10 definitions of the meaning of life

People have an innate desire to have meaningful lives.1 When researchers ask participants how they define meaning however, I wonder if the subjects even agree on what is being asked of them. When people say that they want meaning in life, what are they even talking about?

With a muddied idea of what you are searching for, there is little hope of finding it. And when you do stumble upon something meaningful, you may not even recognize it.

Defining the meaning of life

To help you on your way, here is a list of possible definitions of the meaning of life to consider:

1. Coherent narrative – To understand where we came from, what we are doing here, and where we are going.
2. Awe – The sense of wonder we feel toward objects and people that are greater than us.
3. Legacy – To build something that persists after you die or that continues forever.
4. Progeny – To procreate and raise the next generation (a form of Legacy).
5. Shared understanding – A mutual interpretation of things, ideas, or relationships between two or more people.2
6. Belonging – The feeling of being accepted as part of a group. To have close relationships.
7. Purpose – To have something to do and to accomplish. An objective to strive toward.
8. Superiority – To rise above others or to the top of one of many social hierarchies.
9. Ideology – To understand and accept a specific system of beliefs, be they religious, political, or cultural.
10. Usefulness – The belief that your life is worthwhile and that you matter to others.

Your conception of the meaning of life may combine a few of the definitions listed here. If you can come up with other ways to describe meaning, please send them my way. (And click here if you’re interested in exploring the differences between happiness and meaning.)

Of those listed above, which is your preferred definition of the meaning of life? Mine is something like Usefulness. I want my life to be of value to someone else because I have a history of contributing. People close to me should be a little better off than they would be without me. I also desire a coherent narrative, awe, legacy, progeny, shared understanding, belonging, and purpose.

Building on your definition 

Now that you’ve decided what a meaningful life is, here are a few ideas on how to shape one:

• If you seek a Coherent Narrative, study religious ideas.
• If you are searching for Awe, spend time in nature, with art, and in search of beauty.
• If you want a Legacy, build something lasting. Tackle a sticky problem.
• If you yearn for Progeny, work toward building and keeping a family.
• If you want Shared Understanding, discuss objects and ideas with others until you agree on shared meanings. Study cultures, languages, and history, and have deep conversations.
• If you strive for Belonging, seek out people. Build and repair relationships.
• If you seek Purpose, write down your goals for the day and march toward them.
• If you desire Superiority, enter some kind of competition, and dedicate your life to reaching the top of the hierarchy. Also, expect disappointment.
• If you are pursuing true Ideology, ask people what systems of belief have changed their lives for the better and experiment with what you learn.
• If you want to be Useful, evaluate what those around you need and work toward delivering something worthwhile. If that does not work, get a dog and care for it.

Making your life meaningful is so much more straightforward when you’ve defined your terms. It’s still work, but you can be deliberate in your quest for meaning.