What do we mean when we use the word meaning in relation to Wellbeing? In the five pillar PERMA© model of Wellbeing, meaning is defined as;
A sense of meaning and purpose can be derived from belonging to and
serving something bigger than the self.
The other elements of PERMA are Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships and Accomplishment. (link needs to be inserted for each)
That sense of ‘something bigger than self’ has been evident in the relics of human society from millennia past. From burial artefacts, cave drawings, dwellings and constructed symbols and altars, we can be confident that the drive to discern meaning from life is universal and innate. Indeed, some would say that even beyond the ability for rational thought, the search for and belief in meaning are what makes us distinctly human.
It is important to make a distinction between the search for and the belief that life has meaning. While the former is important, it can become self-defeating if it is a constant behaviour. What we are understanding today is that it is the latter, a belief that your life has meaning and/or that you can regularly find meaning in your life experiences that make the difference to your Wellbeing. For example, in the words of Viktor Fankl who wrote the powerful book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’:
For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment.
While having absolute faith and belief in a general meaning of life is vitally important to many, for others the habit of recognising moments of meaning in everyday life even in the face of suffering or despair might be an equally important belief and skill to develop.
Like the other elements of PERMA, having a belief that life has meaning influences physical health as well as mental. Research findings from English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) which is examining life in the twenty-first century, show that:
“Having a strong sense of purpose and meaning in life may be a protective factor in relation to health, with longitudinal studies documenting associations with reduced premature mortality, slower development of age-related disability, reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease, healthier lifestyles, and more preventive behaviours.”
What we have also come to realise is that the absence of belief that life has meaning is a symptom of deep malaise and suffering for some people. In fact, it is one of the critical factors indicating mental ill-health.
What are the traits of what is a sense of ‘something bigger than me’? In a general belief in the meaning of life it could be, for example, a devout religious belief for some, for others it is a personal sense of spirituality, for others who may believe in the random nature of existence, it is the recognition of joy in existence despite its fleetingness.
Finding meaning daily on the other hand, is by building the habit of paying attention to how your experiences are for example, building your character, making progress towards goals, teaching you new things about life, or learning more about your personal values as you get tested by challenge. That habit takes effort, may be confronting and it is absolutely worth it.
For assistance in building and maintaining the habit of ‘meaning’ you can find resources here.
My next blog will examine the impact of accomplishment on Wellbeing. If you missed the earlier blogs on PERMA and Wellbeing, you can find them here (link to be added)
