The Meaning of Life and Your Life’s Meaning

What gives your life meaning?  Does it have anything to do with the larger question of the meaning of life?  How do you find meaning?

Life’s big questions have offered challenge and despair to humans since the beginning of time.  A Colorado State University professor and a team of psychology students have taken on the task of studying this question of meaning in life, conducting interviews and administering tests in Michael Steger’s “Laboratory for the Study of Meaning and the Quality of Life.”

It is not surprising that among the findings emerging from the ongoing study is the one most of us already know.  When any task “is cloaked in purpose…,” many people find the toiling more meaningful.  Apart from Dr. Steger’s study, there is research outlining the impact of volunteerism in life’s search for meaning.

Those of us who run organizations like Rebuilding Together, think about volunteers all the time, and how crucial they are in delivering much needed services and skills in our communities. We know from first-hand experience what spending a day in a stranger’s home helping to make it safe and sound again can do for bringing purpose to tasks.   In the book, Social Work with Volunteers, author Michael Sherr notes that, “Volunteerism is one way reciprocal transactions can occur between different systems. People who volunteer learn new things and feel helpful and needed. People receiving assistance from volunteers benefit from the services and from knowing they are important enough for others to care about.”

Regardless of what gives your life meaning, chances are that it is not just one thing.  As we each find our own ways to create meaning, please consider volunteering.  Whether you choose to explore opportunities with us here at RTMD, or sign on with other groups that serve the metro Denver community, adding a stint or two of volunteerism to your life may just be one of the secret ingredients to finding the meaning of life, or your life’s meaning at least.

Sign up for one of our monthly volunteer orientation sessions.  Watch for news soon about regular training sessions where you can learn basic home repair techniques in exchange for a few hours of your time on a project.