The essence of meaning

“Meaning” is usually thought of as something that is personal. While that is true, it isn’t arbitrary.

Meaning consists of activities that take place that are worthwhile. You’re glad when you’ve taken actions that are meaningful. A life of meaningful actions is a life that has been well-lived. A meaningful act is one that is appreciated by the performer. Often though, people do things in order to achieve some other end. When doing that, it’s very easy for someone to become alienated from their actions and its meaning.

For example, someone might start learning a foreign language. There are many possible motivations for doing so. Some might think that learning a language will complete them as a person. In that sense, those people perform this action as a kind of oppressive duty. The meaning of the action then lies in whatever abstract improvement those people are seeking, and whether the self-improvement they seek is actualized upon them completing the task. This is unlikely though when the end that the person is ultimately after is something very abstract or unclear, which is often the case.

It’s better to do activities that you are able to connect with on some level. It’s better if the activities you are doing are grounded in the Flower — the genuine self-expression of the things you are interested in — than the values of the Pyramid and trying to improve yourself for some later, future happiness.

Still, sometimes if people’s lives are barren enough, taking part in some activity is preferable to no activity whatsoever, and for them to cultivate some joy within themselves. In this dark world, that is more often the case than it should be.