At this point in our quest we are somewhat like a child who is grabbing hold of the first branch and gazing into the complex maze of branches before climbing into the tree. The plan, how much to carry as well as other choices are of great significance in the climb and now under consideration. However, it is the actual experience and getting to 'know' the tree incrementally that will provide enormous guidance and inspiration for the climb. Having established the difficulty or even futility of answering the question of meaning through conventional rational/philosophical and a one size fits all approach, it will probably serve us well to beckon our intuition as well as our intellect and just go for it.
Let us take our first big step in our ascent into the meaning tree and now consider the personality of meaning identifying its multifaceted nature, its relational personality and how its character brings with it a hierarchy of values. We will also consider its power to reframe our struggles and what its absence tells us about it importance.
From the question to the personality of Meaning
What we are about to consider what may sound a little strange to some. After all we do not usually think of concepts or feelings having a character or personality. Yet, when we consider it carefully, the experience of love brings with it something of a very real presence or what I am here referring to as a personality. The same, I believe holds true for meaning. Meaning like love as very identifiable characteristics that will help greatly in understanding its nature.
In the first branch we considered the problematic nature of answering the question of meaning. How the question of meaning is not like other questions in which an academic or generic answer or even a theory will suffice. We also explored how it can be paradoxically as important as it is easy to ignore, possessing both universal characteristics as well as encompassing many deeply personal psychological premises such as beliefs about ourselves and our world. Finally, we also identified the mysterious or enigmatic nature of meaning.
In this branch, as we explore the nature of meaning, its personality, we will do so by, identifying how, like love or even the nature of gravity or light. We will likewise we will consider how meaning can be experienced through identifiable qualities that are capable of exerting great influence, relationally, while remaining mysterious or in a sense, transcendent. Just as a person's personality may have a mysterious or unknown features, so meaning can present itself shrouded in enigma. However, it is knowable.
In the first branch we considered the problematic nature of answering the question of meaning. How the question of meaning is not like other questions in which an academic or generic answer or even a theory will suffice. We also explored how it can be paradoxically as important as it is easy to ignore, possessing both universal characteristics as well as encompassing many deeply personal psychological premises such as beliefs about ourselves and our world. Finally, we also identified the mysterious or enigmatic nature of meaning.
In this branch, as we explore the nature of meaning, its personality, we will do so by, identifying how, like love or even the nature of gravity or light. We will likewise we will consider how meaning can be experienced through identifiable qualities that are capable of exerting great influence, relationally, while remaining mysterious or in a sense, transcendent. Just as a person's personality may have a mysterious or unknown features, so meaning can present itself shrouded in enigma. However, it is knowable.
In this branch the goal is to:
- acknowledge the definitions of meaning arising out of conventional academic & rational metho
- Assess the qualitative & qualitative nature of meaning
- consider whether or not there is scientific precedence for believing in a transcendent (metaphysical) cause for meaning & consciousness.
- understand the relational nature of meaning as it applies to purposeful living.
- Understand the multifaceted nature of Meaning.
- consider the importance of simplicity in life and its role in our happiness and clarity of thinking
- how to much stuff and the wrong attitude towards possessions can rob us of purpose and a life of meaning.
- identify the hierarchy of meaning (agreeing on what is unavoidably important)
- what loss of purpose (meaninglessness) tells us about the importance of meaning.
- the importance and role of reframing (recontextualizing our thinking) concerning the nature of meaning
Coming soon:
Born into the world and a worldview
How a purpose driven life can rob us of meaning
The Psychology of meaning
Healthy & sick trees (healthy trees, dead branches, dying leaves)
A time for meaning & the meaning of time
The language of meaning
Parsimony complexity and meaning
Birth order and meaning
Science and meaning and the science of meaning
The meaning of individual & collective purpose
Born into the world and a worldview
How a purpose driven life can rob us of meaning
The Psychology of meaning
Healthy & sick trees (healthy trees, dead branches, dying leaves)
A time for meaning & the meaning of time
The language of meaning
Parsimony complexity and meaning
Birth order and meaning
Science and meaning and the science of meaning
The meaning of individual & collective purpose