The Meanings of Life?

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The information superhighway, modern communication and a greater emphasis on leisure time has given most of us the opportunity to spend more time reflecting on the meaning of our lives, to question where we fit in the scheme of things, and many avenues through which we can seek answers.

A new perspective has emerged from neuroscience in the past 20 years. What gives life its richness does not come from reason and intellect. It comes instead from a well-balanced emotional brain, that deepest and most archaic part of the nervous system. And what does a balanced emotional brain need? Above all, strong connections and full relationships. These can be found in four areas of our lives.

1. Our physical existence: If we don’t allow ourselves to taste, smell, touch, listen and look while concentrating on the present moment, we are not connected to our bodies. Yoga, an ancient source of wisdom, is first and foremost an education in connecting to our physical beings. Exercise, too - which engages our attention, our agility, our strength and builds endurance in our cells - is another means of connecting. As we grow aware of our bodies’ reactions to the world, we are connected to the roots of our emotions.

2. Intimacy: The emotional brain is connected to the body, but it is also designed to regulate our emotional relationships. Naturally, love is an effective way of giving us meaning. When we look each other in the eyes and feel our hearts beating faster, we stop asking existential questions. All that involves us in intimate relationships anchors us firmly in our existence. We don’t question the meaning of life when we take a child by the hand on his first day at school, or when we watch our daughter singing in a choir. All those to whom we feel close connect us to life and give it meaning.

3. The community: Being part of a community broader than ourselves not only gives us a sense of connection, it gives our lives meaning through shared experiences, shared goals and common bonds. The more we take part in a ‘community’ whether that be a social or sporting club, or through community or charity work, the greater our sense of well-being and satisfaction with life. Naturally, the friendships that evolve contribute to a more fulfilled existence but the strong sense of purpose provided by being a member of a ‘community’ leads to just as much to inner-happiness.

4. Spirituality: It is possible to feel connected to a dimension beyond the body. For some, the greatest source of meaning is the sense of being in the presence of something much greater. We often feel this simply when we are face to face with nature, or in certain places that remind us how insignificant we are in the universe. Strangely, it is at the precise moments when we experience how small we are that life itself seems to fill with meaning - and so do we.

Adapted from an article in Ode Magazine.