The Four Pillars of a Meaningful Life

🏰Belonging is an essential source of meaning. It comes from valuing and being valued for who you are intrinsically.

🎯Purpose is using your strengths to serve others. It's not just about finding a job that makes you happy.

🧘‍♀️Transcendence is being lifted above the hustle and bustle of daily life, feeling connected to a higher reality.

📖Storytelling is creating a narrative from the events of your life, bringing clarity and understanding of how you became you.

❤️Love is a powerful force that gives us a reason to live. It can be found in belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling.

What is the difference between happiness and meaning in life?

—Happiness is a state of comfort and ease, while meaning comes from belonging to and serving something beyond yourself and developing the best within you.

How can we live more meaningfully?

—We can live more meaningfully by cultivating belonging, finding and serving a purpose that uses our strengths, experiencing transcendence, and reflecting on and reshaping our personal narrative.

Can purpose be found outside of work?

—Yes, purpose can be found in many aspects of life, not just work. It's about using your strengths to serve others and have a sense of meaning and fulfillment.

How can storytelling shape our lives?

—Storytelling helps us create a narrative from the events of our lives, giving us clarity and understanding of who we are and how we became that person. We can edit, interpret, and retell our stories, even as we're constrained by the facts.

What brings lasting fulfillment and meaning?

—Building and nurturing the four pillars of belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling within ourselves and our communities can bring lasting fulfillment and meaning in life.

00:12The pursuit of happiness alone does not bring fulfillment in life.

02:48Belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling are the four pillars of a meaningful life.

05:10Belonging is about being valued for who you are intrinsically and valuing others as well.

05:48Purpose is using your strengths to serve others and give your life a sense of meaning.

06:48Transcendence is those rare moments when you feel connected to a higher reality.

08:23Storytelling helps us create a narrative from the events of our lives, bringing clarity and understanding.

10:44Building these pillars within ourselves and our communities can help us live more deeply and become our best selves.

11:55Having meaning gives us something to hold on to when life is really good or really bad.