What finding meaning in life is for you Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What finding meaning in life is for you - Essay Example As we transition from childhood to adulthood, our experiences and mental capacities steer us in different directions. For example, in a school with 200 students who go through the same syllabus and share the same experiences, not all of them end up in similar careers. Some will find fulfillment in music, others will be inclined to pursue art, while some will end up settling in politics. In all the students, however, the common denominator is the fact that each of them sees their futures in different areas (Zimmerman 34). Individuals gravitate towards different things when seeking meaning in life, and this is what lead to fulfillment in different aspects. Meaning in life changes over time, but it can also be rigid. Again, this comes back to individual preferences and character. For example, at some point (e.g., in college) some people seek professional prosperity over other issues. However, once they attained this they start leaning towards other interests that they think are just as important in life. For example, a senior student in college may think, for a long time that getting a good job is the essence of life (Zimmerman 49). However, after building a successful career, the student may discover that having a family is the most important thing in life. As such, the career becomes secondary to family life. Other individuals may discover a newfound passion for business and community service, and then consider this to be the basis for their lives, relegating previous meanings to minor roles. The essence of a human being is to understand oneself and becoming self-actualized. This is part of finding meaning in life and that is what separates humans from animals. Human beings need to become aware of their surroundings, their priorities, and their trajectories (Zimmerman 83). In general, people who can be classified as having no meaning in life are often less