Make life more meaningful with a meaning map and meaning menu

What makes life meaningful?

I know the answer to that for me. But for you? I have no idea.

Even though I have explored that question in depth with many people over the years, I don’t have the hubris to think I have the faintest clue what would make your life meaningful.

Meaning is a tremendously individual thing, and telling you how to experience it best is a bit like telling you what flavor of ice cream you should like.

(Although, come on – salted caramel, right?)

While I can’t point to any one thing, I can point to a wide array of common sources of meaning to get you started.

Meaning Map: Potential meaning sources

The following list is a distillation of the areas that have come up in my coaching work around meaning and the writing and research I have explored along the way. To begin your exploration, consider these categories, each of which offers a potential vehicle to experience meaning in your life. 

I think of it as creating your own meaning map.

Making a difference: Having a positive impact in the world.

Connection to others: Relationships with other people.

Connection to something greater: Feeling connected to something beyond your own self, whether that is a movement, a cause, or a spiritual connection.

Authentic living: Making your life an expression of who you are and what makes you tick.

Passion: Doing work that leaves you feeling energized and alive.

Values alignment: Living your life in alignment with your core values.

Creative expression: Giving your creativity a vehicle to express itself.

Vision: Working toward a vision that inspires you.

Achievement (goals, challenges, mastery): Reaching for things beyond your current reach and achieving them.

Learning and growing: Expanding in your knowledge, capabilities, and awareness.

Love: Coming from a place of love and engaging the world from the heart.

Make life a spiritual practice: Using the events of life as a way to embody your spirituality.

While these are all common themes, you’ll likely resonate more with some than others.

You could do a deep dive into all of the categories on the list, but that might prove overwhelming. So to start, pick the ones that have the biggest charge for you. Aim to select three to five of them, a small enough number that you can dig deep into each.

You’re creating a preliminary lump-of-clay version of your own personal meaning map, to be further refined as you get more insight over time.

Make a meaning menu

Once you understand your own personal meaning map, you can start asking this simple question:

Where are the opportunities for me to bring more of this into my life?

Brainstorm as many ideas as you can, and continue to add to the list over time. Think of it as a “meaning menu” that you can choose from.

Some of the items on the menu might be simple and easily implementable (like making a difference by sincerely complimenting someone, or giving them positive feedback on something they have done that you admire).

Other things might be more involved (like committing to learning a skill you aspire to master, or starting to cultivate a network of like-minded people to help you move towards a long-term vision).

The key is awareness. The more aware you are of the endless possibilities for engaging in what feels meaningful, the greater the potential to weave meaning into the fabric of your days. (This is a great example of how taking a pointillistic approach to life can be applied.)

Notice and savor what’s already there

It’s also worth noting that finding more meaning in your life isn’t just about looking for new things to incorporate. It’s also about recognizing what’s already there, acknowledging it, and experiencing it more fully.

Noticing what’s there is a great first step. But if you want to turn up the volume on the meaning you experience, go a step beyond to stop and savor. Regularly recognize what’s there. Soak up how it makes you feel.

Even before you make any changes or additions to your life, I’m willing to bet you can find existing sources of meaning. Start there, and build on it.

A final note

As I see it, meaning doesn’t come from a solid, monolithic source. It is the sum total of many things, some big and dramatic, and some small and easily missed unless you’re actively noticing.

Your goal with all of this isn’t to find <cue the trumpet fanfare> The Meaning of Life (said with a booming announcer’s voice). It’s to weave the meaning of life into your days, one thread, one strand at a time.