A possible answer to the perennial question - What is the meaning of life?
We have all asked ourselves this at some point in our lives, and the thought often comes to us in our darkest moments. I will discuss a possible reason for this below.
We have evolved over time to be more sensitive to negative emotions and sensations then positive ones. This is because the effects of negative emotions and sensations are far greater and threatening to our lives. This is a bias that impacts our lives on a daily basis and in a multitude of ways. Its often very frustrating, however, unfortunately necessary. Especially given the dangers we faced in our evolutionary past.
So what does this have to do with the meaning of life? First things first, I believe the word 'purpose' is more pertinent than 'meaning', this is because we are ultimately function based beings who need to take on responsibility in order to not feel lost or depressed in life. Therefore 'purpose' is a better word.
It is the combination of these two factors together, that give you an insight into a possible answer. To alleviate as much suffering as possible.
That may be it. Pain may be the most tangible phenomena for human beings to grip; try telling someone in pain that it is not real or attempt to use logic to ease their suffering. Everyone can imagine the outcome of that.
And when someone is in true true pain there aren't many things they wouldn't do to be taken out of that state immediately. So it's pretty real.
So clearly pain is bad and suffering is even worse. That is why I am beginning to believe that the true 'purpose' of life is to lessen the pain of others in anyway possible. That doesn't mean you have to aspire to be Tony Robbins or Jordan Peterson, or a top brain or heat surgeon. The men that collect the rubbish from our bins alleviate suffering in a way far greater than we realise; so do plummers, electricians, teachers and so on.
It may sound hyperbolic to say that they prevent/alleviate suffering with their jobs, but if you actually think about a world without these roles it would be far far more difficult to navigate than we realise. It's just because they are there that we are blind to their influence.
And attempting to create a world with the least amount of suffering is a responsibility that lies on all of our shoulders. Every act of deceit, petulance and apathy leads us further away from where we could be and every act of courage, truth and determination leads us towards the good and closer to what could be 'Paradise on Earth'.
Don't ever underestimate the importance of your actions or the roles you play in life. We are all far more influential than we realise and the world is a lesser, and actually worser place without the part of you that strives towards the good and the truthful.
Even if you believe that your actions only have a trivial impact on someones life, in reality they don't, nothing about a human life is trivial. That's how sensitive and complicated we are, as well as how reliant we are on other people to prop up our lives and livelihood.
If you are stuck on where to look for a purpose, start by scratching your own itch and then teaching others how you did it. No one else out there can impart the wisdom you have from being you, better than you can, and some people desperately need to hear the wisdom that you have inside your head. Desperately.
Thank you for reading,
BxP