Meaning-Making Part 1
March 4, 2025
Meaning-Making Part 1
You are invited to this week's Daily Reflections on the topic of "Meaning-Making."
What are the most meaningful things in your life? Why are they so meaningful to you? Do they have meaning because of love, fascination, or perhaps because of a soul connection? This week, we reflect on the meaning of meaning itself, how we determine what is most meaningful to us, and the sacred art of meaning-making.
When something is significant, it is meaningful or "full of meaning." The word "meaning" comes from the word mean, which has its roots in the Old English mænan, which means "to signify, tell, complain, intend, plan or indicate."
If something is meaningful to us, it meets our own specific criteria of what is meaningful. We apply our criteria for meaning to everything under the sun. Something that doesn't meet those criteria isn't meaningful to us and therefore is not likely to be on outer radar. For example, for some people, the experience of visiting an art museum is very meaningful because their criteria for meaning in that area include experiences that educate, entertain, inspire, spark imagination, and present things that others have created. Those criteria are not meaningful for some people, so visiting an art museum would not be on their list of meaningful activities.
For some people, planting a vegetable garden is very meaningful because their criteria of meaning in that area includes fascination with growing things, making the earth more prolific, interest in organic foods, and delight in eating and sharing one's own produce. Some other people cannot relate to those criteria and, therefore, do not find meaning in planting vegetable gardens.
Meaning and the word “relate” are intertwined. For something to be meaningful to us, we must relate to it in some way. In relating to it, we have some sort of relationship with it. For example, a person who we do not relate to is probably less meaningful to us than someone with whom we do relate. Relating doesn’t mean that we necessarily feel positively about them; instead, it means that whether the person is disliked, loved, hated, or cherished, we relate to them on some level and, therefore, they carry some meaning for us. Dark or negative persons or circumstances may not be close to our hearts, but they are meaningful in their own ways.
Everyone has their own meaningful interests, people, possessions, and experiences. But the most commonly shared meaningful things are often family relationships, close friendships, romantic love, personal growth and accomplishment, belonging to something greater than themselves, work, connecting to nature, and creative expression. Family is consistently mentioned as the most significant source of meaning for many individuals.
Everyone pursues meaning, but various groups of people differ radically in their criteria of meaning. Even a sociopath who routinely breaks the law, has meaningful relationships, possessions, and activities, etc. Their criteria of meaning are for the most part very different from non-sociopathic individuals, and likely hone in on what they want regardless of the law or cultural mores.
Meaningful experiences can happen serendipitously, or they can be made. We do not have to wait for a meaningful thing to happen; we can learn the art of Meaning-Making.
Spiritual practice: Reflect on things that are genuinely the most meaningful to you. List them in order of importance. Is the outcome in alignment with your stated ideals?
Self-inquiry: What was the most meaningful experience you have ever had, and what made it so?
Dear God,
For the meaningful things in my life, I am grateful. They give me the reasons to rise each morning. Amen
