Through the ages, philosophers, poets, and scientists have tried to make sense of the concept of meaning in life. In simplistic terms, people experience the presence of meaning in life when they (Steger et al., 2008): Comprehend themselves and the world Understand their unique fit in the world Identify what they are trying to accomplish in their lives Although there are objective ways to measure one's level of meaningfulness in life, the concept is still riddled with a lot of misconceptions. This article discusses some of these common myths and their corresponding facts (Duggal, 2018). 1. Myth: Meaning in life is a long-term pursuit that may take years. Fact: Meaning in life differs from man to man, day to day, and hour to hour and what matters more is not the meaning in life in general but the specific meaning of an individual’s life at a given moment . Meaning in life can be a vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete assignment which demands fulfillment (Frankl, 20
Written by a board-certified psychiatrist and an expert on self-management of depression, Harpreet Duggal, MD, this blog focuses on practical and proven methods of treating depression that go beyond medications and traditional therapy. It discusses elements of healthy lifestyle, positive psychology, relationships, values, strengths, communication, and wellness. No AI-assisted technology has been used in this blog. The content of the blog is not to be construed as treatment advice.