Meaning

I personally think that finding meaning in your daily life corresponds to finding Happiness.  

In Logo therapy  (meaning therapy) the therapist assists their client if finding a greater meaning.  Not necessarily a higher being, but a meaning or lesson or reason for something.  By finding the meaning, the client is then able to deal with the situation in a more effective ( e-ffective or a-ffective?  I can never remember!) way. 

I think by finding the meaning in a situation can lead to seeing the world in a more optimistic way.  Therefore, increasing the likelihood of being happy.

I am curious what other people think regarding this idea.

Re: Meaning

namaste Jacqui;

To me happiness is contentement…….to me not necessarily finding meaning. One can forever seek meaning, and perhaps never find it.

Re: Meaning

Is Logo Therapy based on the Gnosis Logos theory?

L.

Re: Meaning

Leendert,
I'm not sure if Logotherapy is based on Gnosis Logos.  I have a feeling it's not, but again, I’m not sure. 

Logotherapy is Viktor Frankl's theory that is based on the psychological and philosophical concepts of freedom of will, will to meaning, and meaning in life.

In his book, A Man's Search for Meaning, Frankl gives an introduction to his theory and how it helped him survived concentration camps during WWII. 

For more information about Frankl and Logotherapy check out:
http://logotherapy.univie.ac.at/

Re: Meaning

good point, I think I will have to agree with you on that one, meaning does make it easier to find happiness.  But being the person I am, I do have to ask, What happens when you can't find meaning in something?  Does it just go to faith?

BRetT

Re: Meaning

in my psychology class today my prof told us the meaning of life…well his meaning of life. 

“it is not to find the meaning in life, but to make life meaningful” 

We had been discussing Erickson's theory of Identity.  Erickson believes that there are two aspects that influence Identity, career and values (very much like Freud who said that love and work dictate Identity).  What we produce (career) must be meaningful.  Others must appreciate it, if not; we do not feel Industrious and therefore feel inferior (his fourth stage of development).  His fifth stage, Identity vs. Role Confusion, is a time of moratorium.  To get through this crisis we must asses our values and figure out what is important and meaningful in our lives.  By doing so we can positively come out of moratorium and be much more likely to be happy and have a meaningful life. 

Re: Meaning

what type of faith are you talking about?

I think meaningness and faith work together.  If you have faith in something, then dont you see things as meaningful?

For example I believe or have faith in the concept of Karma.  So I see the meaning in suffering.  By having meaing in suffering, or in a particular situation,  I can see it for what is and have a differnt kind of relationship with it. 

…I'm still working on my theory, I hope to get back to you soon with it :-)

Re: Meaning

Dear Jacqui.


Hello ! everyone.
 
Its meaningful to observe the way sufferings set in, stay, continue and go off , the
same applies to various stages fo life into being and unbeing , to be compassoinate  or to be selfish ,for one, the later might be a reflection of the development of one practice, a  test of progress of one mental and spiritual ity ,or simply a struggle of one self in seeking the truthto test out one determination , for only the doer knows his/her stage  ,but what everway it can be ,wisdom and compassion are the prerequisites ,without which ,often than not ,it can lead to unwholesomeness and the effort to  back forth .

Some karmic activities have no meaning ,are neutral, e.g. eating and sleeping are neither wholesome or unwholesome .

Thanks ,Leendert meaning is very individual ,and intentions is more relevant ,as  we find meaning ( interpretation) of its relevancy to our own experiences and stage of practise
,and as such tend to  interpret according to ones vocab and understanding .

Re: Meaning

If your “meaning” has no “meaning”…
then living a “meaningful” life is meaningless.

My2cents

Re: Meaning

Oh I am more into intentions lately. Meaning is to different for every individual.

Intentions can be meaningful and meaningless…..



Leendert

Storm!

namaste Brett; 

I am so happy that Storm is out of the hospital…nothing more traumatic than a child that is ill, as a parent I know how You feel, one would rather be there ones-self. ….So hope this is the last of it…my prayers are with You in gratitude!

love & light to You all…
God bless,
Suzanne

Re: Storm!

Thanks Suzanne,

Lindsey and I thank you and everyone else who sent good wishes. Storm is getting better, the german doctors think he may have Celiacs Disease.  If so we have a long road ahead.

Lets get started think what we are going to do next.  This is Happenings but what is happening.

I was thinking about an experiment, kind of like what was in a movie, but not quite the same.  Lets start thinking of what kinds of things we can do for Project Happiness, lets put some random acts of kindness that we can do on here and then everyday we will practice at least one and record what the results of these random acts of kindness will be.

Everyone im sure opens doors for people, and says hello, and the like, as those are kind things to do, lets make them kinder things, like paying for someones gas if you can afford it, or something along those lines.   What kinds of things can we do?

Re: Storm!

Re: Storm!

“I have to disagree, because to be content is not to be trying to make it better, I am never content with how happy I am, I am always trying to find more ways to make myself and the people around me happy, even if I consider myself happy at this moment. I have to keep looking, there is always some thing better, always something more meaningful, always something that adds more love and compassion to your life”

I think there is a happy medium here! Contentment is also happiness to me, in that it allows me to focus on the present, rather than obsessing about the future. Sometimes that present involves planning for the future, and when I am content, I am not worried about the future, rather I am looking forward to it with contentment, so I can plan happily.

How’s that for some nice circular logic?

I guess my point is that contentment is “trying to make it better” but in a non-attached way. Contentment is not complacency or inaction, instead, contentment is the ease (flow) that comes with healthy thoughts and action (peak efficiency), as opposed to the striving of unhealthy thoughts and action. Contentment is the balanced middle ground between too much and too little effort. Too much effort gives you burnout, while too little effort gives you complacency. But when you are contented, you are happy, and you will be putting just the right amount of effort into the job at hand.

I have a feeling that this disagreement that you, Brett, have with Suzanne’s idea of happiness, is not so much philosophical as it is lingustic. Though many people, especially in this competitive society of ours, believe that striving and vigilance are necessary for happiness. So, maybe that’s the case for you Brett?

Peace, Love, and Bicycles,
Turtle

Re: Storm!

Turtle,

Yes, it now does sound like a linguistic disagreement.  I like the way you put it, “Contentment is not complacency or inaction, instead, contentment is the ease (flow) that comes with healthy thoughts and action (peak efficiency), as opposed to the striving of unhealthy thoughts and action.” 

 That sounds like exactly what I would consider the right way to look at it, but who am I to judge another persons perspective.  Namaste for your contributions…

BRetT