Meaning of Life - From Personal Insights into the Universal Perspective

Have you already found the meaning of your life?

If so, congratulations!

Many of us are still searching for it, and even more have changed it, more than once. We are searching for answers because we are not satisfied with the explanation that we have won the grand prize in the lottery of life. We want our lives to have greater purpose and more meaning than just living, enjoying, sometimes grieving, and eventually dying. 

Our values ​​and possibilities to control our lives change. That is why each of us stops to reflect on life, perhaps questioning our previous reflections and seeing things in a new way; Is there a greater reason for my existence?

Why do I exist? At this very time? Or am I just a consequence of the reproduction of my parents and ancestors, the result of a long chain of events without any particular purpose? Just like our species, our planet, and our universe. The probability of each of us existing is unimaginably small, and yet we were born. The wonder of it prompts us to think and search for a more profound reason, even if there is none. 

We can reflect on the matter on an individual level; what is the purpose of my life, or on a more general level, what is the purpose of life and existence in general, why are we, our species, our planet, our galaxy here, and why does the entire universe exist? We can also consider why we are thinking about it at all; why don't we just live?

Let's start with the last question: why do we think about our existence? The reason for this is that we are conscious, we are aware of ourselves and our existence. We are aware of the finiteness of life and of everything we will lose when we die. Many of us find it difficult to accept this. We rebel against the brevity of life and yearn for it to continue in some way. It is no wonder that many want to believe that life continues in some form after death. The thought of everything coming to an end, of losing everything, can be overwhelming. It is precisely this oppressive feeling that forces us to think and find a solution that would alleviate the anxiety. Many find relief through religion. When you believe in the continuation of life after death, free from all physical problems, and the possibility of seeing loved ones again, it is a relief for many to cling to. 

However, not everyone can believe in a kind creature or the continuation of life after death. Accepting the finiteness of life is a tough choice for many. On the other hand, accepting it can contribute to living a happier life right now, when it is time. You don't have to wait to get to heaven to find happiness. You don't have to suffer to be able to rejoice in heaven. The time for a happy life is now, not after death. 

So, how do you find happiness and the purpose of your own life? 

Finding the purpose of life and happiness is a personal matter. Everyone must find their own path. We all have different needs that we seek to satisfy, through which we find joy, harmony, and purpose in our lives. For some, small, simple moments of happiness shared with loved ones are enough, while others yearn for power, wealth, and success. Some are happy helping other people, others when they belong to a community, and some when they complete something. Above all, something meaningful, something that satisfies our needs, gives our lives purpose. 

Our life situations and opportunities to influence our lives vary. Not everyone achieves a prestigious career despite trying their hardest. Not everyone finds a life partner or has children despite their desires. Some, on the other hand, have lost the meaning of life they have already found and search again. When we fail, we get frustrated. Today, it is increasingly challenging to succeed, no matter how much we want to. It is no wonder that some people get depressed when goals seem impossible to achieve and finding new goals difficult. As a result, some are tired of searching for the meaning of life and conclude, like a nihilist, that nothing really matters, but we are all going to die anyway. 

In addition to the meaning of personal life, we can also consider why our species or even the entire universe exists. Is there a greater reason for the existence of the universe, or has it always existed? 

Based on current knowledge, the universe we know is approximately 13.8 billion years old. We can only speculate about what was before that; it is obvious it didn't just pop out of nowhere. Of course, someone could say that god created it "out of nothing", to which one could answer: where did god come from? Either way of thinking leads to the concept of eternity, i.e., that the universe (whether there was a god in it or not) as an infinite space has always existed, and the part we know of it is just under 14 billion years old—more on this topic on the multiverse page. 

So why does our species exist? 

As a scientist, I naturally have a scientific explanation for this. Like all other species, we are the result of natural selection. Over millions of years, it has removed individuals with particular traits from our ancestors, and, on the other hand, individuals with specific characteristics have survived better, lived longer, and thus reproduced more. Therefore, the next generation had more of these characteristics, and the next generation even more, and so on. We are talking about millions of years during which a group of furry primates were forced to descend to the ground due to the decline of forests. Those that survived best were those tall enough to notice beasts, watering places, and food sources, and had the best ingenuity and adaptability. As a result, our ancestors became increasingly upright, learned to exploit new resources, and adapted even more effectively to their new environment. So we are just a consequence of the past. We can't do anything about it, but we can influence the future, and that's the best thing!

Summa summarum, the key to the meaning of life lies within each of us. It is a journey within oneself, a journey to discover what is essential to oneself. Often, it requires the help of other people in the form of new insights and support. Sometimes it takes a lot of work, time, and energy. Accepting your limitations and understanding your importance can be challenging in the midst of all the chaos, but finding a connection with yourself is always worthwhile and never too late.

Summa summarum, the key to the meaning of life is found within each of us. It is a journey inside, a journey to discover what is essential. Often, it requires the help of other people in the form of new insights and support. Sometimes it takes a lot of work, time, and energy. Accepting your limitations and understanding your significance can be challenging in the midst of all the chaos, but finding a connection with yourself is always worthwhile and never too late.