Finding Your Own Path (Finding Meaning and Purpose)

 Do you sometimes wonder what you’re supposed to do in your life? What is the best career for you? Well, this article can give you insight into your true purpose in life.

To understand the definition of meaning, we need to understand the PERMA-V model. Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology, created the PERMA model of flourishing, which identifies five important factors necessary for thriving: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, creator of the Flourishing Center in New York City, later enlarged the model to add Vitality, resulting in the PERMA-V framework.

The six aspects of the PERMA-V model of flourishing are:

1. Positive Emotion

   • Foundation for well-being, often known as the "Pleasant Life."

   • Mindfulness and savoring enhance the experience.

   • In everyday life, emphasis is placed on joy, thankfulness, and satisfaction.

2. Engagement

   • Involves experiencing "flow," in which time appears to fly.

   • Known as the "Good Life."

   • Achieved by applying strengths to enjoyable and difficult pursuits.

3. Relationships

   • It is essential for overall well-being and a sense of community.

   • Strengthened by Active Constructive Responding, a communication style that fosters deeper connections.

   • Includes relationships with partners, friends, colleagues, and family.

4. Meaning

   • Known as the "Meaningful Life."

   • Derived from using one's abilities to benefit something larger than oneself, such as a cause or community.

   • Gives a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment.

5. Accomplishment

   • Goals are achieved through hard work and dedication.

   • Grit and determination are traits that help people succeed and flourish.

6. Vitality (added by Emiliya Zhivotovskaya)

   • Focuses on physical well-being, which is necessary for mental thriving.

   • Includes:

     • Quality sleep.

     • Healthy eating.

     • Regular exercise.

     • Time spent in nature.

     • Overall physical health.

Each factor contributes uniquely to a flourishing existence, with optimal well-being reached through participation in all six areas.

Meaning, in the context of Seligman's PERMA model of thriving, refers to a deep sense of purpose that stems from using one's greatest strengths to contribute to something bigger than oneself. It is one of six pillars (in the extended PERMA-V model) that promote a fulfilling life, emphasizing values alignment, purpose, and a sense of belonging to a wider mission or community.

Meaning is related with the Meaningful Life, which is differentiated by the following characteristics: 

• Knowing your strengths entails recognizing and understanding what you do best.

• Service to others or a cause: Using such skills to contribute to something other than personal gain, such as assisting others, participating in community service, or pursuing a meaningful goal.

• Sense of purpose: The belief that your actions and efforts are meaningful and have a major influence.

Meaning is intertwined with other aspects of flourishing:

• Positive emotions encourage the pursuit of meaningful goals.

• Engaging in meaningful activities maintains interest and internal drive.

• Relationship fulfillment is frequently based on common goals and mutual support.

• Achievements linked to a sense of purpose promote a sense of fulfillment and resilience.

• Vitality improves the ability to seek and maintain meaningful undertakings.

In conclusion, meaning is an essential component of thriving and flourishing, offering a sense of significance and fulfillment that ties an individual's strengths to their larger surroundings and community.

Purpose

Baumeister describes purpose as a crucial component of meaning. Roy F. Baumeister is a well-known social psychologist who has published works on self-regulation, meaning in life, and the psychology of motivation and behavior (2002). It is the part of meaning that ties the present to the future, offering a sense of purpose and motivation. Goals and aspirations are common manifestations of purpose, providing individuals with a cause to behave as well as a framework for their life.

Baumeister suggests four key meaning-related demands that help us make sense of life:

1. Purpose

   • Provides a sense of direction by connecting present actions to future goals.

2. Values

   • Guide decisions between right and wrong and foster optimism about choices.

3. Efficacy

   • The belief in one’s ability to make a difference and effect change, creating a sense of control.

4. Self-Worth

   • Reflects the need to feel worthy and good about oneself.

Key Takeaways:

• Meaning comes from a variety of sources, including job, relationships, hobbies, and community involvement.

• These varied sources serve as protective factors, allowing for resilience if one source fails.

• The four needs for meaning might originate from various aspects of life, rather than from a single source. 

• Relationship to Happiness:

  • Meaning is essential but not sufficient for happiness.

  • A meaningful life enhances happiness, but meaning alone does not guarantee it.

Application to your life - Ikigai

I will be explaining the meaning of ikigai, which can lead you to your dream profession and life calling. Ikigai combines passion, mission, vocation, and profession

Ikigai Framework:

• Definition:

  1. Iki = life

  2. Gai = value or worth

  3. Together, it means life purpose, bliss, or reason for being.

• Core Idea: Identify the intersection of:

  1. What you’re good at

  2. What you love

  3. What the world needs

  4. What you can be paid for

Four Key Concepts:

There are four key concepts of ikigai and it can be followed with the diagram:

• Passion: Overlap of what you love and what you’re good at.

• Mission: Overlap of what you love and what the world needs.

• Vocation: Overlap of what the world needs and what you can be paid for.

• Profession: Overlap of what you can be paid for and what you’re good at.

• Ikigai: The center where all four circles overlap, representing your life’s purpose that brings joy and inspiration.

Career Decision-Making with Ikigai:

You can ask yourself the following questions to discover your dream career:

• Questions to Consider:

  1. What are you good at? (e.g., helping, presenting, solving problems)

  2. What do you love?

  3. How does what you love relate to what the world needs?

  4. How can you turn this into something you can be paid for?

• Steps to Integration:

  1. Identify your skills and passions.

  2. Reflect on societal or global needs that align with your passions.

  3. Explore professions where these intersections exist.

  4. Seek credentials or experience that bridge your interests and practical job opportunities.

Joseph Campbell’s Philosophy (1988):

• Quote from The Power of Myth:

  • “Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid; doors will open where you didn’t know they would.”

• Key Takeaway:

  • When you align your career with your bliss, opportunities naturally arise, connecting you to the right people and paths.

Benefits of Aligning with Ikigai:

• Cultivates joy and meaning in daily life.

• Encourages fulfillment by integrating passion, mission, vocation, and profession.

• Provides a structured approach to aligning career choices with personal values and talents.

Application:

• Translating Ikigai into a career ensures meaning, purpose, and significance in work.

• The framework inspires thoughtful decision-making to build a fulfilling and balanced life.

References:

• Baumeister, R. (2002). The Pursuit of Meaningfulness in Life. In Snyder, C. R., Lopez, S.J. Eds., Handbook of Positive Psychology. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

• Dyjack, D. (2020). Ikigai. Journal of Environmental Health, 83(5), 46–45. Ikigai - ProQuest

• Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary understanding of happiness and wellbeing. New York, NY: Free Press.