Meaning in Life: What is it and how do I get more?
It seems that many people are chasing some specific goal or achievement…it makes you wonder what is really important. How about achieving “meaning in life?” What is meaning in life and how do I get more? Do people confuse it with meaning of life? We interviewed Bradley McDaniels and we picked his brain on this important topic.
Who is Bradley McDaniels PhD, CRC?
Dr. McDaniels is an Assistant Professor and the Rehabilitation Studies Undergraduate program coordinator in the Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services at the University of North Texas. Prior to joining UNT, he earned his PhD from the University of Kentucky in Rehabilitation Counseling and subsequently accepted an Advanced Rehabilitation Research and Training Post-Doctoral Fellowship appointment, in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was focused exclusively on Parkinson’s disease. His research interests include psychosocial adaptation, quality of life, meaning in life, and apathy— in people with Parkinson’s disease.
1. What is Meaning in Life?
Meaning IN life (MIL) is distinct from meaning OF life, which is a difficult to define concept and is largely impossible to study because we can’t gather data on it. MIL has been defined as one’s subjective sense of purpose, values, self-worth, action-directed goals, and grappling with existential challenges. When people discuss MIL, there are three subjective judgments that people make about their lives: (a) Does my life have significance? Does it matter that I exist? Can I make sense of my life? (b) Does my life make sense? Do my beliefs and actions line up? (c) Does my life have a purpose? Am I directed and motivated by valued life goals? Depending on how one answers these questions will provide insight into whether their life has meaning.
2. Why does it matter?
The literature is full of studies addressing the value of MIL for a variety of important outcome measures. For instance, MIL is strongly associated with recovery from mental health issues, improved quality of life, lower levels of psychological stress, better physical well-being, increased resilience, more positive emotions and life satisfaction, improved self-esteem, and decreased mortality. Wow! I think most would take that list. Additionally, research suggests that MIL is beneficial when dealing with traumatic experiences in life, and a Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosis certainly qualifies. Following a PD diagnosis, qualitative changes begin – sometimes it means stepping away from one’s work, decreasing enjoyable physical activities, changes in relationships, and the associated questions of, “now what?” Reviewing the sources of meaning and identifying those that have personal significance to oneself it the first step, which is closely followed by increasing the frequency that one engages in them. Do more of what you love is a good rallying cry.
3. Where is Meaning In Life found?
The operative question here is, “What makes YOUR life meaningful?” MIL is subjective at its core and varies from person-to-person. Despite this, meaning is derived from several sources:
(a) Relationships
(b) Health
(c) Work (Paid or unpaid)
(d) Community
(e) Religion/Spirituality
(f) Organizations (eg, PMD Alliance, the Davis Phinney Foundation, The Parkinson’s Foundation, Michael J. Fox Foundation)
(g) Being in Nature
This list if far from exhaustive, but it covers the sources of meaning found in the literature. Meaning can be found in many places, and one’s main source of meaning may be lost, but that does not imply that life is over; to the contrary, it provides one with the opportunity to redefine meaning and actively seek it out. Ultimately, meaning is about defining and refining one’s identity, self-concept.
4. How do I apply this in my daily life?
(a) Assess how things are going in those meaningful areas in your life
(b) Allocate more time to those areas that are meaningful
(c) Share meaningful experiences with others (fosters relationships and community)
(d) Help others to identify and foster their own meaning
To read more books and articles by Michael S. Okun MD check on Twitter @MichaelOkun and these websites with blogs and information on his books and http://parkinsonsecrets.com/ #Livingwith Parkinson’s #EndingPD #Parkinsonsecrets #LessonsFromTheBedside
He also serves as the Medical Advisor for the Parkinson’s Foundation.
To see more on Dr. Indu Subramanian she does live interviews of experts in Parkinson’s for the PMD Alliance.
The blog artist is Jonny Acheson.
Selected References:
King LA, Hicks JA. The Science of Meaning in Life. Annu Rev Psychol. 2021 Jan 4;72:561-584. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-072420-122921. Epub 2020 Sep 8. PMID: 32898466.
Park CL. Making sense of the meaning literature: an integrative review of meaning making and its effects on adjustment to stressful life events. Psychol Bull. 2010 Mar;136(2):257-301. doi: 10.1037/a0018301. PMID: 20192563.
Vos J, Vitali D. The effects of psychological meaning-centered therapies on quality of life and psychological stress: A metaanalysis. Palliat Support Care. 2018 Oct;16(5):608-632. doi: 10.1017/S1478951517000931. Epub 2018 Sep 24. PMID: 30246682.