Discover More Meaning in Your Life

MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING

Funnily enough this is the title of a really good book, by a guy called Viktor Frankl. I’ve summarised the main ways this links to meaning in positive psychology right at the end of this article.

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” — Nietzsche, quoted by Frankl

If you read this and follow some of the questions, you may begin to unravel more meaning in your life. I hope so.  

As you may know I’m starting a block of work with 9 lucky individuals this October. A big part of this is about positive psychology. The other major part is fixing your physiology, so we have a top and bottom approach to making you feel good about yourself. 

Personally, I think Freud was working along the right lines, love and work drive humans in the main. However, without sufficient energy, good luck in obtaining the best in each of these spheres. 

Energy building provides the spark for improved relationships and love; this will spin into your IKIGAI or work. Email me for more information. 

I will reply myself to each enquiry.

In positive psychology, meaning refers to living a life that feels purposeful, significant, and connected to something greater than yourself. It’s one of the core components of well-being, alongside elements like pleasure, engagement, relationships, and accomplishment (often described in the PERMA model developed by Martin Seligman).

Here’s a breakdown of what meaning involves:

1. Connection to a Greater Purpose

• Meaning arises when your actions are linked to something larger than personal gain — such as family, community, spirituality, service, or contribution to society.
• For example, a nurse may find meaning in caring for patients, while an artist may find it through creating work that inspires others.

2. Understanding and Coherence

• Meaning comes from making sense of life events, both good and bad.
• It helps you integrate experiences into a coherent story about who you are and why things happen, which is vital for resilience during difficult times.

3. Contribution and Legacy

• A meaningful life often involves giving back — through mentoring, helping others, building something lasting, or shaping future generations.
• It’s about leaving the world better than you found it.

4. Core Questions for Meaning

• Positive psychologists often explore meaning through questions like:
• What matters most to me?
• What impact do I want to have?
• How do my daily actions align with my deeper values?

5. Benefits of Meaning

Research shows that people who experience strong meaning in life tend to:

• Have better mental health, with lower rates of depression and anxiety.
• Show greater resilience, especially during trauma or stress.
• Experience higher life satisfaction and even longer lifespans.

Practical Ways to Cultivate Meaning

• Clarify your values: Identify what truly matters to you.
• Serve others: Volunteering or helping others often deepens purpose.
• Reflect on your story: Journaling about life events can help you find coherence.
• Align goals with purpose: Choose activities that express your core beliefs.

Here are reflective journaling prompts to help you explore and deepen your sense of meaning. These are designed to guide you through different layers of self-discovery, from understanding your past to creating a purposeful vision for your future.

1. Exploring Your Core Values

Purpose: Identify what truly matters to you at the deepest level.

• What three values feel most important to you right now, and why?
• When in your life have you felt most authentic or aligned with yourself?
• Think of someone you deeply admire. Which qualities do they embody that you also want to live by?
• What behaviours or choices make you proud of yourself?
• Which values, if removed from your life, would make you feel unanchored?

2. Finding Meaning in Past Experiences

Purpose: Understand how your life story has shaped your sense of purpose.

• Recall a difficult or painful experience. What did you learn about yourself through it?
• When have you felt deeply fulfilled, even if the moment was challenging or uncomfortable?
• Looking back, which events shaped who you are today the most?
• What themes or patterns do you notice across the chapters of your life?
• If your life were a book, what would the current chapter be called? What about the previous one?

3. Connecting to Something Larger

Purpose: Discover ways you feel part of a greater whole.

• What causes, communities, or groups do you feel deeply connected to or protective of?
• When have you felt like you were contributing to something bigger than yourself?
• What would you want to be remembered for by your loved ones or community?
• If you could dedicate the next year to one mission, what would it be?
• Where do you feel a sense of awe or reverence — nature, art, spirituality, relationships?

4. Living in Alignment with Purpose

Purpose: Bring meaning into everyday actions.

• What activities consistently leave you feeling energized and alive?
• How aligned do your current daily actions feel with your deepest values?
• (Rate 1–10 and reflect on any gaps.)
• What small action could you take this week to feel more purposeful?
• Imagine your ideal day ten years from now — what are you doing, who are you with, and how do you feel?
• What is one thing you need to stop doing to make room for what matters most?

5. Legacy and Future Vision

Purpose: Define the lasting impact you want to create.

• Imagine you’re at the end of your life looking back. What would make you say, “I lived fully”?
• What wisdom would you want to pass on to future generations?
• If you had to write a mission statement for your life, what would it say?
• What three things do you hope people will say about you at your 80th birthday celebration?
• What would you regret not doing if you never started?

Optional Exercise: The Meaning Map

Draw three concentric circles and label them:

1. Inner circle: “My core values” — write down your top 3–5 values.
2. Middle circle: “My daily actions” — list how you currently live these values.
3. Outer circle: “My greater impact” — note the ways you want to influence others or the world.

This visual will show where you are aligned and where there are gaps to explore.

Yes, meaning can be measured, though it’s complex because it involves subjective experiences. In positive psychology, researchers have developed several validated tools and scales to assess meaning in life. These measurements focus on two main aspects:

1. The presence of meaning – how much meaning a person feels they already have.
2. The search for meaning – how actively a person is seeking or trying to create meaning.

Below is a detailed overview of how meaning is measured, including psychological frameworks and practical applications.

1. Key Psychological Dimensions of Meaning

Meaning is typically measured across three core dimensions:

These three form the foundation of most modern meaning scales, helping to quantify a very subjective experience.

2. Common Measurement Tools

a) Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ)

• Developed by: Michael Steger (2006)
• Purpose: Measures both the presence of meaning and the search for meaning.
• Format: 10 questions, rated on a 7-point scale (from "Absolutely Untrue" to "Absolutely True").
• Example Items:
• Presence: “I understand my life’s meaning.”
• Search: “I am seeking a purpose or mission for my life.”
• Why it’s useful: Distinguishes between having meaning and actively looking for it, which can guide interventions.

b) Purpose in Life Test (PIL)

• Developed by: Crumbaugh & Maholick (1964)
• Basis: Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy concepts.
• Format: 20 items using a 7-point Likert scale.
• Focus: Strength of life purpose, motivation, and existential fulfilment.
• Example Question:
• “In life, I have: No clear goals or purpose (1) – Very clear goals and purpose (7).”

c) Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (SoMe)

• Developed by: Tatjana Schnell (2009)
• Purpose: Explores where meaning comes from.
• Domains measured:
• Vertical transcendence: Spirituality, religion, or connection to something divine.
• Horizontal transcendence: Relationships, community, legacy.
• Self-actualization: Personal growth, creativity, authenticity.
• Use Case: Great for coaching and therapy, as it reveals what areas to nurture.

d) PERMA Profiler

• Developed by: Martin Seligman (2011)
• Purpose: Assesses well-being across five pillars:
• Positive Emotion
• Engagement
• Relationships
• Meaning
• Accomplishment
• Benefit: Measures meaning within the broader context of a flourishing life.

3. Practical Self-Assessment

You can try a quick, informal self-rating to get a snapshot of your current meaning levels.

Instructions:
Rate each statement from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).

1. I understand my life’s purpose.
2. My life has a clear sense of direction.
3. I feel that my life matters to others.
4. I am actively looking for what gives my life meaning.
5. My daily activities reflect what’s most important to me.

Scoring:

• High total score: Strong presence of meaning.
• Low presence but high search: You are actively seeking meaning — a fertile state for growth.
• Low on both: May indicate a need for coaching, reflection, or psychological support.

4. Meaning in Coaching and Practice

Measuring meaning isn't just academic — it can guide practical interventions, for example:

• High presence of meaning
  → Reinforce habits that maintain purpose and fulfilment.
  → Help the individual expand impact and deepen their legacy.
• High search, low presence
  → Use journaling prompts, values clarification, and goal-setting to help them discover meaning.
• Low search and low presence
  → Focus on stabilizing mental health, exploring connections, and gradually introducing sources of significance.

5. Why Measuring Meaning Matters

Tracking meaning over time provides powerful insights:

• Resilience indicator: People with high meaning bounce back more easily from stress or trauma.
• Mental health marker: Lack of meaning is strongly correlated with depression, anxiety, and even physical illness.
• Growth trajectory: Changes in meaning can show whether a person is moving toward greater alignment and purpose.

There’s also this method of measuring meaning too:

Yes — the Personal Meaning Profile (PMP) by Paul T. P. Wong is a well-known instrument in positive psychology for assessing sources of meaning in someone’s life. (drpaulwong.com)

Here’s an overview of what it is, how it works, and how one might (ethically) get access or use it.

What is the Personal Meaning Profile (PMP)

• The PMP is a multi-dimensional questionnaire designed to measure how meaningful people perceive their lives to be, and where that meaning comes from. (drpaulwong.com)
• It consists of 57 items in its full version (sometimes called PMP-57) covering several “sources” or domains of meaning. (statistics.datanalysis.net)
• Domains include areas such as:
• Achievement (sense of success, fulfilling goals) (statistics.datanalysis.net)
• Relationship (meaning derived from interpersonal connections) (statistics.datanalysis.net)
• Self-transcendence / Altruism (helping others, being part of something larger) (statistics.datanalysis.net)
• Self-acceptance (accepting one’s strengths and weaknesses) (statistics.datanalysis.net)
• Intimacy (close relationships) (statistics.datanalysis.net)
• Spirituality / Religion (if relevant) (drpaulwong.com)
• There is also a brief version of the PMP (PMP-B) for quicker assessment. (Academia)

How It’s Used

• Typically used in research, clinical psychology, counselling, or coaching to identify what gives a person meaning, and to see where there may be gaps (domains less developed) that could be cultivated.
• It can help track changes over time (e.g. before and after interventions aimed at increasing life meaning).
• Can be compared with well-being, mental health, life satisfaction, etc., to see correlations.

Access, Permissions & Ethical Use

• The instrument is copyrighted; to use it in research or for official assessment, one usually needs permission from the author or publisher. (Psychology Roots)
• The full PMP-57 is fairly long; the brief version is more practical if wanting less burden. (Academia)

Arete (ἀρετή) is an ancient Greek concept that is central to classical philosophy, ethics, and the idea of human flourishing. It is often translated as “excellence” or “virtue,” but its meaning is richer and more nuanced than either word alone can capture.

Here’s a detailed breakdown:

1. Core Definition

• At its simplest, arete means fulfilling your highest potential by being excellent at what you are meant to be or do.
• It reflects the idea of living in accordance with your true nature and striving for the highest standard of personal and moral excellence.

Example:
The arete of a knife is to cut well.
The arete of a horse is to run swiftly and powerfully.
The arete of a human is to live well, guided by reason, courage, and virtue.

2. Greek Origins

• The word comes from the Greek root ar- (ἀρ-), meaning "good," "noble," or "fitting."
• In Homeric times, arete was closely tied to strength, courage, and skill in battle, especially for warriors and heroes.
• By the classical period (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), it evolved to encompass moral and intellectual virtues, not just physical prowess.

3. Arete in Greek Philosophy

Socrates

• Saw arete as knowledge-based virtue.
• Believed that if someone truly understood what was good, they would naturally act with excellence.

Plato

• Expanded arete beyond the individual to include the harmony of the soul’s three parts:
• Reason → Wisdom
• Spirit → Courage
• Appetite → Temperance
• Justice is the balance of these, representing the highest form of arete.

Aristotle

• Framed arete as living in accordance with the "telos" (purpose) of a human being.
• Humans are rational animals, so our arete involves using reason and virtue to achieve eudaimonia (flourishing or well-being).

4. Arete vs. Modern Virtue

Example: A skilled musician pursuing mastery shows arete, even if the music isn’t directly tied to morality.

5. Arete and Positive Psychology

The concept of arete parallels modern ideas like:

• Self-actualization (Maslow) — becoming your best self.
• Flow (Csikszentmihalyi) — total engagement in skilful activity.
• Character strengths (Seligman & Peterson) — living in alignment with core virtues.

6. Practical Application

You can reflect on arete in your own life by asking:

• What is my unique purpose or calling?
• How can I act with excellence in my roles — work, relationships, health, creativity?
• Which habits or virtues, if cultivated, would move me closer to my highest potential?

Viktor Frankl’s classic, Man’s Search for Meaning, is one of the most profound books on human resilience, suffering, and purpose. It offers deep insights that directly connect with our earlier discussion about meaning, arete, and measuring or cultivating purpose in life.

Here’s a focused summary of what it highlights and the key lessons readers can take away:

1. Central Message: The Will to Meaning

Frankl, a psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, introduces the idea that the primary human drive is not pleasure (Freud)or power (Adler), but rather meaning.

“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” — Nietzsche, quoted by Frankl

In the concentration camps, Frankl observed that:

• Those who found meaning in their suffering — whether through love, faith, a future goal, or a sense of responsibility — were more likely to survive.
• Those who lost all sense of purpose were more likely to fall into despair and perish, even when physically strong.

Connection to our discussion:
This reflects the presence of meaning as a critical factor for psychological and even physical survival. It aligns with the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) and our earlier talk about measuring meaning as a foundation for resilience.

2. Meaning in Suffering

One of Frankl’s most radical insights is that suffering can become meaningful — if we can frame it within a larger context or narrative.

• We cannot always control pain, loss, or circumstances, but we can control our attitude and response.
• Even in the darkest conditions, there is a freedom to choose how we interpret and face our suffering.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Practical takeaway:
Meaning doesn’t require life to be easy or perfect. It often emerges through growth, responsibility, and courage in hardship.
This connects with arete — striving for excellence of character and integrity in the face of difficulty.

3. Three Pathways to Meaning (Frankl’s Model)

Frankl describes three primary ways humans can create or discover meaning:

Connection to practice:

• Creative → like achievement and mastery in the PMP.
• Experiential → like relationships and transcendence in modern well-being research.
• Attitudinal → this is uniquely Frankl’s contribution: finding meaning purely through how we respond.

4. The Existential Vacuum

Frankl warns of a modern challenge: the existential vacuum, a state of emptiness and boredom when people lack meaning.

• This often shows up as:
• Depression or despair
• Addictions or compulsive behaviors
• Aggression or apathy

Why it matters today:
In modern society, many traditional sources of meaning (religion, family, community) are weaker, leaving individuals to create meaning themselves.
This is exactly why tools like the Personal Meaning Profile (PMP) or journaling practices are so valuable.

5. Lessons Readers Can Apply

A. Freedom of Attitude

Even when everything is taken away, you still control your inner response.

• This is empowering and a call to personal responsibility.

Practice:

• Daily reflection: “What’s one situation today where I can choose my response with integrity?”

B. Build Meaning, Don’t Just Find It

Meaning is not something handed to you — it’s created through action and reflection.

Practice:

• Set one creative goal, one relationship goal, and one attitudinal goal each week.

C. Suffering Isn’t Always the Enemy

Avoiding pain at all costs may block growth.

• By reframing suffering, you can turn it into a source of strength and wisdom.

Practice:

• Journaling prompt: “What challenge am I facing right now? How could this be shaping me into a stronger or wiser person?”

D. Live With Future Orientation

Frankl noticed that prisoners with something to look forward to — a reunion, a project, a responsibility — were more resilient.

Practice:

• Write a vivid description of a future self you are working toward.
• Return to this image when life feels difficult or directionless.

6. Why This Book Endures

• It blends personal narrative (his experiences in Nazi concentration camps) with universal psychological truths, making it deeply moving and practical.
• It resonates with ancient concepts like arete, modern tools like the MLQ, and even positive psychology’s PERMA model, tying them all together.

Core takeaway:
Meaning is not a luxury — it is essential to survival, resilience, and flourishing.
By cultivating it intentionally, we not only endure life’s hardships but rise to our highest potential.