Insights into meaning

Meaning can only emerge from an individual story and journey.
It is therefore difficult to imagine a single model, because each person has a unique relationship with the world which makes them attach importance to a particular area and to a particular experience.

Sources of meaning

94% — Personal development
83% — Interpersonal relationships
53% — Appreciation of life experiences
20 to 40% — Social commitment & civilization
20 to 40% — Well-being
20 to 40% — Creativity

Source: ZHANG et AL. (2016)

An exercise in meaning

And after me...

How to do it?
Imagine you died after living a rich and satisfying life. What would you like to read in your obituary?
Write one to two pages about the memories/image you would like people to keep of you.
What can you learn from this exercise? Are there things you should do more of, or less of, in your current life?

Please note
This intervention will likely take about a week to complete. It is one of several interventions and, as such, has not been tested on its own, but as part of a larger Positive Psychotherapy package.

Impact on : Well-being, depression.

"Scientific References" notice: no. 1, no. 9

My best self

How to do it?
This action asks you to reflect on your best possible self, now and in the coming weeks. That is, visualize yourself in the future, everything has gone well, you have accomplished all your life goals, and your highest potential has been realized. Clearly imagine yourself in this future, describe it, and write down what happens there. See this as the realization of all your dreams and your highest potential. With each thought, identify the best possible outcome; this will help you guide your present decisions. Once this best self describes you, continue to reflect in this way and complete your writing for several weeks.

Please note
You may never have reflected on yourself in this way, but research suggests that doing so can have a significant positive impact on your mood and life satisfaction. Continue this exercise for 4 weeks. You can also expand on this exercise with the following steps: Now write down a goal (or goals) you want to achieve that will help you access your best self as described. Sometimes long-term goals can be overwhelming and seem out of reach. However, every journey begins with a single step. Think about the baby steps you can take to move toward your long-term goal(s). A baby step can be as simple as going out to find the information you need, or talking to someone who may be able to direct you. Defining the next baby step you need to take to get closer to your goal is a great way to begin a journey without fearing its magnitude.

Impact on: Emotions, well-being, health.

"Scientific References" notice: no. 1, no. 9

Expand: The Meaning of Life with Tragic Optimism

"Let us first ask what is meant by 'tragic optimism'. In short, it means that one is, and remains, optimistic despite the 'tragic triad' of (1) pain; (2) guilt; and (3) death.

This raises the question: How is it possible to say yes to life despite all this? How can life retain its potential meaning despite its tragic aspects? After all, "saying yes to life despite everything" presupposes that life is potentially meaningful under all conditions, even the most miserable. And this, in turn, presupposes the human capacity to creatively transform the negative aspects of life into something positive or constructive. In other words, what matters is making the best of any given situation.
Hence the reason why I speak of a tragic optimism : an optimism in the face of tragedy and human potential which, in the best of cases, always allows us to:

(1) to transform suffering into human achievement and fulfillment;
(2) to use guilt as an opportunity to change for the better;
(3) to draw from the transitory nature of life an incentive to act responsibly.

Through the notion of tragic optimism:

Frankl invites us to move towards accepting death as an inevitable negative experience... Although it is not obvious, he invites us to develop an attitude of understanding towards it... and even to use it as a potential source of meaning.

Shall we try it together?

The story " Rendezvous in Samarra " or the meeting with death is inevitable
ECCP 2022 Workshop, Michael Steger and Pninit Russo-Netzer

Death speaks:
In Baghdad, one day, a merchant sent his servant to buy provisions at the market, but soon he saw the servant return, pale and trembling with fear, and said to him: "Master, a moment ago I was in the marketplace and a woman jostled me in the crowd. When I turned around, I saw that it was Death who had just jostled me. She made a threatening gesture toward me. Please lend me your horse, so that I can flee this city and escape my destiny. I will gallop to Samarra and Death will not find me there." The merchant lent him his horse and the servant mounted it, dug his spurs into its flanks and galloped away. So the merchant went down to the marketplace and when he saw me standing in the crowd, he came to me and asked, "Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you met him this morning?"
"It wasn't a threatening gesture," I replied, "it was just a start of surprise. I was very surprised to see him in Baghdad, because I have an appointment with him this evening in Samarra."

- W. Somerset Maugham

What if the 5 biggest regrets at the end of our lives became...

1. I wish I had had the courage to live the life I really wanted, true to myself, not the one others expected of me.
2. I wish I had worked less hard.
3. I wish I had had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had kept in touch with my friends.
5. I wish I had given myself permission to be happier.

- Based on research analysis by Bronnie Ware A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing

Sources of fulfillment and incentives to act so as to have no regrets!
Read these sentences calmly. Which ones resonate with you? What could you do to move your life forward in this direction?

I have the courage to live the life I truly want, true to myself, not the one others expect of me.
I work less hard.
I have the courage to express my feelings.
I keep in touch with my friends.
I give myself permission to be happier.

Tragic optimism
It is our human capacity to creatively transform the negative aspects of life into something positive or constructive.
- Viktor Emil Frankl MD, PhD. (1905-1997)

Meaning creeps in everywhere!

After creating a day on “Meaning and Values” in the training course in positive psychology at work , Ilona and Justine created a new training course this summer: “Future Crafting – Giving meaning to tomorrow”. Emerging as a key topic of these pandemic years, meaning questions and intrigues when it is lacking, but also finds itself at the center of a growing quest for activities, work, and projects that make sense, whether in the personal or professional sphere.

Humanistic, existential and positive psychology offers scientific and pragmatic insights that Positran brings together for you in this complete course .

Some recommended reading:

Meaning & Values