A Delayed Response 1
Humans are "Meaning Makers." We look for the meaning and purpose in every event, activity, and relationship in our lives (Chapter 3 on How People Change). The need to find meaning in life comes from within us and defines our worldview and even gives us a way of coping with the chaos around us. We begin our journey by finding meaning in a simple gesture such as when our mother smiles at us or with our favorite toys as a child. This is how our meaning-making process is developed and it continues until we are able to assign different meanings to different things, activities, events, and relationships.
The process of looking for meaning in one’s life becomes a more and more complicated matter as time goes by and we mature. In times when we face any difficulties and in times when we lack challenges in daily activities, we tend to look for meaning in order to understand what we are doing and have something to believe in for the future. While some find meaning in achievements, there are other people who see the meaning of life in social interactions and spirituality. It is amazing that humans find reasons even for pointless matters in their lives.
It is vital for people to find the meaning in their lives, especially in terms of relationships. The importance lies in the connection that people find within their relationships, in the understanding between people, and in the sense of common goal and mission that people possess. No matter what kind of relationships are being spoken about – be they romantic, familial or even platonic – such relationships will always represent a reflection of the person's own beliefs and aspirations. Many times, we try to evaluate the importance of relationships for our own lives. Looking after other people can be considered an important task which makes our lives meaningful and fulfilling.
All events, happy or sad, come with the opportunity to gain significance from them. Reflecting on what I have lived through in life, I came to the conclusion that I have always tried to find the purpose or some kind of lesson from a difficult situation or a positive one. It all may be considered both an advantage and disadvantage, since, on one hand, we learn how to find strength and inspiration in such circumstances, but, on the other hand, it may cause a person to make life more complicated than it is. Our unpredictable nature forces us to do that continually.
The experience which profoundly affected me in this way is illustrated by the following incident from my life. As a fairly decent model, caretaker, and guardian for my 1-year-old niece named Alveiah, every effort made by me in this direction has proved extremely rewarding. Being with her, watching her develop as she interacts with the world around her and trying to imbibe some values and love in her every step has helped provide my life with a purpose other than my own. Any activity with her assumes significance, be it when I comfort her when she cries, teach her new words or even sit with her when she laughs.
The experience that I went through in looking after my niece also provides yet another example of meaning making in interactions. In doing this, I not only impact her positively, but at the same time I gain knowledge about the meaning of being responsible and what compassion is all about. It’s a reciprocal relationship, as much as she gains from watching me, I also learn from her innocence the art of being compassionate and joyful. It’s such examples of interactions that prove how meaningful our existence can be judged by its impact on others.
In addition to this, having such responsibility of taking care of this innocent soul has instilled within me a deeper sense of appreciation for those little incidents of life which hold great significance in our lives. These little acts of sharing a smile, embracing each other or uttering loving words take on a great significance in terms of making her understand about the world around us and how we interact. Such incidents hold significance as they help create a sense of security and love within her heart. For me, these incidents help realize that the significance of life lies in those small acts of kindness rather than big accomplishments in life.
Upon further consideration, it becomes evident to me that the instinctive tendency of the human being to seek meaning is a strength and a limitation. Firstly, this is because our quest for understanding helps us find meaning even where it does not immediately exist, which enables us to survive in such situations. On the other hand, however, it can sometimes make us overanalyze and weave narratives in relation to what transpired due to the fact that we cannot make sense of something. The process of seeking meaning is essentially who we are and how we perceive things.
In summary, the assertion “Human beings are ‘meaning makers’. We seek the meaning and significance of each event, activity, and relationship in our lives” represents a crucial element in human existence. The quest for meaning compels us to develop, associate, and persevere. From my personal experiences, particularly when taking care of my niece, it becomes evident that our instinctual drive to seek meaning in our actions may elevate the mundane to significant sources of fulfillment. It is these moments of meaning in our lives that form the essence of our lives as we create them through our deeds, interactions, and thoughts.