The Power of Meaning
Photo: Vecteezy
There is more to life than simply being happy!
The first chapter of the Power of Meaning is simply the best summary I’ve read on the evolution of our idea of happiness in Western thought. After providing a brief historical overview, the author masterfully illustrates her main thesis, citing intellectual giants of the 20th century, including Tolstoy, Durant, and Camus, while also elevating lesser known luminaries of our current age. Her most relevant insight for what Leadership for Life offers is that happiness without meaning is often selfish and exploitative.
To live a truly fulfilling life, the author exhorts us to undertake the highly personal project of making meaning of our experiences. Making meaning without trusted and wise dialogue partners proves even more difficult in an increasingly materialistic and superficial society. Fortunately, we do not need to do this highly personal inner work alone, nor is it advisable. Indeed, as the author observes, meaning is largely found in relationships with others.
Reading even the first chapter of this book provides helpful context and encouragement for the lifelong project of making meaning in our lives. If you choose to read on, the rest of The Power of Meaning is filled with foundational elements for crafting a more meaningful life and enjoying a more satisfying life journey: belonging to supportive communities; pursuing benevolent purpose; engaging in more adequate storytelling about your life; exploring practices which orient you toward self-transcendence; committing to lifelong personal growth; and appreciating both the gifts and limitations of your current cultural context.
While working on the above to-do list may sound like too much trouble, or even exhausting, Leadership for Life would like to assist you in your journey of meaning making so that it is a pleasure and joy to undertake the challenge of living deeply and fully. To learn more about how Curated Wisdom, Lifelong Practices, and Honest Encouragement can empower you to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life, please join our mailing list, or sign up for a free consultation.
The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed with Happiness by Emily Esfahani Smith (Crown, 2017)