Jonathan Middleton: What is the Meaning?

 What is the meaning to life, if there is one? This is a question that has haunted many individuals, including myself, since people became aware of their own situation. It is my stance that the reason why the answer to this question is so illusive is because there isn't one. More aptly, there isn't just one but many different meanings to life. 

Each individual must carry their own unique and intrinsic meaning to their own life. If someone brings meaning to their life through external means then they risk failing to live up to the expectations of those external means and damaging themselves as a result. However, if an individual derives a personal meaning to their own life then they are able to more fluidly set their own expectations for themselves and attain both satisfaction and happiness more easily.

For instance, if an individual only enjoys cooking they should throw themselves at the culinary arts. If another person excels and enjoys athletics then he or she should dedicate themselves to athletics. This way both of these individuals can be happy and work towards improving their own individual crafts to their own level of satisfaction. 

However if the chef or the athlete then ties their purpose to more external factors then problems will then also begin to arise. If the athlete for example ties their own intrinsic happiness to the length in which their craft is appreciated then they will only open themselves up for disappointment when their efforts are not recognized. 

It is better then to derive happiness and purpose from one's own internal motivations which are subjective in nature as opposed to an external objective purpose.

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