We all want to live our lives with meaning.  To live with purpose, to know that who we are and what we do matters. We are innately wired to inquire of our own significance. To possess the desire to make a difference is common to the core of our existence.

As we wrap up the 8 Dimensions of Mental Health and Wellness we are looking at the last element which is spiritual wellness. While it will look different for each person, the basis of spiritual wellness is discovering a sense of meaningfulness in your life and coming to know that you have a purpose to fulfill. A meaningful life is more than a house, two cars and a picket fence. It is more than material possessions and even achieving fame or success. Those are all external factors that come and go. We know this to be true as we look to the life of King Solomon – the wisest and wealthiest man in the known world. He seemingly achieved it all…and decided that life was meaningless.

Everything is Meaningless

King Solomon (the suspected author), at the end of his life, wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes lamenting about the meaninglessness of life. He was gifted with unparalleled wisdom only second to Jesus Christ, devoting his life to answer the question that plagues every human – what is the meaning of life? He lived life with reckless abandon and absurd practices. He departed from his relationship with God to pursue his own pointless passions. The very fact that he wrote this book points to his recognition that life has no meaning apart from God as he laments how shallow and empty he found his life to be. We are created with eternity in our hearts. We derive a sense of purpose and fulfillment knowing that what we put our hand to has lasting value.

More than Accomplishments

Working my way back from burnout, finding meaning in life has been on the forefront of my mind. As I was finding my footing I had to look at my life and ask myself was my purpose in life wrapped up in the job that I was doing? Did I find meaning in my accomplishments alone? Was the extent of my purpose only achieved in the way I led or in the programs I started? Thankfully, I could say that my life had meaning and purpose, staying consistent from beginning to end. Many of you have worked at a job much longer than I have and quite successfully. Is your sense of meaning and purpose found in your accomplishments? Do you know who you are apart from what you do? When we merge the two without distinction, we are on a slippery slope of missing out on who we have been created to be…not do.

Lessons Learned

We can learn a lesson from Solomon’s life; meaning and purpose is not found in external factors or even within ourselves alone but only when we look to God, our creator. We have purpose simply because we belong to Jesus. Colossians instructs us: “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, … everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him (1:16 Msg). Not only is God the starting point of your life, He’s also the source of it. You are God’s idea. “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” Finding fulfillment is only found in our relationship with Christ. We are created with eternity in our hearts. Who we are and the effect we have on others is of lasting value. We have the ability to change lives and our corner of the world. If you could do anything in the world, what would you do? Would it be to help the poor? See people become all they were created to be? To be a good friend? We often mistake purposeful living as some grandiose achievement. How are you affecting change in your world?

Finding Meaning and Purpose

If you are looking for meaning in life or you are finding it difficult to find purpose apart from what you do, then practice the three steps below.

What are 3 ways you can find meaning and purpose in your life?

1. Through connection with God, your source of life. One of the best ways to connect to Jesus is to practice gratitude and thankfulness. Neurologically this turns your relational circuits on enabling you to experience connection.
2. Through connection with yourself. Learn to get comfortable with yourself. If there are parts of you that you do not like, then invite Jesus into those parts and experience his healing so you can discover your true self. It matters what you think about yourself. The self that God saw when he created you, when you live from your true self you will never want to be anyone else.
3. Through healthy connection with others. Practice love, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, goodness and self-control.