The Question of Meaning
Have you ever stared at the ceiling late at night, your mind spinning with the question, What’s the point of it all? I have. Countless times. I’d get stuck in this endless loop of thoughts, overwhelmed by the vastness of the universe and how extremely small my place in it really is.
When you think about it, we’re here for such a short time. We’re born, we live, and then we’re gone. On the grand scale of things, in billions of years of cosmic history, our existence feels like nothing more than a brief moment, a blink in the endless stretch of time. It feels eye-opening, but also terrifying. Honestly, I don’t see much meaning in this little existence.
However, I realized that even with those thoughts, life doesn’t have to be meaningless to ourselves. In fact, the quest for meaning might be exactly what makes life worth living, even if we never find a grand answer.
The Freedom of a Life Without Purpose
The idea that life has no inherent purpose can actually feel freeing. If there’s no ultimate goal, no cosmic plan, then we could live however we wanted, right? There’s something comforting in that thought, like the pressure to “get it right” has been lifted. But like it often does to me, that same thought can start weighing on you. If nothing matters, why should I care about anything at all? Why try, why dream, why hope? It’s like staring into a deep, dark emptiness that swallows up everything you’d ever cared about. The longer you stay in that headspace, the harder it becomes to see a way out.
In these moments, it can feel as if the search for meaning only deepens the void, like chasing a shadow that’s always just out of reach. It’s tempting to throw your hands up and resign yourself to the emptiness. But here’s what I’ve come to understand: perhaps the purpose of life isn’t about searching for an ultimate answer, but rather finding small ways to make it meaningful to ourselves, in the here and now.
Creating Your Own Purpose
At some point in my life, I realized, that if life doesn’t come with a built-in purpose, it doesn’t mean I can’t create one. It doesn’t mean I can’t decide what matters to me and build my life around that. So that’s what I started doing. I began by looking inward, asking myself what really made me feel alive. Not what I thought should matter, or what other people told me to focus on, but the things that genuinely lit a spark in my soul.
It’s an empowering thought, knowing that we have the power to decide what our life stands for. Sure, the world is chaotic, and the universe may not care about our individual struggles, but we don’t have to wait for some higher purpose to validate us. We can carve out our own sense of meaning by following the things that bring us joy, fulfillment, and connection.
Finding Meaning in Small Things
Some people think purpose has to be this big, grand thing, something life-changing and monumental. But I personally think we should look for purpose more in the smallest, simplest moments. They’re not life-changing, but they’re life-giving. It’s in the act of sipping a warm cup of tea in the morning, the peaceful silence of watching a sunrise, or the comforting connection shared with a friend.
For me, spending time in nature is where this meaning becomes most clear. There’s something magical about standing under a canopy of trees, hearing leaves whisper in the wind, or feeling the salty breeze of the ocean against my skin. In those moments, I feel alive, connected to a world that’s chaotic yet breathtakingly beautiful. It’s my reminder to slow down, to breathe, and to let go of the need to have everything figured out.
Music is another source of magic. There’s nothing quite like the way a song can hit you right in the heart, perfectly capturing what words can’t. Sometimes, I’ll play the same track on repeat, just to hold onto the feeling it gives me a little longer. It’s like a bridge, connecting me to myself, to others, and to the shared experiences that make us human.
And then there’s dancing, not necessarily the polished, choreographed kind, but the free, unfiltered movement where it’s just me and the rhythm. It doesn’t matter if there’s music or silence; it’s about letting go, feeling alive, and expressing myself in a way words never could.
These moments might seem insignificant, but they’re everything. They’re the sparks that light the fire of meaning, even on days when life feels heavy. They remind us, that sometimes, the most profound purpose comes from simply being and finding joy in the present.
The Importance of Focusing on the Positive
Another thing I’ve learned is how important it is to focus on the positive, even when life feels heavy and meaningless. That doesn’t mean pretending everything’s okay when it’s not. It doesn’t mean ignoring the pain or pretending the hard times don’t exist. In fact, acknowledging the pain is an essential part of living a meaningful life. But for me, positivity is about choosing to see the good, even when it’s small. It’s about holding onto the things that make life brighter, even when the world feels dark.
When we choose to notice the beauty around us, whether in nature, human connection, or simple pleasures, we begin to weave meaning into the fabric of our existence. The process of creating purpose may not look grand, but it’s meaningful all the same.
Conclusion: Living with Meaning
I don’t have all the answers. I’m still figuring this whole “purpose” thing out as I go. But here’s what I know so far: Life doesn’t have to come with a predetermined purpose to be meaningful. The meaning we find or create can be just as beautiful, just as real. Purpose isn’t some elusive concept waiting for us to stumble upon it. It’s something we cultivate through our actions, our passions, and our willingness to live fully in the present.
It’s about seeking out the things that make our hearts race and holding onto the people who make us feel seen and loved. It’s about finding joy in the everyday and allowing ourselves to dream, even when the future feels uncertain. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to have meaning. And if we allow ourselves to embrace the beauty in the small things, we can find purpose even in the most uncertain times.
The purpose of all this doesn’t have to be written in the stars. It can be as simple as living in a way that makes you feel whole. And I think that’s more than enough.
Xx, Rose