing life with a sense of purpose\n“Clear eyes, full hearts (can’t lose)” was the mantra of the Dillon Panthers, the fictitious football team familiar to fans of the popular TV show “Friday Night Lights.” One reason clearing one’s eyes, and subsequently filling one’s heart, is a successful strategy for football players and, perhaps, everyone is that people in this psychological state can pursue their goals with a greater sense of\npurpose\n. Feeling a sense of purpose helps us sustain motivation though the thick and thin of everyday life, and purposeful people tend to\nbe more satisfied with their lives and even live longer\n. Purpose, therefore, is tied to both the quality and quantity of our existence.\nOne factor that facilitates purposeful action is possessing a clear reason for engaging in whatever you are doing. Knowing the “why” of your actions can infuse even trivial behaviors with value. Nietzsche famously noted that the person “who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” By developing a clear reason for pursuing a goal, the “how” of your goal-directed actions becomes more tolerable (and often more enjoyable) because those actions are now connected with a more long-term objective. For example, although most students would rather socialize with friends than study before an exam, clearly understanding that this minor hedonic sacrifice will help them obtain a rewarding job down the line should make it easier to commit to exam prep.    \nEven as your nose is firmly “to the grindstone,” clear eyes can be trained on a broader life dream. The overarching reason for existence can be found in “God’s plan” or a life calling, but a sense of the why of behaviors is not limited to such grand experiences. Taking time to reflect on your life dreams—to write the next chapters of your\nlife story\n—can help to connect everyday life and daily goals to broader aspirations. Instead of wandering aimlessly, having “clear eyes” gives you a sense of direction and the motivation (a full heart) to help you achieve your goals and allow those accomplishments to imbue your life with meaning.\nSome reasons for goal pursuit may be better than others, though. A person who feels they should perform a task only\nbecause\ntheir supervisor asked them to do it is unlikely to enjoy a sense of purpose while performing that work. Instead, purposeful behaviors are by definition pursued for more intrinsic reasons, often related to core aspects of one’s identity. For example, people may volunteer at a homeless shelter for various reasons, but the person who does so because they feel their actions are consistent with an internalized value of helping others in need are more likely to derive a sense of purpose from the experience.\nThe capacity of meaning to allow us to wake up every morning and do what needs to be done requires that meaning be present even in suffering. And this is where a sense of purpose is powerful. Although all human lives matter, they all also end and, in the grand scheme, may not hold the promise of a place in history, threatening our sense of significance. Similarly, although life very often makes sense, random, senseless events do occur that can destabilize our sense of coherence—from natural disasters to random acts of horrific violence. But purpose may be the facet of meaning that is least dependent on happenstance. No matter the circumstance, purpose—the capacity to invest in goals—is available, promising to imbue life with meaning.\nAlthough it may be common folklore that ardently searching for, and effortfully creating, meaning in life is the primary way to truly experience this sought-after feeling, research suggests that most of the time meaning is actually quite easy to detect. Trying to understand why our life is meaningful may serve a function when life becomes incomprehensible, but ultimately it may never yield a satisfying answer. Meaning is not just found in one place. It is all around us—in our relationships, work, and spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as through the appreciating of life itself.","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/tr?id=881392575322432&ev=PageView%0A&noscript=1)\n\n#### Help keep Greater Good resources free for everyone.\nTo share the “science of a meaningful life” we rely on readers like you. Please donate today.\n\n[Give Now](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/donate?utm_source=magazine&utm_medium=popup&utm_id=donate&utm_campaign=donation_fixed_bottom_keep_greater_good_free)\n\nSKIP TO: [Header](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#logo) \\| [Log in](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/_ajax\/login-popup) \\| [Register](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/_ajax\/register-popup) \\| [Navigation](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#skip-nav) \\| [Main Content](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#skip-main) \\| [Footer](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#skip-footer)\n\n**Greater Good** [Science Center](https:\/\/ggsc.berkeley.edu\/ \"Greater Good Science Center\") • [Magazine](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/ \"Greater Good Magazine\") • [In Action](https:\/\/ggia.berkeley.edu\/ \"Greater Good In Action\") • [In Education](https:\/\/ggie.berkeley.edu\/ \"Greater Good In Education\")\n\n[Sign up for our newsletters](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/_ajax\/newsletter-popup)\n\n[Greater Good Magazine](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/)\n\n[Donate](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/donate)\n\n- [Log in](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/_ajax\/login-popup) [Register](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/_ajax\/register-popup)\n- [Become a Member](https:\/\/ggsc.berkeley.edu\/donate\/membership)\n\n[nav menu](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life)\n\n- [Topics](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic)\n  - [Mind & Body](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/mind_body)\n  - [Relationships](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/relationships)\n  - [Workplace](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/workplace)\n  - [Parenting & Family](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/parenting_family)\n  - [Education](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/education)\n  - [MORE...](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic)\n- [Quizzes](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes)\n  - [Purpose in Life](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/purpose_in_life)\n  - [Happiness at Work](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/happiness_at_work)\n  - [Social Capital](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/social_capital)\n  - [Connection to Humanity](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/connection_to_humanity)\n  - [Altruism](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/altruism)\n  - [Gratitude](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/gratitude)\n  - [Emotional Intelligence](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/ei_quiz)\n  - [MORE...](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes)\n- [Videos](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video)\n  - [Bridging Differences for Teens and Parents](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video\/series\/bridging_differences_for_teens_and_parents)\n  - [Greater Good Books](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video\/series\/greater_good_books)\n  - [Dear Greater Good](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video\/series\/dear_greater_good)\n  - [Bridging Differences](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video\/series\/bridging_differences)\n  - [The Science of Happiness Videos](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video\/series\/the_science_of_happiness_videos)\n  - [MORE...](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video)\n- [Podcasts](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/podcasts)\n  - [The Science of Happiness](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/podcasts\/series\/the_science_of_happiness)\n  - [Happiness Break](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/podcasts\/series\/happiness_break)\n- [Keys to Well-Being](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/key)\n  - [Awe](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/awe)\n  - [Bridging Differences](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/bridging_differences)\n  - [Compassion](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/compassion)\n  - [Diversity](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/diversity)\n  - [Empathy](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/empathy)\n  - [Forgiveness](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/forgiveness)\n  - [Gratitude](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/gratitude)\n  - [Happiness](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/happiness)\n  - [Intellectual Humility](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/humility)\n  - [Mindfulness](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/mindfulness)\n  - [Purpose](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/purpose)\n  - [Social Connection](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/social_connection)\n  - [Love](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/love)\n  - [MORE...](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/key)\n\n[Donate](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/donate)\n\n## TOPICS\n- [Mind & Body](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/mind_body)\n- [Relationships](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/relationships)\n- [Workplace](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/workplace)\n- [Parenting & Family](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/parenting_family)\n- [Education](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/education)\n- [Spirituality](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/spirituality)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/politics)\n- [Society](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/society)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/culture)\n- [Media & Tech](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/media_tech)\n- [Community](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/community)\n- [Big Ideas](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/big_ideas)\n\n## KEYS TO WELL-BEING\n- [Altruism](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/altruism)\n- [Awe](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/awe)\n- [Bridging Differences](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/bridging_differences)\n- [Compassion](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/compassion)\n- [Diversity](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/diversity)\n- [Empathy](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/empathy)\n- [Forgiveness](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/forgiveness)\n- [Gratitude](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/gratitude)\n- [Happiness](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/happiness)\n- [Intellectual Humility](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/humility)\n- [Mindfulness](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/mindfulness)\n- [Purpose](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/purpose)\n- [Social Connection](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/social_connection)\n- [Love](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/love)\n\n## RESOURCES\n- [Quizzes](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes)\n- [Podcasts](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/podcasts)\n- [Videos](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video)\n- [Books](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/resources\/books)\n- [Studies](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/resources\/studies)\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/donate)\n- [Events & Classes](https:\/\/ggsc.berkeley.edu\/what_we_do\/events)\n- [About](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/about)\n- [Diversity Statement](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/about\/greater_good_diversity_statement)\n- [Masthead](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/about\/masthead)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/contact)\n- [Log in](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/_ajax\/login-popup)\n- [Register](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/_ajax\/register-popup)\n\n[Purpose](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/purpose) Articles & More\n\n[Scroll To Top](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life)\n\n# Three Ways to See Meaning in Your Life\nStruggling to find a sense of meaning in life? Researchers have identified three different pathways to it.\n\nBy [Joshua A. Hicks](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/joshua_hicks), [Laura A. King](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/laura_king) \\| November 2, 2021\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/#facebook)\n\n[Bluesky](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/#bluesky)\n\n[LinkedIn](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/#linkedin)\n\n[Email](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/#email)\n\n[Share](https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fgreatergood.berkeley.edu%2Farticle%2Fitem%2Fthree_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life&title=Three%20Ways%20to%20See%20Meaning%20in%20Your%20Life)\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/#facebook)\n\n[Bluesky](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/#bluesky)\n\n[LinkedIn](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/#linkedin)\n\n[Email](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/#email)\n\n[Share](https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fgreatergood.berkeley.edu%2Farticle%2Fitem%2Fthree_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life&title=Three%20Ways%20to%20See%20Meaning%20in%20Your%20Life)\n\n- [*Print*](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life)\n- *Bookmark*\n\nFeeling that your life has meaning is fundamental to the experience of being human, and people who feel this way tend to be [healthier and happier](https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/content\/116\/4\/1207). Given the importance that most people place on meaning, how might we cultivate the feeling that life is meaningful?\n\n![](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/three_pathways_to_meaning_in_life-1x_-_abcdef_-_17a46d79eb5ed7dd269e9126740882c1a2cac088.webp)\n\nFor most of the 20th century, philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists argued that meaning in life is a rare, profound experience, attainable through an active search, deep self-reflection, or some other arduous way of creating meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. But we now know that most people, most of the time, [report](https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2014-03265-001) that their lives feel more meaningful than not. Although actively constructing meaning may be required in some cases—for example, when your world is turned upside down after a traumatic event—cultivating meaning in life may be as simple as detecting the meaning that is already there.\n\nResearchers’ [definitions](https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32898466\/) of meaning in life typically incorporate three themes: the belief that your life and contributions matter to others and yourself, the feeling that your life makes sense, and the feeling that you are actively pursuing fulfilling goals. Other [research](https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2019-00523-001) further corroborates the idea that *significance* (mattering), *coherence* (making sense), and *purpose* (orienting toward goals) represent three interrelated facets of, or perhaps direct pathways to, the experience of meaning in life.\n\nAdvertisement X\n\n[![](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/ggsc_happiness_calendar_jan_2026_-_abcdef_-_4f40627156999ff67452b2ecdb6a2d5158e32b5d.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/your_happiness_calendar_for_january_2026)\n\n[Keep Up with the GGSC Happiness Calendar Focus on what matters to you this month](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/your_happiness_calendar_for_january_2026)\n\nBased on those three pathways, here are some relatively simple things you can do to maintain or enhance your experience of meaning in life.\n\n## The experience of significance in life\nThere is great comfort in believing that your life and actions matter in the grand scheme of things. This conviction is referred to as “[existential mattering](https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1037\/gpr0000077)” and is a strong component of the experience of meaning in life. While the concept of existential mattering often evokes images of famous (and infamous) people who have done extraordinary things in their lives—like Mother Theresa, Cesar Chavez, or Bill Gates—many people gain a sense of mattering through avenues more easily traversed.\n\n[Research](https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/jopy.12215) shows that feeling that you have made a positive influence on others is, unsurprisingly, almost always associated with the belief that your life is meaningful. Existential mattering then is often rooted in a sense that you matter to *others*—from [helping strangers in need](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/can_helping_others_help_you_find_meaning_in_life) and providing social support to loved ones, to simply being a reliable friend.\n\nThe feeling that your life is significant is related to more than feeling that your actions are influential to others. Significance is augmented when your behaviors, or experiences more broadly, matter to *yourself*. This aspect of significance is related to psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s [idea](http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/080701429X?ie=UTF8&tag=gregooscicen-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=080701429X) of finding beauty and meaning in life through lived experience. For example, the experience of meaningfulness can be found by enjoying riveting musical performances, being in awe of natural beauty, or simply appreciating an authentic interaction with another person.\n\nOne way to perceive more significance in your life is to actively seek out intrinsically rewarding experiences, like (re)connecting with nature or people who make it easy to express your true self. Moreover, many cognitive or emotional regulation strategies, such as practicing [mindfulness](https:\/\/ggia.berkeley.edu\/#filters=mindfulness), savoring the positive aspects of situations, [cultivating a grateful disposition](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/four_great_gratitude_strategies), or learning to [evaluate your experiences more positively](https:\/\/ggia.berkeley.edu\/practice\/finding_silver_linings), naturally foster the detection of significance in your life experiences.\n\nAlthough such experiences may lead the self to feel small in the context of vastness, they may also remind us that we belong to that vastness—that we are an indelible part of the wider universe in which we exist.\n\n## Sensing coherence\nCoherence is the feeling that your life makes sense. For most people, most of the time, understanding life isn’t a problem requiring a solution. We are natural sense makers, automatically comprehending most situations effortlessly. In fact, a likely reason we don’t think about meaning in life too much is that our lives simply feel right (that is, things simply make sense). Our lives are embedded in a natural world characterized by regularities—sunrises and sunsets. We overlay these regularities with our own routines—morning coffee or an evening walk. The regularities of life provide the rhythms that undergird the feeling that life is meaningful.\n\nOf course, life does not always make sense. For example, you may feel a sense of incomprehensibility after experiencing trauma or, counterintuitively, trying too hard to understand why your life has meaning.\n\n- ##### Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan\n  This article is part of a GGSC initiative on “[Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan](https:\/\/ggsc.berkeley.edu\/what_we_do\/major_initiatives\/purpose_across_the_lifespan),” supported by the John Templeton Foundation. In a series of articles, podcast episodes, and other resources, we’re exploring why and how to deepen your sense of purpose at different stages of life.\n\nOf all of the facets of meaning, coherence likely represents a basic psychological need. Similar to the anguish we feel when our need to belong is thwarted, our world seems to fall apart when things suddenly do not make sense. Restoring a sense of coherence during these times can be challenging and often requires feedback and reassurance from others (like a therapist or parent), as well as the mysterious healing power of time to help the mind restore a sense of equanimity. Reconnecting with the natural order of the world, reinstating routines that give structure to life, and finding respite in the arts may help you make sense of life again.\n\nAlthough the inability to make sense of your life can detract from the experience of meaning, simply making sense of it doesn’t necessarily mean that life will feel meaningful. It is easy, for example, to think of an individual who possesses a cynical belief about how their life has unfolded. This worldview may help the individual make sense of their situation and life more broadly, but it seems unlikely to foster the belief that their life is full of meaning. This example illustrates how meaning is not simply about “connecting the dots” but also finding beauty in the picture that emerges.\n\n## Imbuing life with a sense of purpose\n“Clear eyes, full hearts (can’t lose)” was the mantra of the Dillon Panthers, the fictitious football team familiar to fans of the popular TV show “Friday Night Lights.” One reason clearing one’s eyes, and subsequently filling one’s heart, is a successful strategy for football players and, perhaps, everyone is that people in this psychological state can pursue their goals with a greater sense of [purpose](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/purpose\/definition). Feeling a sense of purpose helps us sustain motivation though the thick and thin of everyday life, and purposeful people tend to [be more satisfied with their lives and even live longer](https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4224996\/). Purpose, therefore, is tied to both the quality and quantity of our existence.\n\nOne factor that facilitates purposeful action is possessing a clear reason for engaging in whatever you are doing. Knowing the “why” of your actions can infuse even trivial behaviors with value. Nietzsche famously noted that the person “who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” By developing a clear reason for pursuing a goal, the “how” of your goal-directed actions becomes more tolerable (and often more enjoyable) because those actions are now connected with a more long-term objective. For example, although most students would rather socialize with friends than study before an exam, clearly understanding that this minor hedonic sacrifice will help them obtain a rewarding job down the line should make it easier to commit to exam prep.\n\n- ![Looking down at legs and shoes with colorful arrows painted on the ground below them going in all directions](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/life_crafting_-_abcdef_-_e30273958feebcf3bc3aec1d952e0f6f34035a9c.webp)\n  ### Life Crafting\n  Sharpen your sense of purpose by defining and committing to your goals\n  \n  [Try It Now](https:\/\/ggia.berkeley.edu\/practice\/life_crafting)\n\nEven as your nose is firmly “to the grindstone,” clear eyes can be trained on a broader life dream. The overarching reason for existence can be found in “God’s plan” or a life calling, but a sense of the why of behaviors is not limited to such grand experiences. Taking time to reflect on your life dreams—to write the next chapters of your [life story](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/what_will_the_theme_of_your_life_be_this_year)—can help to connect everyday life and daily goals to broader aspirations. Instead of wandering aimlessly, having “clear eyes” gives you a sense of direction and the motivation (a full heart) to help you achieve your goals and allow those accomplishments to imbue your life with meaning.\n\nSome reasons for goal pursuit may be better than others, though. A person who feels they should perform a task only *because* their supervisor asked them to do it is unlikely to enjoy a sense of purpose while performing that work. Instead, purposeful behaviors are by definition pursued for more intrinsic reasons, often related to core aspects of one’s identity. For example, people may volunteer at a homeless shelter for various reasons, but the person who does so because they feel their actions are consistent with an internalized value of helping others in need are more likely to derive a sense of purpose from the experience.\n\nThe capacity of meaning to allow us to wake up every morning and do what needs to be done requires that meaning be present even in suffering. And this is where a sense of purpose is powerful. Although all human lives matter, they all also end and, in the grand scheme, may not hold the promise of a place in history, threatening our sense of significance. Similarly, although life very often makes sense, random, senseless events do occur that can destabilize our sense of coherence—from natural disasters to random acts of horrific violence. But purpose may be the facet of meaning that is least dependent on happenstance. No matter the circumstance, purpose—the capacity to invest in goals—is available, promising to imbue life with meaning.\n\nAlthough it may be common folklore that ardently searching for, and effortfully creating, meaning in life is the primary way to truly experience this sought-after feeling, research suggests that most of the time meaning is actually quite easy to detect. Trying to understand why our life is meaningful may serve a function when life becomes incomprehensible, but ultimately it may never yield a satisfying answer. Meaning is not just found in one place. It is all around us—in our relationships, work, and spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as through the appreciating of life itself.\n\n![GreaterGood Tiny Logo](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/css\/images\/temp\/logo-small.png) Greater Good wants to know: Do you think this article will influence your opinions or behavior?\n\nSubmitting your rating\n\n## About the Authors\n- [![Headshot of Joshua A. Hicks](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/avatar_366316_-_abcdef_-_6dbad40fc7c0e0ea5adee881f79d46c1ebd7cefa.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/joshua_hicks)\n  ### [Joshua A. Hicks](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/joshua_hicks)\n  **Joshua A. Hicks, Ph.D.**, is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A\\&M University. His primary lines of research focus on the experience of meaning in life, authenticity, and true-self knowledge.\n- [![Headshot of Laura A. King](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/avatar_366319_-_abcdef_-_6dbad40fc7c0e0ea5adee881f79d46c1ebd7cefa.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/laura_king)\n  ### [Laura A. King](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/laura_king)\n  **Laura A. King, Ph.D.**, is the Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri.\n\n## You May Also Enjoy\n- [![A woman stands on a porch, holding a coffee cup and smiling, with a backdrop of trees and greenery](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/woman_on_porch_with_coffee_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/why_you_should_prioritize_meaning_in_your_everyday_life)\n  ### [Why You Should Prioritize Meaning in Your Everyday Life](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/why_you_should_prioritize_meaning_in_your_everyday_life)\n  By [Pninit Russo-Netzer](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/pninit_russo_netzer) \\| March 6, 2019\n- [![](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/2016-17-small_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/what_will_the_theme_of_your_life_be_this_year)\n  ### [What Will the Theme of Your Life Be in the Next Year?](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/what_will_the_theme_of_your_life_be_this_year)\n  By [Kira M. Newman](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/kira_newman) \\| December 30, 2016\n- [![](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/soup_kitchen_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/can_helping_others_help_you_find_meaning_in_life)\n  ### [Can Helping Others Help You Find Meaning in Life?](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/can_helping_others_help_you_find_meaning_in_life)\n  By [Elizabeth Hopper](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/elizabeth_hopper) \\| February 16, 2016\n- [![](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/flowers_sun_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/four_keys_to_a_meaningful_life)\n  ### [The Four Keys to a Meaningful Life](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/four_keys_to_a_meaningful_life)\n  By [Jill Suttie](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/jill_suttie) \\| January 20, 2017\n- [![](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/purple_sunset_fb_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/what_are_the_building_blocks_of_a_meaningful_life)\n  ### [What Are the Building Blocks of a Meaningful Life?](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/what_are_the_building_blocks_of_a_meaningful_life)\n  By [Jenara Nerenberg](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/jenara_nerenberg) \\| March 7, 2017\n- [![Hand holding up compass with mountains in the background](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/seven_ways_to_find_your_purpose_in_life_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/seven_ways_to_find_your_purpose_in_life)\n  ### [Seven Ways to Find Your Purpose in Life](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/seven_ways_to_find_your_purpose_in_life)\n  By [Jill Suttie](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/profile\/jill_suttie) \\| August 6, 2020\n\n## Comments\nPlease enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.](http:\/\/disqus.com\/?ref_noscript=greatergood)\n\n- ###\n- ### Related Articles\n  - [![Five Steps to Help Kids Transform Anger Into a Force for Good](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/five_steps_to_help_kids_transform_anger_into_a_force_for_good_-_abcdef_-_887d54d4ba37096d099b6a2acd511597c8dba22e.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/five_steps_to_help_kids_transform_anger_into_a_force_for_good)\n    \n    #### [Five Steps to Help Kids Transform Anger Into a Force for Good](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/five_steps_to_help_kids_transform_anger_into_a_force_for_good)\n    March 23, 2026\n    \n    With some help and awareness, children can channel anger into clarity, caring, and action.\n  - #### [Can You Really Become Addicted to Love or Sex?](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/can_you_really_become_addicted_to_love_or_sex)\n    March 16, 2026\n    \n    While sex can become compulsive and problematic for some people, there is little research on love as a true addiction.\n  - #### [Am I Doing This Right? School-Aged Kids Edition](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/am_i_doing_this_right_school_aged_kids_edition)\n    March 4, 2026\n    \n    Research-backed insights from renowned experts to everyday questions about raising kids in middle childhood.\n- ### Take the Purpose in Life Quiz\n  [![Purpose in Life Quiz](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/seven_ways_to_find_your_purpose_in_life_-_abcdef_-_887d54d4ba37096d099b6a2acd511597c8dba22e.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/purpose_in_life)\n  Do you have a long-term goal that's meaningful to yourself and the world?\n  \n  [Take the Quiz](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/quizzes\/take_quiz\/purpose_in_life)\n- ### [Five Families Who Learned How to Bridge Differences Together](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video\/item\/five_families_who_learned_how_s_to_bridge_differences_together)\n  [![Five Families Who Learned How to Bridge Differences Together](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/screenshot_2025-11-17_at_2_01_01_pm_-_abcdef_-_6eee4894b00241b043264d0ae6b70bb7ac0e2d6a.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/video\/item\/five_families_who_learned_how_s_to_bridge_differences_together)\n  \n  In this video from our Bridging Differences for Parents and Teens series, learn how five families fostered skills for dialogue and understanding across group lines.\n- ### [Happiness Break: A Meditation For When You Have Too Much To Do](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/podcasts\/item\/happiness_break_a_meditation_for_when_you_have_too_much_to_do_repeat)\n  [![Happiness Break: A Meditation For When You Have Too Much To Do](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/6_12_25_soh_hb_kia_afcari_-_abcdef_-_6eee4894b00241b043264d0ae6b70bb7ac0e2d6a.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/podcasts\/item\/happiness_break_a_meditation_for_when_you_have_too_much_to_do_repeat)\n  \n  Does your to-do list feel endless? Try this short, guided practice to help you reflect, reconnect, and release the pressure to do it all perfectly.\n\nThe Greater Good Science Center studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society.\n\n- [About this site](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/about)\n- [Masthead](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/about\/masthead)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/contact)\n- [Donate](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/donate)\n\n[*Berkeley: University of California*](http:\/\/www.berkeley.edu\/)\n\n© 2026 The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley\n\nDeveloped by  [*Hop Studios* Hop Studios](https:\/\/www.hopstudios.com\/)\n\nDesigned by  [*Project6* Project6](https:\/\/www.project6.com\/?utm_source=greatergood&utm_medium=client&utm_campaign=footer_link \"Designed by Project6 Design, a San Francisco Bay Area website design firm\")\n\n[Accessibility](https:\/\/dac.berkeley.edu\/web-accessibility) \\| [Nondiscrimination](https:\/\/ophd.berkeley.edu\/policies-and-procedures\/nondiscrimination-policy-statement) \\| [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/privacy) \\| [Consent Preferences](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life)\n\n- [*Twitter*](http:\/\/twitter.com\/GreaterGoodSC)\n- [*Facebook*](http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/The-Greater-Good-Science-Center\/83163029449)\n- [*YouTube*](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/greatergoodscience)\n- [*LinkedIn*](https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-greater-good-science-center\/)\n- [*Instagram*](https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/greatergoodmag\/%20)\n\n✓\n\nThanks for sharing\\!\n\n[AddToAny](https:\/\/www.addtoany.com\/ \"Share Buttons\")\n\n[More…](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#addtoany \"Show all\")","attrs_readable_markdown":"Feeling that your life has meaning is fundamental to the experience of being human, and people who feel this way tend to be [healthier and happier](https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/content\/116\/4\/1207). Given the importance that most people place on meaning, how might we cultivate the feeling that life is meaningful?\n\n![](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/three_pathways_to_meaning_in_life-1x_-_abcdef_-_17a46d79eb5ed7dd269e9126740882c1a2cac088.webp)\n\nFor most of the 20th century, philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists argued that meaning in life is a rare, profound experience, attainable through an active search, deep self-reflection, or some other arduous way of creating meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. But we now know that most people, most of the time, [report](https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2014-03265-001) that their lives feel more meaningful than not. Although actively constructing meaning may be required in some cases—for example, when your world is turned upside down after a traumatic event—cultivating meaning in life may be as simple as detecting the meaning that is already there.\n\nResearchers’ [definitions](https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/32898466\/) of meaning in life typically incorporate three themes: the belief that your life and contributions matter to others and yourself, the feeling that your life makes sense, and the feeling that you are actively pursuing fulfilling goals. Other [research](https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2019-00523-001) further corroborates the idea that *significance* (mattering), *coherence* (making sense), and *purpose* (orienting toward goals) represent three interrelated facets of, or perhaps direct pathways to, the experience of meaning in life.\n\nAdvertisement X\n\n[![](https:\/\/ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/assets\/images\/ggsc_happiness_calendar_jan_2026_-_abcdef_-_4f40627156999ff67452b2ecdb6a2d5158e32b5d.webp)](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/your_happiness_calendar_for_january_2026)\n\nBased on those three pathways, here are some relatively simple things you can do to maintain or enhance your experience of meaning in life.\n\n## The experience of significance in life\nThere is great comfort in believing that your life and actions matter in the grand scheme of things. This conviction is referred to as “[existential mattering](https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1037\/gpr0000077)” and is a strong component of the experience of meaning in life. While the concept of existential mattering often evokes images of famous (and infamous) people who have done extraordinary things in their lives—like Mother Theresa, Cesar Chavez, or Bill Gates—many people gain a sense of mattering through avenues more easily traversed.\n\n[Research](https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/jopy.12215) shows that feeling that you have made a positive influence on others is, unsurprisingly, almost always associated with the belief that your life is meaningful. Existential mattering then is often rooted in a sense that you matter to *others*—from [helping strangers in need](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/can_helping_others_help_you_find_meaning_in_life) and providing social support to loved ones, to simply being a reliable friend.\n\nThe feeling that your life is significant is related to more than feeling that your actions are influential to others. Significance is augmented when your behaviors, or experiences more broadly, matter to *yourself*. This aspect of significance is related to psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s [idea](http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/080701429X?ie=UTF8&tag=gregooscicen-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=080701429X) of finding beauty and meaning in life through lived experience. For example, the experience of meaningfulness can be found by enjoying riveting musical performances, being in awe of natural beauty, or simply appreciating an authentic interaction with another person.\n\nOne way to perceive more significance in your life is to actively seek out intrinsically rewarding experiences, like (re)connecting with nature or people who make it easy to express your true self. Moreover, many cognitive or emotional regulation strategies, such as practicing [mindfulness](https:\/\/ggia.berkeley.edu\/#filters=mindfulness), savoring the positive aspects of situations, [cultivating a grateful disposition](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/four_great_gratitude_strategies), or learning to [evaluate your experiences more positively](https:\/\/ggia.berkeley.edu\/practice\/finding_silver_linings), naturally foster the detection of significance in your life experiences.\n\nAlthough such experiences may lead the self to feel small in the context of vastness, they may also remind us that we belong to that vastness—that we are an indelible part of the wider universe in which we exist.\n\n## Sensing coherence\nCoherence is the feeling that your life makes sense. For most people, most of the time, understanding life isn’t a problem requiring a solution. We are natural sense makers, automatically comprehending most situations effortlessly. In fact, a likely reason we don’t think about meaning in life too much is that our lives simply feel right (that is, things simply make sense). Our lives are embedded in a natural world characterized by regularities—sunrises and sunsets. We overlay these regularities with our own routines—morning coffee or an evening walk. The regularities of life provide the rhythms that undergird the feeling that life is meaningful.\n\nOf course, life does not always make sense. For example, you may feel a sense of incomprehensibility after experiencing trauma or, counterintuitively, trying too hard to understand why your life has meaning.\n\nOf all of the facets of meaning, coherence likely represents a basic psychological need. Similar to the anguish we feel when our need to belong is thwarted, our world seems to fall apart when things suddenly do not make sense. Restoring a sense of coherence during these times can be challenging and often requires feedback and reassurance from others (like a therapist or parent), as well as the mysterious healing power of time to help the mind restore a sense of equanimity. Reconnecting with the natural order of the world, reinstating routines that give structure to life, and finding respite in the arts may help you make sense of life again.\n\nAlthough the inability to make sense of your life can detract from the experience of meaning, simply making sense of it doesn’t necessarily mean that life will feel meaningful. It is easy, for example, to think of an individual who possesses a cynical belief about how their life has unfolded. This worldview may help the individual make sense of their situation and life more broadly, but it seems unlikely to foster the belief that their life is full of meaning. This example illustrates how meaning is not simply about “connecting the dots” but also finding beauty in the picture that emerges.\n\n## Imbuing life with a sense of purpose\n“Clear eyes, full hearts (can’t lose)” was the mantra of the Dillon Panthers, the fictitious football team familiar to fans of the popular TV show “Friday Night Lights.” One reason clearing one’s eyes, and subsequently filling one’s heart, is a successful strategy for football players and, perhaps, everyone is that people in this psychological state can pursue their goals with a greater sense of [purpose](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/topic\/purpose\/definition). Feeling a sense of purpose helps us sustain motivation though the thick and thin of everyday life, and purposeful people tend to [be more satisfied with their lives and even live longer](https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4224996\/). Purpose, therefore, is tied to both the quality and quantity of our existence.\n\nOne factor that facilitates purposeful action is possessing a clear reason for engaging in whatever you are doing. Knowing the “why” of your actions can infuse even trivial behaviors with value. Nietzsche famously noted that the person “who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” By developing a clear reason for pursuing a goal, the “how” of your goal-directed actions becomes more tolerable (and often more enjoyable) because those actions are now connected with a more long-term objective. For example, although most students would rather socialize with friends than study before an exam, clearly understanding that this minor hedonic sacrifice will help them obtain a rewarding job down the line should make it easier to commit to exam prep.\n\nEven as your nose is firmly “to the grindstone,” clear eyes can be trained on a broader life dream. The overarching reason for existence can be found in “God’s plan” or a life calling, but a sense of the why of behaviors is not limited to such grand experiences. Taking time to reflect on your life dreams—to write the next chapters of your [life story](https:\/\/greatergood.berkeley.edu\/article\/item\/what_will_the_theme_of_your_life_be_this_year)—can help to connect everyday life and daily goals to broader aspirations. Instead of wandering aimlessly, having “clear eyes” gives you a sense of direction and the motivation (a full heart) to help you achieve your goals and allow those accomplishments to imbue your life with meaning.\n\nSome reasons for goal pursuit may be better than others, though. A person who feels they should perform a task only *because* their supervisor asked them to do it is unlikely to enjoy a sense of purpose while performing that work. Instead, purposeful behaviors are by definition pursued for more intrinsic reasons, often related to core aspects of one’s identity. For example, people may volunteer at a homeless shelter for various reasons, but the person who does so because they feel their actions are consistent with an internalized value of helping others in need are more likely to derive a sense of purpose from the experience.\n\nThe capacity of meaning to allow us to wake up every morning and do what needs to be done requires that meaning be present even in suffering. And this is where a sense of purpose is powerful. Although all human lives matter, they all also end and, in the grand scheme, may not hold the promise of a place in history, threatening our sense of significance. Similarly, although life very often makes sense, random, senseless events do occur that can destabilize our sense of coherence—from natural disasters to random acts of horrific violence. But purpose may be the facet of meaning that is least dependent on happenstance. No matter the circumstance, purpose—the capacity to invest in goals—is available, promising to imbue life with meaning.\n\nAlthough it may be common folklore that ardently searching for, and effortfully creating, meaning in life is the primary way to truly experience this sought-after feeling, research suggests that most of the time meaning is actually quite easy to detect. Trying to understand why our life is meaningful may serve a function when life becomes incomprehensible, but ultimately it may never yield a satisfying answer. Meaning is not just found in one place. It is all around us—in our relationships, work, and spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as through the appreciating of life itself.","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

12 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.4 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life
Last Crawled	2026-03-30 07:51:19 (12 days ago)
First Indexed	2021-11-02 13:44:10 (4 years ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Three Ways to See Meaning in Your Life
Meta Description	Struggling to find a sense of meaning in life? Researchers have identified three different pathways to it.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	Feeling that your life has meaning is fundamental to the experience of being human, and people who feel this way tend to be healthier and happier . Given the importance that most people place on meaning, how might we cultivate the feeling that life is meaningful? For most of the 20th century, philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists argued that meaning in life is a rare, profound experience, attainable through an active search, deep self-reflection, or some other arduous way of creating meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. But we now know that most people, most of the time, report that their lives feel more meaningful than not. Although actively constructing meaning may be required in some cases—for example, when your world is turned upside down after a traumatic event—cultivating meaning in life may be as simple as detecting the meaning that is already there. Researchers’ definitions of meaning in life typically incorporate three themes: the belief that your life and contributions matter to others and yourself, the feeling that your life makes sense, and the feeling that you are actively pursuing fulfilling goals. Other research further corroborates the idea that significance (mattering), coherence (making sense), and purpose (orienting toward goals) represent three interrelated facets of, or perhaps direct pathways to, the experience of meaning in life. Advertisement X Based on those three pathways, here are some relatively simple things you can do to maintain or enhance your experience of meaning in life. The experience of significance in life There is great comfort in believing that your life and actions matter in the grand scheme of things. This conviction is referred to as “ existential mattering ” and is a strong component of the experience of meaning in life. While the concept of existential mattering often evokes images of famous (and infamous) people who have done extraordinary things in their lives—like Mother Theresa, Cesar Chavez, or Bill Gates—many people gain a sense of mattering through avenues more easily traversed. Research shows that feeling that you have made a positive influence on others is, unsurprisingly, almost always associated with the belief that your life is meaningful. Existential mattering then is often rooted in a sense that you matter to others —from helping strangers in need and providing social support to loved ones, to simply being a reliable friend. The feeling that your life is significant is related to more than feeling that your actions are influential to others. Significance is augmented when your behaviors, or experiences more broadly, matter to yourself . This aspect of significance is related to psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s idea of finding beauty and meaning in life through lived experience. For example, the experience of meaningfulness can be found by enjoying riveting musical performances, being in awe of natural beauty, or simply appreciating an authentic interaction with another person. One way to perceive more significance in your life is to actively seek out intrinsically rewarding experiences, like (re)connecting with nature or people who make it easy to express your true self. Moreover, many cognitive or emotional regulation strategies, such as practicing mindfulness , savoring the positive aspects of situations, cultivating a grateful disposition , or learning to evaluate your experiences more positively , naturally foster the detection of significance in your life experiences. Although such experiences may lead the self to feel small in the context of vastness, they may also remind us that we belong to that vastness—that we are an indelible part of the wider universe in which we exist. Sensing coherence Coherence is the feeling that your life makes sense. For most people, most of the time, understanding life isn’t a problem requiring a solution. We are natural sense makers, automatically comprehending most situations effortlessly. In fact, a likely reason we don’t think about meaning in life too much is that our lives simply feel right (that is, things simply make sense). Our lives are embedded in a natural world characterized by regularities—sunrises and sunsets. We overlay these regularities with our own routines—morning coffee or an evening walk. The regularities of life provide the rhythms that undergird the feeling that life is meaningful. Of course, life does not always make sense. For example, you may feel a sense of incomprehensibility after experiencing trauma or, counterintuitively, trying too hard to understand why your life has meaning. Of all of the facets of meaning, coherence likely represents a basic psychological need. Similar to the anguish we feel when our need to belong is thwarted, our world seems to fall apart when things suddenly do not make sense. Restoring a sense of coherence during these times can be challenging and often requires feedback and reassurance from others (like a therapist or parent), as well as the mysterious healing power of time to help the mind restore a sense of equanimity. Reconnecting with the natural order of the world, reinstating routines that give structure to life, and finding respite in the arts may help you make sense of life again. Although the inability to make sense of your life can detract from the experience of meaning, simply making sense of it doesn’t necessarily mean that life will feel meaningful. It is easy, for example, to think of an individual who possesses a cynical belief about how their life has unfolded. This worldview may help the individual make sense of their situation and life more broadly, but it seems unlikely to foster the belief that their life is full of meaning. This example illustrates how meaning is not simply about “connecting the dots” but also finding beauty in the picture that emerges. Imbuing life with a sense of purpose “Clear eyes, full hearts (can’t lose)” was the mantra of the Dillon Panthers, the fictitious football team familiar to fans of the popular TV show “Friday Night Lights.” One reason clearing one’s eyes, and subsequently filling one’s heart, is a successful strategy for football players and, perhaps, everyone is that people in this psychological state can pursue their goals with a greater sense of purpose . Feeling a sense of purpose helps us sustain motivation though the thick and thin of everyday life, and purposeful people tend to be more satisfied with their lives and even live longer . Purpose, therefore, is tied to both the quality and quantity of our existence. One factor that facilitates purposeful action is possessing a clear reason for engaging in whatever you are doing. Knowing the “why” of your actions can infuse even trivial behaviors with value. Nietzsche famously noted that the person “who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” By developing a clear reason for pursuing a goal, the “how” of your goal-directed actions becomes more tolerable (and often more enjoyable) because those actions are now connected with a more long-term objective. For example, although most students would rather socialize with friends than study before an exam, clearly understanding that this minor hedonic sacrifice will help them obtain a rewarding job down the line should make it easier to commit to exam prep. Even as your nose is firmly “to the grindstone,” clear eyes can be trained on a broader life dream. The overarching reason for existence can be found in “God’s plan” or a life calling, but a sense of the why of behaviors is not limited to such grand experiences. Taking time to reflect on your life dreams—to write the next chapters of your life story —can help to connect everyday life and daily goals to broader aspirations. Instead of wandering aimlessly, having “clear eyes” gives you a sense of direction and the motivation (a full heart) to help you achieve your goals and allow those accomplishments to imbue your life with meaning. Some reasons for goal pursuit may be better than others, though. A person who feels they should perform a task only because their supervisor asked them to do it is unlikely to enjoy a sense of purpose while performing that work. Instead, purposeful behaviors are by definition pursued for more intrinsic reasons, often related to core aspects of one’s identity. For example, people may volunteer at a homeless shelter for various reasons, but the person who does so because they feel their actions are consistent with an internalized value of helping others in need are more likely to derive a sense of purpose from the experience. The capacity of meaning to allow us to wake up every morning and do what needs to be done requires that meaning be present even in suffering. And this is where a sense of purpose is powerful. Although all human lives matter, they all also end and, in the grand scheme, may not hold the promise of a place in history, threatening our sense of significance. Similarly, although life very often makes sense, random, senseless events do occur that can destabilize our sense of coherence—from natural disasters to random acts of horrific violence. But purpose may be the facet of meaning that is least dependent on happenstance. No matter the circumstance, purpose—the capacity to invest in goals—is available, promising to imbue life with meaning. Although it may be common folklore that ardently searching for, and effortfully creating, meaning in life is the primary way to truly experience this sought-after feeling, research suggests that most of the time meaning is actually quite easy to detect. Trying to understand why our life is meaningful may serve a function when life becomes incomprehensible, but ultimately it may never yield a satisfying answer. Meaning is not just found in one place. It is all around us—in our relationships, work, and spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as through the appreciating of life itself.
Markdown	![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=881392575322432&ev=PageView%0A&noscript=1) #### Help keep Greater Good resources free for everyone. To share the “science of a meaningful life” we rely on readers like you. Please donate today. [Give Now](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/donate?utm_source=magazine&utm_medium=popup&utm_id=donate&utm_campaign=donation_fixed_bottom_keep_greater_good_free) SKIP TO: [Header](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#logo) \\| [Log in](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/_ajax/login-popup) \\| [Register](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/_ajax/register-popup) \\| [Navigation](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#skip-nav) \\| [Main Content](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#skip-main) \\| [Footer](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#skip-footer) Greater Good [Science Center](https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/ "Greater Good Science Center") • [Magazine](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/ "Greater Good Magazine") • [In Action](https://ggia.berkeley.edu/ "Greater Good In Action") • [In Education](https://ggie.berkeley.edu/ "Greater Good In Education") [Sign up for our newsletters](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/_ajax/newsletter-popup) [Greater Good Magazine](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/) [Donate](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/donate) - [Log in](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/_ajax/login-popup) [Register](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/_ajax/register-popup) - [Become a Member](https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/donate/membership) [nav menu](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life) - [Topics](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic) - [Mind & Body](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/mind_body) - [Relationships](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/relationships) - [Workplace](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/workplace) - [Parenting & Family](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/parenting_family) - [Education](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/education) - [MORE...](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic) - [Quizzes](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes) - [Purpose in Life](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/purpose_in_life) - [Happiness at Work](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/happiness_at_work) - [Social Capital](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/social_capital) - [Connection to Humanity](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/connection_to_humanity) - [Altruism](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/altruism) - [Gratitude](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/gratitude) - [Emotional Intelligence](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/ei_quiz) - [MORE...](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes) - [Videos](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video) - [Bridging Differences for Teens and Parents](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/series/bridging_differences_for_teens_and_parents) - [Greater Good Books](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/series/greater_good_books) - [Dear Greater Good](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/series/dear_greater_good) - [Bridging Differences](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/series/bridging_differences) - [The Science of Happiness Videos](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/series/the_science_of_happiness_videos) - [MORE...](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video) - [Podcasts](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts) - [The Science of Happiness](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/series/the_science_of_happiness) - [Happiness Break](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/series/happiness_break) - [Keys to Well-Being](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/key) - [Awe](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/awe) - [Bridging Differences](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/bridging_differences) - [Compassion](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/compassion) - [Diversity](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/diversity) - [Empathy](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/empathy) - [Forgiveness](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/forgiveness) - [Gratitude](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude) - [Happiness](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/happiness) - [Intellectual Humility](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/humility) - [Mindfulness](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness) - [Purpose](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/purpose) - [Social Connection](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/social_connection) - [Love](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/love) - [MORE...](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/key) [Donate](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/donate) ## TOPICS - [Mind & Body](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/mind_body) - [Relationships](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/relationships) - [Workplace](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/workplace) - [Parenting & Family](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/parenting_family) - [Education](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/education) - [Spirituality](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/spirituality) - [Politics](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/politics) - [Society](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/society) - [Culture](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/culture) - [Media & Tech](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/media_tech) - [Community](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/community) - [Big Ideas](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/big_ideas) ## KEYS TO WELL-BEING - [Altruism](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/altruism) - [Awe](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/awe) - [Bridging Differences](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/bridging_differences) - [Compassion](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/compassion) - [Diversity](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/diversity) - [Empathy](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/empathy) - [Forgiveness](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/forgiveness) - [Gratitude](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/gratitude) - [Happiness](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/happiness) - [Intellectual Humility](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/humility) - [Mindfulness](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness) - [Purpose](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/purpose) - [Social Connection](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/social_connection) - [Love](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/love) ## RESOURCES - [Quizzes](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes) - [Podcasts](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts) - [Videos](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video) - [Books](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/resources/books) - [Studies](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/resources/studies) - [Donate](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/donate) - [Events & Classes](https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/what_we_do/events) - [About](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/about) - [Diversity Statement](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/about/greater_good_diversity_statement) - [Masthead](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/about/masthead) - [Contact](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/contact) - [Log in](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/_ajax/login-popup) - [Register](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/_ajax/register-popup) [Purpose](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/purpose) Articles & More [Scroll To Top](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life) # Three Ways to See Meaning in Your Life Struggling to find a sense of meaning in life? Researchers have identified three different pathways to it. By [Joshua A. Hicks](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/joshua_hicks), [Laura A. King](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/laura_king) \\| November 2, 2021 [Facebook](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/#facebook) [Bluesky](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/#bluesky) [LinkedIn](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/#linkedin) [Email](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/#email) [Share](https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fgreatergood.berkeley.edu%2Farticle%2Fitem%2Fthree_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life&title=Three%20Ways%20to%20See%20Meaning%20in%20Your%20Life) [Facebook](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/#facebook) [Bluesky](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/#bluesky) [LinkedIn](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/#linkedin) [Email](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/#email) [Share](https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fgreatergood.berkeley.edu%2Farticle%2Fitem%2Fthree_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life&title=Three%20Ways%20to%20See%20Meaning%20in%20Your%20Life) - [Print](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life) - Bookmark Feeling that your life has meaning is fundamental to the experience of being human, and people who feel this way tend to be [healthier and happier](https://www.pnas.org/content/116/4/1207). Given the importance that most people place on meaning, how might we cultivate the feeling that life is meaningful? ![](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/three_pathways_to_meaning_in_life-1x_-_abcdef_-_17a46d79eb5ed7dd269e9126740882c1a2cac088.webp) For most of the 20th century, philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists argued that meaning in life is a rare, profound experience, attainable through an active search, deep self-reflection, or some other arduous way of creating meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. But we now know that most people, most of the time, [report](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-03265-001) that their lives feel more meaningful than not. Although actively constructing meaning may be required in some cases—for example, when your world is turned upside down after a traumatic event—cultivating meaning in life may be as simple as detecting the meaning that is already there. Researchers’ [definitions](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32898466/) of meaning in life typically incorporate three themes: the belief that your life and contributions matter to others and yourself, the feeling that your life makes sense, and the feeling that you are actively pursuing fulfilling goals. Other [research](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-00523-001) further corroborates the idea that significance (mattering), coherence (making sense), and purpose (orienting toward goals) represent three interrelated facets of, or perhaps direct pathways to, the experience of meaning in life. Advertisement X [![](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/ggsc_happiness_calendar_jan_2026_-_abcdef_-_4f40627156999ff67452b2ecdb6a2d5158e32b5d.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/your_happiness_calendar_for_january_2026) [Keep Up with the GGSC Happiness Calendar Focus on what matters to you this month](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/your_happiness_calendar_for_january_2026) Based on those three pathways, here are some relatively simple things you can do to maintain or enhance your experience of meaning in life. ## The experience of significance in life There is great comfort in believing that your life and actions matter in the grand scheme of things. This conviction is referred to as “[existential mattering](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1037/gpr0000077)” and is a strong component of the experience of meaning in life. While the concept of existential mattering often evokes images of famous (and infamous) people who have done extraordinary things in their lives—like Mother Theresa, Cesar Chavez, or Bill Gates—many people gain a sense of mattering through avenues more easily traversed. [Research](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jopy.12215) shows that feeling that you have made a positive influence on others is, unsurprisingly, almost always associated with the belief that your life is meaningful. Existential mattering then is often rooted in a sense that you matter to others—from [helping strangers in need](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_helping_others_help_you_find_meaning_in_life) and providing social support to loved ones, to simply being a reliable friend. The feeling that your life is significant is related to more than feeling that your actions are influential to others. Significance is augmented when your behaviors, or experiences more broadly, matter to yourself. This aspect of significance is related to psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s [idea](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080701429X?ie=UTF8&tag=gregooscicen-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=080701429X) of finding beauty and meaning in life through lived experience. For example, the experience of meaningfulness can be found by enjoying riveting musical performances, being in awe of natural beauty, or simply appreciating an authentic interaction with another person. One way to perceive more significance in your life is to actively seek out intrinsically rewarding experiences, like (re)connecting with nature or people who make it easy to express your true self. Moreover, many cognitive or emotional regulation strategies, such as practicing [mindfulness](https://ggia.berkeley.edu/#filters=mindfulness), savoring the positive aspects of situations, [cultivating a grateful disposition](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_great_gratitude_strategies), or learning to [evaluate your experiences more positively](https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/finding_silver_linings), naturally foster the detection of significance in your life experiences. Although such experiences may lead the self to feel small in the context of vastness, they may also remind us that we belong to that vastness—that we are an indelible part of the wider universe in which we exist. ## Sensing coherence Coherence is the feeling that your life makes sense. For most people, most of the time, understanding life isn’t a problem requiring a solution. We are natural sense makers, automatically comprehending most situations effortlessly. In fact, a likely reason we don’t think about meaning in life too much is that our lives simply feel right (that is, things simply make sense). Our lives are embedded in a natural world characterized by regularities—sunrises and sunsets. We overlay these regularities with our own routines—morning coffee or an evening walk. The regularities of life provide the rhythms that undergird the feeling that life is meaningful. Of course, life does not always make sense. For example, you may feel a sense of incomprehensibility after experiencing trauma or, counterintuitively, trying too hard to understand why your life has meaning. - ##### Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan This article is part of a GGSC initiative on “[Finding Purpose Across the Lifespan](https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/what_we_do/major_initiatives/purpose_across_the_lifespan),” supported by the John Templeton Foundation. In a series of articles, podcast episodes, and other resources, we’re exploring why and how to deepen your sense of purpose at different stages of life. Of all of the facets of meaning, coherence likely represents a basic psychological need. Similar to the anguish we feel when our need to belong is thwarted, our world seems to fall apart when things suddenly do not make sense. Restoring a sense of coherence during these times can be challenging and often requires feedback and reassurance from others (like a therapist or parent), as well as the mysterious healing power of time to help the mind restore a sense of equanimity. Reconnecting with the natural order of the world, reinstating routines that give structure to life, and finding respite in the arts may help you make sense of life again. Although the inability to make sense of your life can detract from the experience of meaning, simply making sense of it doesn’t necessarily mean that life will feel meaningful. It is easy, for example, to think of an individual who possesses a cynical belief about how their life has unfolded. This worldview may help the individual make sense of their situation and life more broadly, but it seems unlikely to foster the belief that their life is full of meaning. This example illustrates how meaning is not simply about “connecting the dots” but also finding beauty in the picture that emerges. ## Imbuing life with a sense of purpose “Clear eyes, full hearts (can’t lose)” was the mantra of the Dillon Panthers, the fictitious football team familiar to fans of the popular TV show “Friday Night Lights.” One reason clearing one’s eyes, and subsequently filling one’s heart, is a successful strategy for football players and, perhaps, everyone is that people in this psychological state can pursue their goals with a greater sense of [purpose](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/purpose/definition). Feeling a sense of purpose helps us sustain motivation though the thick and thin of everyday life, and purposeful people tend to [be more satisfied with their lives and even live longer](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4224996/). Purpose, therefore, is tied to both the quality and quantity of our existence. One factor that facilitates purposeful action is possessing a clear reason for engaging in whatever you are doing. Knowing the “why” of your actions can infuse even trivial behaviors with value. Nietzsche famously noted that the person “who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” By developing a clear reason for pursuing a goal, the “how” of your goal-directed actions becomes more tolerable (and often more enjoyable) because those actions are now connected with a more long-term objective. For example, although most students would rather socialize with friends than study before an exam, clearly understanding that this minor hedonic sacrifice will help them obtain a rewarding job down the line should make it easier to commit to exam prep. - ![Looking down at legs and shoes with colorful arrows painted on the ground below them going in all directions](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/life_crafting_-_abcdef_-_e30273958feebcf3bc3aec1d952e0f6f34035a9c.webp) ### Life Crafting Sharpen your sense of purpose by defining and committing to your goals [Try It Now](https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/life_crafting) Even as your nose is firmly “to the grindstone,” clear eyes can be trained on a broader life dream. The overarching reason for existence can be found in “God’s plan” or a life calling, but a sense of the why of behaviors is not limited to such grand experiences. Taking time to reflect on your life dreams—to write the next chapters of your [life story](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_will_the_theme_of_your_life_be_this_year)—can help to connect everyday life and daily goals to broader aspirations. Instead of wandering aimlessly, having “clear eyes” gives you a sense of direction and the motivation (a full heart) to help you achieve your goals and allow those accomplishments to imbue your life with meaning. Some reasons for goal pursuit may be better than others, though. A person who feels they should perform a task only because their supervisor asked them to do it is unlikely to enjoy a sense of purpose while performing that work. Instead, purposeful behaviors are by definition pursued for more intrinsic reasons, often related to core aspects of one’s identity. For example, people may volunteer at a homeless shelter for various reasons, but the person who does so because they feel their actions are consistent with an internalized value of helping others in need are more likely to derive a sense of purpose from the experience. The capacity of meaning to allow us to wake up every morning and do what needs to be done requires that meaning be present even in suffering. And this is where a sense of purpose is powerful. Although all human lives matter, they all also end and, in the grand scheme, may not hold the promise of a place in history, threatening our sense of significance. Similarly, although life very often makes sense, random, senseless events do occur that can destabilize our sense of coherence—from natural disasters to random acts of horrific violence. But purpose may be the facet of meaning that is least dependent on happenstance. No matter the circumstance, purpose—the capacity to invest in goals—is available, promising to imbue life with meaning. Although it may be common folklore that ardently searching for, and effortfully creating, meaning in life is the primary way to truly experience this sought-after feeling, research suggests that most of the time meaning is actually quite easy to detect. Trying to understand why our life is meaningful may serve a function when life becomes incomprehensible, but ultimately it may never yield a satisfying answer. Meaning is not just found in one place. It is all around us—in our relationships, work, and spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as through the appreciating of life itself. ![GreaterGood Tiny Logo](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/css/images/temp/logo-small.png) Greater Good wants to know: Do you think this article will influence your opinions or behavior? Submitting your rating ## About the Authors - [![Headshot of Joshua A. Hicks](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/avatar_366316_-_abcdef_-_6dbad40fc7c0e0ea5adee881f79d46c1ebd7cefa.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/joshua_hicks) ### [Joshua A. Hicks](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/joshua_hicks) Joshua A. Hicks, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A\&M University. His primary lines of research focus on the experience of meaning in life, authenticity, and true-self knowledge. - [![Headshot of Laura A. King](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/avatar_366319_-_abcdef_-_6dbad40fc7c0e0ea5adee881f79d46c1ebd7cefa.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/laura_king) ### [Laura A. King](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/laura_king) Laura A. King, Ph.D., is the Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri. ## You May Also Enjoy - [![A woman stands on a porch, holding a coffee cup and smiling, with a backdrop of trees and greenery](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/woman_on_porch_with_coffee_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_you_should_prioritize_meaning_in_your_everyday_life) ### [Why You Should Prioritize Meaning in Your Everyday Life](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_you_should_prioritize_meaning_in_your_everyday_life) By [Pninit Russo-Netzer](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/pninit_russo_netzer) \\| March 6, 2019 - [![](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/2016-17-small_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_will_the_theme_of_your_life_be_this_year) ### [What Will the Theme of Your Life Be in the Next Year?](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_will_the_theme_of_your_life_be_this_year) By [Kira M. Newman](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/kira_newman) \\| December 30, 2016 - [![](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/soup_kitchen_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_helping_others_help_you_find_meaning_in_life) ### [Can Helping Others Help You Find Meaning in Life?](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_helping_others_help_you_find_meaning_in_life) By [Elizabeth Hopper](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/elizabeth_hopper) \\| February 16, 2016 - [![](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/flowers_sun_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_keys_to_a_meaningful_life) ### [The Four Keys to a Meaningful Life](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_keys_to_a_meaningful_life) By [Jill Suttie](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/jill_suttie) \\| January 20, 2017 - [![](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/purple_sunset_fb_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_are_the_building_blocks_of_a_meaningful_life) ### [What Are the Building Blocks of a Meaningful Life?](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_are_the_building_blocks_of_a_meaningful_life) By [Jenara Nerenberg](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/jenara_nerenberg) \\| March 7, 2017 - [![Hand holding up compass with mountains in the background](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/seven_ways_to_find_your_purpose_in_life_-_abcdef_-_d4dfd41eda04fb84f6ac88dd019e2a7b5d603539.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_ways_to_find_your_purpose_in_life) ### [Seven Ways to Find Your Purpose in Life](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_ways_to_find_your_purpose_in_life) By [Jill Suttie](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/profile/jill_suttie) \\| August 6, 2020 ## Comments Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.](http://disqus.com/?ref_noscript=greatergood) - ### - ### Related Articles - [![Five Steps to Help Kids Transform Anger Into a Force for Good](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/five_steps_to_help_kids_transform_anger_into_a_force_for_good_-_abcdef_-_887d54d4ba37096d099b6a2acd511597c8dba22e.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_steps_to_help_kids_transform_anger_into_a_force_for_good) #### [Five Steps to Help Kids Transform Anger Into a Force for Good](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_steps_to_help_kids_transform_anger_into_a_force_for_good) March 23, 2026 With some help and awareness, children can channel anger into clarity, caring, and action. - #### [Can You Really Become Addicted to Love or Sex?](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_you_really_become_addicted_to_love_or_sex) March 16, 2026 While sex can become compulsive and problematic for some people, there is little research on love as a true addiction. - #### [Am I Doing This Right? School-Aged Kids Edition](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/am_i_doing_this_right_school_aged_kids_edition) March 4, 2026 Research-backed insights from renowned experts to everyday questions about raising kids in middle childhood. - ### Take the Purpose in Life Quiz [![Purpose in Life Quiz](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/seven_ways_to_find_your_purpose_in_life_-_abcdef_-_887d54d4ba37096d099b6a2acd511597c8dba22e.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/purpose_in_life) Do you have a long-term goal that's meaningful to yourself and the world? [Take the Quiz](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/purpose_in_life) - ### [Five Families Who Learned How to Bridge Differences Together](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/item/five_families_who_learned_how_s_to_bridge_differences_together) [![Five Families Who Learned How to Bridge Differences Together](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/screenshot_2025-11-17_at_2_01_01_pm_-_abcdef_-_6eee4894b00241b043264d0ae6b70bb7ac0e2d6a.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/video/item/five_families_who_learned_how_s_to_bridge_differences_together) In this video from our Bridging Differences for Parents and Teens series, learn how five families fostered skills for dialogue and understanding across group lines. - ### [Happiness Break: A Meditation For When You Have Too Much To Do](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/happiness_break_a_meditation_for_when_you_have_too_much_to_do_repeat) [![Happiness Break: A Meditation For When You Have Too Much To Do](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/6_12_25_soh_hb_kia_afcari_-_abcdef_-_6eee4894b00241b043264d0ae6b70bb7ac0e2d6a.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/happiness_break_a_meditation_for_when_you_have_too_much_to_do_repeat) Does your to-do list feel endless? Try this short, guided practice to help you reflect, reconnect, and release the pressure to do it all perfectly. The Greater Good Science Center studies the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being, and teaches skills that foster a thriving, resilient, and compassionate society. - [About this site](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/about) - [Masthead](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/about/masthead) - [Contact](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/contact) - [Donate](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/donate) [Berkeley: University of California](http://www.berkeley.edu/) © 2026 The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley Developed by [Hop Studios Hop Studios](https://www.hopstudios.com/) Designed by [Project6 Project6](https://www.project6.com/?utm_source=greatergood&utm_medium=client&utm_campaign=footer_link "Designed by Project6 Design, a San Francisco Bay Area website design firm") [Accessibility](https://dac.berkeley.edu/web-accessibility) \\| [Nondiscrimination](https://ophd.berkeley.edu/policies-and-procedures/nondiscrimination-policy-statement) \\| [Privacy Policy](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/privacy) \\| [Consent Preferences](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life) - [Twitter](http://twitter.com/GreaterGoodSC) - [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Greater-Good-Science-Center/83163029449) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/greatergoodscience) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-greater-good-science-center/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/greatergoodmag/%20) ✓ Thanks for sharing\! [AddToAny](https://www.addtoany.com/ "Share Buttons") [More…](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life#addtoany "Show all")
Readable Markdown	Feeling that your life has meaning is fundamental to the experience of being human, and people who feel this way tend to be [healthier and happier](https://www.pnas.org/content/116/4/1207). Given the importance that most people place on meaning, how might we cultivate the feeling that life is meaningful? ![](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/three_pathways_to_meaning_in_life-1x_-_abcdef_-_17a46d79eb5ed7dd269e9126740882c1a2cac088.webp) For most of the 20th century, philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists argued that meaning in life is a rare, profound experience, attainable through an active search, deep self-reflection, or some other arduous way of creating meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. But we now know that most people, most of the time, [report](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2014-03265-001) that their lives feel more meaningful than not. Although actively constructing meaning may be required in some cases—for example, when your world is turned upside down after a traumatic event—cultivating meaning in life may be as simple as detecting the meaning that is already there. Researchers’ [definitions](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32898466/) of meaning in life typically incorporate three themes: the belief that your life and contributions matter to others and yourself, the feeling that your life makes sense, and the feeling that you are actively pursuing fulfilling goals. Other [research](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-00523-001) further corroborates the idea that significance (mattering), coherence (making sense), and purpose (orienting toward goals) represent three interrelated facets of, or perhaps direct pathways to, the experience of meaning in life. Advertisement X [![](https://ggsc.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/images/ggsc_happiness_calendar_jan_2026_-_abcdef_-_4f40627156999ff67452b2ecdb6a2d5158e32b5d.webp)](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/your_happiness_calendar_for_january_2026) Based on those three pathways, here are some relatively simple things you can do to maintain or enhance your experience of meaning in life. ## The experience of significance in life There is great comfort in believing that your life and actions matter in the grand scheme of things. This conviction is referred to as “[existential mattering](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1037/gpr0000077)” and is a strong component of the experience of meaning in life. While the concept of existential mattering often evokes images of famous (and infamous) people who have done extraordinary things in their lives—like Mother Theresa, Cesar Chavez, or Bill Gates—many people gain a sense of mattering through avenues more easily traversed. [Research](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jopy.12215) shows that feeling that you have made a positive influence on others is, unsurprisingly, almost always associated with the belief that your life is meaningful. Existential mattering then is often rooted in a sense that you matter to others—from [helping strangers in need](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/can_helping_others_help_you_find_meaning_in_life) and providing social support to loved ones, to simply being a reliable friend. The feeling that your life is significant is related to more than feeling that your actions are influential to others. Significance is augmented when your behaviors, or experiences more broadly, matter to yourself. This aspect of significance is related to psychiatrist Viktor Frankl’s [idea](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080701429X?ie=UTF8&tag=gregooscicen-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=080701429X) of finding beauty and meaning in life through lived experience. For example, the experience of meaningfulness can be found by enjoying riveting musical performances, being in awe of natural beauty, or simply appreciating an authentic interaction with another person. One way to perceive more significance in your life is to actively seek out intrinsically rewarding experiences, like (re)connecting with nature or people who make it easy to express your true self. Moreover, many cognitive or emotional regulation strategies, such as practicing [mindfulness](https://ggia.berkeley.edu/#filters=mindfulness), savoring the positive aspects of situations, [cultivating a grateful disposition](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_great_gratitude_strategies), or learning to [evaluate your experiences more positively](https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/finding_silver_linings), naturally foster the detection of significance in your life experiences. Although such experiences may lead the self to feel small in the context of vastness, they may also remind us that we belong to that vastness—that we are an indelible part of the wider universe in which we exist. ## Sensing coherence Coherence is the feeling that your life makes sense. For most people, most of the time, understanding life isn’t a problem requiring a solution. We are natural sense makers, automatically comprehending most situations effortlessly. In fact, a likely reason we don’t think about meaning in life too much is that our lives simply feel right (that is, things simply make sense). Our lives are embedded in a natural world characterized by regularities—sunrises and sunsets. We overlay these regularities with our own routines—morning coffee or an evening walk. The regularities of life provide the rhythms that undergird the feeling that life is meaningful. Of course, life does not always make sense. For example, you may feel a sense of incomprehensibility after experiencing trauma or, counterintuitively, trying too hard to understand why your life has meaning. Of all of the facets of meaning, coherence likely represents a basic psychological need. Similar to the anguish we feel when our need to belong is thwarted, our world seems to fall apart when things suddenly do not make sense. Restoring a sense of coherence during these times can be challenging and often requires feedback and reassurance from others (like a therapist or parent), as well as the mysterious healing power of time to help the mind restore a sense of equanimity. Reconnecting with the natural order of the world, reinstating routines that give structure to life, and finding respite in the arts may help you make sense of life again. Although the inability to make sense of your life can detract from the experience of meaning, simply making sense of it doesn’t necessarily mean that life will feel meaningful. It is easy, for example, to think of an individual who possesses a cynical belief about how their life has unfolded. This worldview may help the individual make sense of their situation and life more broadly, but it seems unlikely to foster the belief that their life is full of meaning. This example illustrates how meaning is not simply about “connecting the dots” but also finding beauty in the picture that emerges. ## Imbuing life with a sense of purpose “Clear eyes, full hearts (can’t lose)” was the mantra of the Dillon Panthers, the fictitious football team familiar to fans of the popular TV show “Friday Night Lights.” One reason clearing one’s eyes, and subsequently filling one’s heart, is a successful strategy for football players and, perhaps, everyone is that people in this psychological state can pursue their goals with a greater sense of [purpose](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/purpose/definition). Feeling a sense of purpose helps us sustain motivation though the thick and thin of everyday life, and purposeful people tend to [be more satisfied with their lives and even live longer](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4224996/). Purpose, therefore, is tied to both the quality and quantity of our existence. One factor that facilitates purposeful action is possessing a clear reason for engaging in whatever you are doing. Knowing the “why” of your actions can infuse even trivial behaviors with value. Nietzsche famously noted that the person “who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” By developing a clear reason for pursuing a goal, the “how” of your goal-directed actions becomes more tolerable (and often more enjoyable) because those actions are now connected with a more long-term objective. For example, although most students would rather socialize with friends than study before an exam, clearly understanding that this minor hedonic sacrifice will help them obtain a rewarding job down the line should make it easier to commit to exam prep. Even as your nose is firmly “to the grindstone,” clear eyes can be trained on a broader life dream. The overarching reason for existence can be found in “God’s plan” or a life calling, but a sense of the why of behaviors is not limited to such grand experiences. Taking time to reflect on your life dreams—to write the next chapters of your [life story](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_will_the_theme_of_your_life_be_this_year)—can help to connect everyday life and daily goals to broader aspirations. Instead of wandering aimlessly, having “clear eyes” gives you a sense of direction and the motivation (a full heart) to help you achieve your goals and allow those accomplishments to imbue your life with meaning. Some reasons for goal pursuit may be better than others, though. A person who feels they should perform a task only because their supervisor asked them to do it is unlikely to enjoy a sense of purpose while performing that work. Instead, purposeful behaviors are by definition pursued for more intrinsic reasons, often related to core aspects of one’s identity. For example, people may volunteer at a homeless shelter for various reasons, but the person who does so because they feel their actions are consistent with an internalized value of helping others in need are more likely to derive a sense of purpose from the experience. The capacity of meaning to allow us to wake up every morning and do what needs to be done requires that meaning be present even in suffering. And this is where a sense of purpose is powerful. Although all human lives matter, they all also end and, in the grand scheme, may not hold the promise of a place in history, threatening our sense of significance. Similarly, although life very often makes sense, random, senseless events do occur that can destabilize our sense of coherence—from natural disasters to random acts of horrific violence. But purpose may be the facet of meaning that is least dependent on happenstance. No matter the circumstance, purpose—the capacity to invest in goals—is available, promising to imbue life with meaning. Although it may be common folklore that ardently searching for, and effortfully creating, meaning in life is the primary way to truly experience this sought-after feeling, research suggests that most of the time meaning is actually quite easy to detect. Trying to understand why our life is meaningful may serve a function when life becomes incomprehensible, but ultimately it may never yield a satisfying answer. Meaning is not just found in one place. It is all around us—in our relationships, work, and spiritual and religious beliefs, as well as through the appreciating of life itself.
Shard	5 (laksa)
Root Hash	12957858574685170805
Unparsed URL	edu,berkeley!greatergood,/article/item/three_ways_to_see_meaning_in_your_life s443