Life is nothing but a long, important path. If we do it right, it will be very meaningful and fulfilling. Photo: Pexels
Throughout this blog – where by the way, next week will be my 100 blog posts anniversary! – I have asked myself often (very often actually) why we come to this earth, why we have the life we have, why we need to endure hard times, and what makes life actually better and worth living.
These are 8 things I think give every life meaning and help us feel fulfilled – no matter in what circumstances we find ourselves in or in what environment we grew up, ended up, will go…
Having some of these things in life can give you stability, joy, and a reason to keep going no matter what. So… this is what gives life meaning!
1. Big goals and accomplishments
The first point I think is pretty obvious. Big goals can keep us on track for a long time. If you know what you are investing your time, energy and money into in the long run will help you keep going day after day. Goals are indispensable for long term happiness.
That could be places to travel to, a family to create, buying and furnishing your own place, moving to a different city or country, learning a new skill, running a marathon or any other physical milestone, building a business, writing a book, etc. etc. I’m sure some will come to mind for you too.
Whenever you want to give up, or maybe don’t find many reasons to get out of bed or out of the house, whenever you don’t really know what you’re doing with your life, remember such things. And work towards them. Slowly, but surely.
What’s important: Have a vision. The clearer, the better. And always remember why you started something to begin with.
2. A daily routine
Now, what I consider even more important than living for the big milestones in life, is finding joy in the little things our every day lives present to us. Having a routine is what can calm most of our anxieties, and take away regular stressors and triggers.
Find things that bring you joy that are small, that don’t cost you a lot of energy, or time, or money. Things you don’t need to put a lot of effort in to feel joy.
That could be having a cup of coffee in bed, a good book you can read on your commute or a podcast that makes you laugh, music you that makes you dance, fresh flowers you buy yourself once in a while, regular meet ups with friends, going dancing on the weekends, or having little get-aways from time to time.
Find recipes you love to cook once you come home, have a pet around you that brings you joy, walk more when the sun is out. Small stuff like that can bring us so much daily happiness that we often take time for granted because we think we need big things that give us a sense of accomplishment.
We don’t always need the big things, small things are just as important, especially in our daily lives and routines.
3. Self-expression and creativity
I have learned personally that people who have more hobbies, and more ways to express themselves creatively have more things to look forward to than people who only spend their lives working and consuming.
Creativity stimulates our minds and hearts. Investing into a project, working hard at something, and then holding a finished product in your hands that you created yourself feels just amazing.
I love that I have a shelf of books, my sewing machine, my blog, my kitchen and my dance shoes ready to at all times be used to create something. Few other things give me as much joy as witnessing myself create something.
I can only strongly encourage you to find a creative outlet for yourself, where you truly enjoy the process of creating something, be that physical, mental, handcraft, you name it.
4. Relationships and connection
If you have ever been in a truly difficult situation, you probably know that your family and friends are the backbone of your well-being. Having people who support you, listen to you and have your back at all times, can eradicate so much suffering.
It is absolutely essential to have people you can turn to when something feels too heavy to carry it by yourself. It’s so important to have connections that nurture, where you don’t have to put on a mask to feel accepted, where you can share laughter and tears.
Especially when you lose an important person, it’s so much easier to endure this loss when you have other people that are still around. Someone who quietly offers a shoulder to lean on.
Investing in creating long lasting relationships with people that are important to you and good for you, is always worth it. And can always give you a reason to get up again and keep going.
5. A spiritual journey / spiritual growth
I have often thought about what the point of spirituality is, and why so many people believe in something they can’t see or touch, or even understand. But I myself have understood that believing in a higher power, one that guides us, can make us feel more secure, and less lost.
Understanding that everything that is supposed to happen, will happen and only happens because it’s for my own higher good, and because I chose this for myself before coming to earth, was a great realization. Likewise, what’s not supposed to happen just won’t. And that is not life’s punishment but just a form of protection we can’t understand due to our human limits.
Embracing a spiritual journey and striving for spiritual growth is what will make us better, more in-tune with our non-human nature and will give us more strength, acceptance, trust and kindness.
Embracing spirituality will give your life meaning and will make it more bearable too. I strongly believe this, which is why I dedicated more than two years to this blog, where I write about how spirituality can make our lives better. Growing is a beautiful thing. Especially if the journey is within.
6. Passions and Purpose
This is what I learned first hand when I was looking for a job during a four-months period and didn’t have a lot to do and had to find ways to fill my days.
To define the two terms, I’d say that passions are things that will forever spark joy, that you truly enjoy doing. Yet, your purpose is your higher calling, and the main reason you are living this life. It can be hard, stressful and demanding but it will give you as much fulfillment like no other thing.
We should be able to find both during our lives, to make it truly worth living, and enjoyable too. Now, that I for myself have built a nice collection of creative outlets that have turned into passions, I feel sorry for people who haven’t found anything yet that lights their soul on fire.
Living year after year of this life, not knowing what we are here for, what our higher calling, our purpose is, will make it hard to wake up to your life with excitement every day. Please invest the time and energy to find something that brings you joy and fulfillment. It’s so worth it.
7. Giving and serving others
Only when you do it (regularly), can you understand how good it feels to be there and do good for others. This is something the Dalai Lama often talks about. That nothing brings us more joy then helping others.
When you have everything, the only thing that will make you happy, is to start giving it away again. You don’t have to go above and beyond for someone. But offering help when someone needs it, or a shoulder to lean on, or little daily acts of kindness is what makes life worth living (collectively).
We know we feel great when someone gives us a compliment or a hand with something, or when we have someone be there for us when we need it, so why don’t we return the favor more often? Big gestures and little one can change someone’s day. Or even their life.
Personally, I feel most internally happy when I see that animals are happy and healthy, especially when I contributed to their well-being. But there are enough people out there who need our help too sometimes. Giving to others will feel as good as few other things, because we know we are doing good!
8. Self-discovery / self-growth
Investing in your own betterment is amazing, but only if you do it for the right reasons. We can always work on ourselves, and we should, and there will forever be things we can improve. But please do that because you love yourself and want to give back to yourself. Only then will you feel more and more fulfilled the further you come.
Please don’t think you should be smarter, or more stylish, or better-looking, because then, people will accept you more. Your own value does not depend on what others think of you or as how important or good they consider you.
You should try to work on your ability to trust yourself, be accepting of yourself, be a little bit braver, more daring, healthier, kinder to yourself and others. Work on your discipline, on your emotional wounds, read, move, connect. Do it for yourself because you deserve everything you promise yourself.
Do it to discover who you are, what you love, what makes you happy, what fulfills you (implementing all of the points above, of course), and not to “fit in”. Having said that, I think every attempt to make yourself and your life better, is already a grand achievement.
Self-growth will give you long-term meaning and a reason to get up every morning. Embrace this journey, even when things are not going so great. But with the trust and the knowing that your life can be great. Because you’re living it for yourself. And you can absolutely make it meaningful and worthwhile.
Remember, you are the biggest project you will ever work on. Never stop looking for things that give your life meaning and fulfill you!
Love, Valentina <3
Written by Valentina – spiritual writer & founder of Valentina’s Diary
