Sources Of Meaning

Sources of meaning in life and meaning-making
Over the last several decades, various studies have been conducted in order to determine the diverse range of sources of meaning in life and their significance. For example, Battista and Almonda (1973) established six orientations of meaning, Ebersole (1998) identified eight, and O’Connor and Chamberlain (1996) defined a different six dimensions. The general consensus from the aforementioned and additional studies identify personal relationships, personal growth, creativity, achievement and success, freedom from hardship, altruism, seeking enjoyment, religion and holding a belief system and legacy as the strongest sources. Additionally, life events, an individual’s social involvement and engagement,

Frankl believed that one can choose one’s own meaning and experience meaning in life only when that choice is consistent with values proven over time and performed in a self-transcendent manner, and therefore proposed three pathways which attempt to explain the possible avenues for discovering meaning. The first creative pathway focuses on work and incorporates the significance of performing actions in order to service others. In other words it emphasizes the significance of using our individual gifts to fulfill life’s vocation and contribute to the wider society, a self-transcendent goal. The second pathway is experiential and focuses on love, placing emphasis on one’s relationships and how the individual relates to other people, life and nature. The third pathway focuses on suffering and relates to how one approaches traumatic life events or events in which the individual may experience pain. Through the implementation of a positive attitude in addition to demonstrating defiance in the face of negative or traumatic events, Frankl believes the individual can achieve increased meaning. Additionally, adversity provides the individual with the opportunity to re-evaluate life goals and global beliefs as well as promoting making the most of life despite one’s suffering. These three pathways described by Frankl do not suggest that suffering is escapable, but rather present a broader range of positive attitudes towards the inevitable suffering and pain that is part of life. In its simplest form, Frankl’s (1984) definition describes meaning as taking place through one’s personal accomplishments, interactions with others, art and the natural world while overcoming inevitable negative experiences. At its