🛤️ In seeking to understand the lenses we use to make sense of life, I realised why none quite do
The human condition is to search and we do it via these 12 lenses.
What does living life in a fulfilling sense mean to each of us? In my interview series, Embarking on Eudaimonia, I interview others to tap into each person’s wisdom about life.
Based on my research, from an analytical point of view, there are 12 lenses through which we search for meaning in life. Yet, when you view this list, it is obvious something is missing. It feels like I have all the components of the body, but there is no life in it. The heart is there but not beating.
Be it a soul or life-energy, it is this that is missing. This drive that humans uniquely have propels us. It is why we write, paint, travel, dream, and read. We are trying to make sense of things, and in doing so, we search for answers about how to place it all in our lives and our lives in it all.
This desire to make sense of, understand, and explain to ourselves is part of the human condition. Desire is part of us, not something to be extinguished. It is part of us like the heart and isn’t something that can ultimately be satisfied.
Longing, wondering, searching… drive us to look through the lenses. It isn’t the lens; it is why we look.
In talking to others and in my experience, I find that while there isn’t a single definable answer to our longing, the searching itself can be satisfying. Peace can be found in the exploration. And as you explore, you may find yourself looking through one of these lenses:
1. Philosophical Inquiry
Philosophy involves critical thinking and questioning fundamental aspects of life, such as the nature of reality, existence, and morality. Philosophers explore concepts like purpose, ethics, and consciousness to understand life's deeper meaning.
2. Religious and Spiritual Beliefs
Religious and spiritual practices provide frameworks for understanding life through the lens of faith, rituals, and divine guidance. Many find meaning through beliefs in God, a higher power, an afterlife, and spiritual growth.
3. Scientific Exploration
Science seeks to explain the natural world through observation, experimentation, and evidence-based conclusions. By understanding the physical universe, biological processes, and human behaviour, people find logical and empirical explanations for life's phenomena.
4. Artistic Expression
Art allows individuals to explore and express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Through mediums like painting, music, literature, and dance, people interpret and convey their understanding of life and its complexities.
5. Psychological Self-Reflection
Psychology offers insights into human behaviour, cognition, and emotions. Through self-reflection, therapy, and introspection, individuals better understand their motivations and relationships, contributing to a sense of meaning.
6. Cultural and Social Practices
Cultural traditions and social norms shape individuals' perspectives on life. Participating in communal rituals, customs, and shared values helps people find a sense of belonging and purpose within their community.
7. Existential Exploration
Existentialism focuses on individual freedom, choice, and responsibility. It emphasizes the creation of personal meaning through authentic experiences and the acknowledgment of life's inherent uncertainties.
8. Literature and Storytelling
Stories, myths, and literature offer narratives that explore human existence, morality, and destiny. Through storytelling, people reflect on life's lessons, challenges, and the human condition, finding meaning in shared narratives.
9. Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation practices encourage present-moment awareness and self-acceptance. By cultivating a deeper connection with the present, individuals often find clarity, peace, and a sense of purpose.
10. Human Connections
Relationships with family, friends, and loved ones provide significant meaning and fulfilment. Through emotional bonds, empathy, and support, individuals find purpose and a sense of belonging.
11. Career and Achievement
For many, professional success and personal achievements contribute to a sense of purpose. Pursuing goals, overcoming challenges, and contributing to society through work are ways people derive meaning from their lives.
12. Nature and the Environment
Connecting with nature and the environment offers a sense of awe and interconnectedness. Experiencing the natural world can inspire a sense of wonder and place within the larger ecosystem of life.
Have I missed any?
How many different lenses have you looked through?
Are there any other ways you look for meaning/fulfilment?
How do you live with the longing of the human condition?
We are trying to make sense of things, and in doing so, we search for answers about how to place it all in our lives and our lives in it all.
Ta Hiron - Notes My Heart Wrote
I'm not sure if this a lens as such but I would say the place in which you want to be; whether it be that you want that to be nomadic or constantly changing, or one place that you feel is the right place that you'd never want to leave.
I've found lately that it's the process of striving toward something that brings me "happiness" or "contentment" or a certain sense of purpose or meaning. It's not the achievement of the thing. There's a phenomenon that is widely known among Olympic athletes; that of a let-down, almost a depression or malaise after attending the games. They worked so hard, sometimes all their lives, to get there, and then afterwards, they have a sense of "now what?" The striving before hand was what gave them their purpose and direction. It's the same thing with things like weddings, vacations, getting a job, graduating. I don't know yet, but it might even be that way with publishing a book. I read recently that the happiest you are on a two week vacation is Day 4. After that, it's down hill. The dread of returning to work and regular life pulls more powerfully each day. I relate to all of these lenses you list, and have found meaning in my life through all of them at different times, but the learning, experimenting, striving, and practicing is more instrumental in day-to-day meaning than in finally "arriving."