There is much to be learned from the wisdom of these thrivers, not survivors. Some of them became activists, some of them found meaning in spiritual growth, so others found meanings through service or creativity or generativity more. Just as an aside, so I know, and what we have talked about on this podcast before, is the idea of post-traumatic growth. I think we always think of trauma as being this flattened view like a pancake and you never get up again. That is actually not the experience for a lot how to create meaning of people. Living through something really traumatic does actually lead to growth eventually on the other side if you do productive things with it.

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What are some of the ways that you can use curiosity in your life in a way you haven’t tried before? You can also consider paying attention to how you feel when using your strengths. Many people either don’t think much about values, or have adopted the values of people around them. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ However, when thinking about values and taking actions, it is fundamental that those values should be the ones that ‘you’ care about, not the people around you.

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One significant aspect of making meaning lies in discovering our ‘why’ – the deeper purpose underlying our actions and choices. This is often closely related to our values, passions, and aspirations. Reflecting on these aspects can help us understand what genuinely motivates us and contributes to a fulfilling life. The exercises and tips I shared with you might be quite helpful in leading a more meaningful life. However, their effectiveness has not been rigorously tested. There is evidence that such exercises are helpful in increasing overall wellbeing, but whether they really contribute to creating meaning is less clear.

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Our meaning-making motivation allows us to interpret our inner world in the context of an external world. Fulfilling work is, in part, work we enjoy day-to-day, and work we feel uniquely suited to, which uses our special talents and skills. But in the pre-industrial era, there were few job options to choose from, and limited mobility among them. At least half the workforce had to be engaged in agriculture, because a farm family could only produce enough to feed themselves and at most about one other family. By 2009, only 3% of US workers were in the manual jobs mentioned above, and over 37% in managerial/professional roles.

If you, personally, have done some of this hard-won work and have a message that someone else might really need to hear, I hope you share it. If you’re thinking about sending someone a note, please do. Otherwise, please share any ideas that brought you hope, comfort, and meaning making so that they may benefit one of our fellow travelers who needs to hear it right now in the comments  section of this post. I use my skill of writing and interest in personal development to help people get out of their own way and find the courage to live a life that’s true to them.

I don’t know what to do with my life: What to do next

Sense-making is particularly relevant in confusing, ambiguous, and uncertain situations that we are not prepared to deal with because that is when we need a way to justify and explain things. When we have thoughts like “I don’t understand why he did that” or “why do bad things happen to good people? ”, we are in a sense-making deficit, and we are attempting to reconcile what happened in our lives. By overcoming adversity, we develop a sense of mastery, realize our inner strength, and discover deep reserves of courage.

• I’m a pharmacist and Jim was a computer software engineer.
• While it is an important goal, some might not find it achievable without the right support.
• The logo of Metal Gear Solid prominently features a custom font that is often described as based on Impact, though it is not a direct match.
• I am now in the role of a helper because of what I experienced on 911.
• Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to get a therapist who is competent to help you.

In all of these cases meaning is the thing we are sensing for. Meaning is the connotations we pick up as we sense our way through the content of our daily world. It’s interesting to see how meaning may more often come from difficulty than ease. Here are some more tips on how to make meaning from hardship.

Is something missing? Here’s how to find your meaning in life

• And while they can eventually be sources of meaning for you, they can’t fulfill that role until you do the Inner Work®.
• You can still value human life and have a desire to alleviate the suffering of others.

If, however, through coaching questions the client lands at the exact same line of thinking, it suddenly has a sizzle. When we acquire new information, our instinct is to make sense of it. Sense-making, along with fun and engagement, is at the heart of learning and what is Oxford House researchers have found that helping students make sense of their learning is beneficial for them. Sense-making makes knowledge relevant, useful, and practical.

It took me a couple years before I began to be grateful for the lessons I learned through my experience, but I also still have moments where little feelings of resentment or loss creep up. Seeing happy families celebrating an important event together, I often think, “Why couldn’t I have that? ” I have even come to understand how to use this information as a therapist to help others as they go through their own experience of abuse—giving my experience meaning.