Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books (mostly)

  • Home
  • About
    • My CV
    • Books
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / What Makes Human Life Meaningful?

What Makes Human Life Meaningful?

What Makes Human Life Meaningful?

The question, what makes human life meaningful is not so easily brushed aside.

Ravi Zacharias wrote a great theological book on this.

And Victor Frankl wrote a great philosophical book on this.

I like this line below that: “Meaning, while a slippery concept, seemed inextricable from human relationships and moral values.”

Further, I would say that: “Moral values, while a slippery concept, seemed inextricable from human relationships and theology.”

The long and short of it is that meaning is lived outside of self.

Meaning and purpose increase, as ego and self importance decrease.

The Bible calls this “dying to yourself.”

This entire question is the other side of this coin. Is it even worth it? This is not a little question.

See, we are either wildly important, or nothing at all.

I hope you believe the former with me.

A few years later, I hadn’t thought much more about a career but had nearly completed degrees in English literature and human biology. I was driven less by achievement than by trying to understand, in earnest: What makes human life meaningful? I still felt literature provided the best account of the life of the mind, while neuroscience laid down the most elegant rules of the brain. Meaning, while a slippery concept, seemed inextricable from human relationships and moral values.

-Paul Kalanithi, When Breath Becomes Air (Amazon)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Life, #Meaning

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Free Weekly Newsletter:

Search

Top Posts

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • Hyatt Hill Country Sunday House
    Hyatt Hill Country Sunday House
  • The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
    The Tragedy Of Gina "Bronco" Bouza (1932-1957)
  • God Gives Job Double Everything, Except This?
    God Gives Job Double Everything, Except This?
  • Peaches, The Presidents Of The United States of America
    Peaches, The Presidents Of The United States of America
  • Random Thoughts – 345
    Random Thoughts – 345
  • Things Aging Out
    Things Aging Out
  • By Paying Your Own Way
    By Paying Your Own Way
  • If I Had Understood
    If I Had Understood
  • Parental Shame Or Parental Praise
    Parental Shame Or Parental Praise

Supporting = Loving

Recent Posts

  • If I Had Understood
  • Instabooks 364
  • Either Lost Or Sad Or On
  • Parental Shame Or Parental Praise
  • Random Thoughts – 345
  • Things Aging Out
  • Ship More Projects
  • Few Days And Full Of Trouble
  • Father’s Days Days Are Swim Days Swim
  • Random Thoughts – 344
  • Creative Forces Converged
  • When Laughing Is More Contagious
  • LubbockJobs.io
  • Instabooks 363
  • Random Thoughts – 343
  • From This Sun And A Cold Drink
  • The Psychology When Midlife Crisis Hits
  • Smoke Eaters
  • For The Elite See It And
  • Random Thoughts – 342
  • Austin Kleon, A Note To Graduates
  • Example Of Writing Material
  • The Rule Of I Before E
  • He Silently Sits And Sleeps
  • Random Thoughts – 341

Copyright © 2022 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in