The Meaning of Life

Loved Derek, a wonderful reflection for my evolution. Life is life indeed and how wondeful is that fantastic creation of the Universe.I am learning every minute how to live my own life deeply. Thanks for your ideas! Musically Anaya

LIFE IS OPPORTUNITY. I know it's a catch-all but everything you've referred to (to do, achieve, experience) is just that... an opportunity, and LIFE is the vehicle for endeavor... for without it, there is no opportunity to endeavor.

I especially like the part about "fixed mindset." Life has limits already (time, you won't live forever; choice, you can't do everything...) so don't add to the limits by fixing your mindset!

Very nice. When you talked about choice, I was reminded of this rule/aphorism that has guided me while making decisions (even "major" ones)... "When the difference is great, the right choice is obvious. When it isn't, it probably doesn't matter which one you choose!"

Just like life itself, WE choose to give our choices meaning. Thanks for sharing this, Derek.

The meaning of life is to get up in the morning, look yourself in the mirror and like what you see.

Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts on a (former) complicated issue!

"The success of one's life depends on one's ability to forget what is not relevant to the present moment" - Amma (Mata Amritanandamayi Devi)

ha! I thought it'd be interesting to hear your thoughts, and in the end it was a reflection of my own - just put together in a clear way ;)

Some good tips in there on how you can lead a happier life, so thanks!

I have always lived my life this way.

Life is life. Profound and whimsical at the same time. Make of it what you can, live it as long as you can. Life is connection..from DNA on up...connection resonates throughout all the definitions. Just asking the question creates connection..hope all is well, Derek. Love hearing from you.

This is perfect! I see another TED talk in your future. You have once again inspired me. I just wanted to let you know that you have had a major impact in my life. Watching you follow your dreams over the past 8 years has motivated me to do the same. Thank you for all that you do and keep pumping out greatness brother.

Life is infinite. No limits, no boundaries.
Because life is not just about us, human beings.
Life is a vast creation of energies.
Life is a mystery.

Pretty good argument and discussion indeed, Derek.
Cheers!

I prefer the Monty Python version although I guess it comes to the same conclusion!

Thank you. I will rediscover your talk in the coming months. These warm days I'm walking along the coast and when it cools again I'll be playing with programming again, I hope your programming is going well :)

the empty canvas approach--what does life mean to me--the purpose is the gift you receive in order to give.

Yes Derek - great post to get a person thinking - but personally I think you left out the essence of what is life? Why are we here? and Where are we going? The spiritual part - to many the most important part. Maybe you did it on purpose to not be preaching - but to me the things you said are true and meaningful but there is much more. How did I come to exist? What is my purpose greater than myself? Life is not a random collection of our choices - it is the sum total of these choices added up and if done well can have great meaning, benefit and result. You can look at it phonically or look a little deeper . . .
Keep up the good work!
Steve

Life is LIVING! Period, that's my answer.

With a degree in science, an interest in plants and animals I find the simple answer to your query is living. We ask ourselves, is he still alive? When inquiring about a person, or in the case of a wilted plant, is it alive. Life is living, nothing more , nothing less.

and yet, it can have purpose or be lived with purpose! :)

The best article and thinking that you have put together. My sincere congratulations. Being a physicist and musician I have thought about these things as long as I can remember. To me life is one of the multitudes of natural parts of the evolution of this Universe. What it means in detail is what we ended up being when we were born and continued evolving during our life time. If we don't evolve fast or effectively enough we will disappear. Science has proven that babies know right from wrong, good and bad from evolution at birth. If animals didn't know that then they would be cast out of the pack and could not survive alone. And your last statements are true as long as we, as a whole, conform to the important aspects of what we learned during evolution. Thanks for your write up.

IMHO this talk really sets people free - and I absolutely love it! - I hope many people will watch this or listen to it, and that they will get the point. To help out with this, I will be glad to share this, because I do absolutely agree.

For me, personally, it's always a pleasure to be inspired by your positive output. - Thank you very much, Derek! - Please keep it coming!

Life is Chinese. I got it!

You blew me away there at the end!

I love how you give great tools for enriching LIFE (awesome bit on memory!) then hit us with the beautiful truth that life IS up to us to apply meanings as we choose.

“If you’re not the hero of your own novel, then what kind of novel is it? You need to do some heavy editing.” -Terence McKenna

Thanks for the sermon this morning, Derek! It's gonna be a fine fine day!

Good bit of homework Derick. You must have worked hard:) Reminded me of Landmark Forum where one "gets" that life is meaningless. There's what happens. And there's what we make it mean. I like the power of realizing that if I don't like my story I can author one that I like. The past is done. The future I can invent.

next time try giving the conclusion first and then the listener/reader can decide whether or not to continue. i knew I should have trusted my instinct (based on reading many of your previous posts) and just skipped to the end to start with. Life is what you make it.

how about doing what you love doing, that is good for your spirits, and keep going?
musically yours
jc

Great post! Loved it.

I like the reduction of concepts into single words. You have shown us the base pattern of philosophies by pairing one word with "life" and taught to anyone who recalling a simple list. Capping it off with saying life has no meaning reminds us we can use the patterns however we want.

I have found meaning I the phrase life has no meaning.

You got the Buddhist part wrong. They do not claim that life is suffering, merely that suffering exists. One cannot deal with an aspect of life before accepting that it is there. You should probably read a little about Buddhism. I believe you will find it very interesting and possibly an additional path to happiness. I found these insights to be greatly inspired by the buddhists view on life: http://themindunleashed.org/2013/11/9-mind-bending-epiphanies-that-turned.html.

Derek,

I am too intimidated to write to you as I realize you and your followers are far more intelligent than I, but I just wanted to say "Thank You" for all your enlightening work.
You have helped me immensely in my life.

Thank you!!

Michelina

You've assembled various thoughts that I, and probably everyone else, have had over our lives and never really did anything to connect the dots. Why were you able to do it and not me? Time, effort, IQ, ................ I don't know and I don't care.

I enjoyed reading it and will pass it on to my son (16) and hope he gets something from it.

Now, for something completely different................ Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.

Life is a Noun - like a pencil. Use it! :)

Thank you, Derek, for some great thoughts on the most important subject of all: exploring ideas on how best to live life. I've learned more from you, Malcolm Gladwell, and Talking Heads lyrics ("how did I get here?") than the combined wisdom of all my teachers and mentors. Let's say life is CREATING things, whether it's a concept, a product, a structure, an organization, a piece of art, or a series of books that helps millions of people and dozens of countries. A person starts with an idea, and then proceeds to make that idea a reality. And there's no better example of this than you yourself, Derek. You have ideas, and you then proceed to assemble a team of people to execute your ideas. You are an inspiration.

Derek, I enjoyed this a lot! Thank you for having worked so hard with it :-) Coming to such a conclusion is quite liberating.

Life is eternal, once you have come to that enlightenment all the other parts of you're thoughts discussed in this piece makes a peaceful solution.

Life is hard.

Great post, Derek! I like the idea that life has no inherent meaning besides that which we give it. If there was some kind of universal objective meaning, how would we know it? Aren't we each perceiving the world through our own filters and experiences, and not seeing reality as it truly is? Deep thoughts. Personally, I'm loving being alive! And I want to enjoy it as long as it lasts.
I did find a possible typo: "Erase those times where people that this means that. None of it is real." (Did you forget the word "say"?)

I could have saved you a lot of time if you had asked. There is no meaning. You're born, you live, you die. Nothing before. Nothing after. Simple.

Henning: your link doesn't work completely because of the period after html. Others: try this:
http://themindunleashed.org/2013/11/9-mind-bending-epiphanies-that-turned.html

Life is a state of mind, perception, and yes, nothing, and everything.

Maybe is not bad, but what`s the matter of it is personal ability

H Derek
Life is my life, I am alive
What is meaning of everybody's "my life?" It is something that cannot be added as all life can only be experienced by one only: my life. Then all may ask separately what is the meaning of my life? Then I come to René Descartes: "I cannot doubt that I exist. I must be a very objective truth, even when I don't know the truth about myself". As I exist as an objective truth, I MUST have true properties. So I give right or wrong meaning to myself, which honor and describe or deny my true properties. How would I know the difference? If I give the right meaning to myself I must feel content, at peace, no internal conflict as my meaning and what I am and log to be ( in that context, meaning is always context based) matches the Truth about myself. Any wrong meaning must therefore give me wrong feelings, feelings I don't feel happy about as I try to find a resource in an illusion. Illusions or wrong meaning is only language referring to itself, the opposite of what language is.
So the meaning of my life is to find out what I am in the context of places and time where I find myself. So the meaning of live is get to know yourself because you are alive.

Nice learning today

Hey Derek, great job. I wanted to say all of this, on my CD Life Is... well you got it all in place. I am still on my way, but you are working hard tomorrow, yesterday and today. Love what you're saying, l will be happy to forward this to family and friends.

Thanks! But from what I've read, Buddhists don't believe "Life is suffering," although they do acknowledge that, if you don't mitigate it, then suffering exists. The third and fourth Noble Truths are "There is an end to suffering" and more specifically "Follow the Eight-fold Way to end suffering"

Oui... it was my first option...
Life simply IS.
To be lived fully... in all its colours, tastes, sounds, feelings... touching all you meet and feeling how they light or not by theirs, yours.
And sometimes it is to be silent and grow from inside you just connecting with Nature... taking all the sensations we can fully... The Ocean's depth, its inhabitants... The trees and how they speak when the wind blows gently, The rain onto leaves, animals who stare into you and seem to know more about you than the humans you meet and speak all the time... :D
And more challenges every day of your life, because the world is changing and so are we... We learn at each step how to become more...
I just came back from a conference in Kona, swimming with dolphins, pilot whales and Manta Rays... I am still under the spell of the ocean, and these were emotional and life changing encounters... And Music is poring out of me so freely.
Thank you Derek and much love to you.
A smile from London UK
Annemarie

And, of course, life is... being. You ask questions, and we wonder, whilst you are also able to say "leave the questions behind," as we should. Thank you.

Thank you!
The end of your video made me think of a sentence: "we'd better accept __ as it is". The first time I think that way, it was about "cheese/fromage".

One of my college, a Romanian girl, studied for her master's degree in an Asia city. In that city, the only "cheese" she could easily find is "tofu/豆腐", and there they call it "vegetable cheese".

"It's not cheese at all", she told us.
Then I asked "It is not cheese for sure. But don't you like tofu? Isn't it delicious?"
"No. It is not cheese!"

She would never like tofu, if she always think it should be "cheese" (only because of the name, "vegetable cheese").

Similarly, I sensed that I would never like cheese here in France, if I just don't accept it as it is. Though I usually didn't think of tofu in eating cheese, I did try to think up a certain food that could have similar taste.

But again, it is a taste, and is about "tasting" the object "itself".

- Hongying

Hi Derek,

here is the most effective solution:

A Buddhist framework suggest there are four aims to life: (1) physical health and pleasure, (2) wealth and things and family, (3) becoming a perfect person, and (4) finding your greater purpose...

http://www.fastcompany.com/3001583/fast-exercises-find-your-purpose-and-passion-work

As far as the point 4, in my opinion, if you are pretty good at being and doing in relation to the 3 previous points, you don't need any greater purpose because you are approaching the best version of yourself :

“Knowing others is wisdom; knowing yourself is enlightment" by Lao Tzu.

Anyway, you are an avid reader, here are a couple of tips about the subject:

http://www.amazon.com/Four-Purposes-Life-Direction-Changing/dp/1932073493/peacefulwarrior

http://www.amazon.com/Essentialism-The-Disciplined-Pursuit-Less/dp/0804137382

All the best!

Fab

Great work as usual Derek! Love the logic, structure, and examples. Also the simplicity of the "ml" link, and the final sentence capturing your book title "anything you want"..

Congratulations!

Good stuff! I'd add life is also about connections. We are social animals wired for connecting with others. If we had a life void of connections we would not be happy or live long. When we have and nurture strong connections are lives are more complete.

Thanks Derek!

Derek you are a true Gem!

Life is an accident in this universe and in the same time is one very rear possible form of its nature.Life is the most sophisticate development of the universe.
I agree to say that for us life doesn't mean anything.

This is so funny! I'm waiting for a call from a friend to have her sort out the 'meaning' of an event in my life and, while I'm waiting, I read this! What does THAT mean? That all answers come from Derek?? : ) Thank you for choosing to give the time and share your memory and learning with me!

Awesome. I guessed right at the beginning, but hearin this or reading it could help billions of folks!

"Nothing has inherent meaning. Everything is only what it is and that's it."
That's pretty good.

For me, Life is experiencing what I create.

Love, B

Once again a sterling idea and process. My answer is simple. After a rejection of a song I thought had hit written all over it and in a fit of rage one day I railed at God, "What is the meaning of LIfe?" My 8 year-old daughter watching me nearby replied, "To enjoy, daddy!" I, of course, broke down sobbing and hugging her. As they say out of the mouth of babes. It's been my philosophy ever since.

Another awesome post Derek. I'm so glad I've had the chance to know you and follow your work here on this blog. It really is a breath of fresh air. You've inspired me to get back to my writing (the thing that puts me into that coveted state of "flow") and I'm now 125 pages into a new novel that I plan to release later this year.

After that I'm going to pick up traveling and write about my (mis)adventures from the road and inspire other quarter life crisis kids to get out there and take risks. Really scrape the marrow out of life's bones.

Looking forward to reading more, and THANK YOU! :)

"What is the meaning of life?" This is a leading question which would be inadmissible if asked as part of a court proceeding. It assumes there is a meaning of life, and then asks what is that meaning. The proper question to ask would be "Is there a meaning of life?" A yes answer to that question would then lead to a further exploration and further subsequent questions, such as "What is the meaning of life?" A no answer would end the inquiry, unless you then ask "Why is there not a meaning of life?" But then you become a dog chasing its tail, and you'd probably wind up with a Ph.D. in philosophy and a teaching job here at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

The answer at the end of the lecture does not address the question, as it does not provide a meaning of life. The negative answer cannot prove the existence of the question which requires a positive affirmation. Nothing can't affirm something.

That's why the math teacher considered the question an unsolvable problem. It was not asked in a way that it could be answered. So, there is no answer to the question since the question is not asked in a way it can ever be answered. The dilemma lies not with the student for not being able to answer the question. The dilemma lies with the teacher for not being able to ask the question.

In actuality, the answer at the end of the lecture does answer the unasked question "Is there a meaning of life?" and not the stated question "What is the meaning of life?" A very fine hair to split which means absolutely nothing when standing against a double white chocolate mocha on a Starbuck's Saturday Afternoon.

But the question is a good exercise in how easy it is to lead people down a dead end path, a distraction, an argument based on a premise which can't exist, and a tempest in a teapot. With that being said, it's a great lecture filled with lots of insightful things that make you think, kinda rare anymore. For that reason this latest offering by Derek Sivers, like all his work, is worth its weight in gold!

And Derek's words prompt you to ask and answer your own questions that fit your own life by using your own mind. To ask questions which fit your reality, rather than answer questions that fit another's reality. To march to your own drum and dance to your own tune. What a concept! Perhaps that's the answer to the question "What is the meaning of life?" To be an individual for once, a truly unique person and not a copy of other individuals. And who knows where it could go from there? Being an individual might actually become habit forming and cause you to want to create a thing of beauty (and therefore taxable under IRS Pub.525).

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"--
before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Everything is meaningless!"

Many good points, but life is relationship. The meaning of life is relationship. It is the single most important characteristic of life experience. Our effectiveness in life is defined by our effectiveness in relationship, and our quality of life is defined by the quality of our relationships. So... 1) Time. How well did we spend our time to build quality relationships. 2) How did our choices affect the quality of our relationships. 3) Memory. What memories are the most important? Simple. The one's that involve our relationships. 4) Learning. What pursuits are of any real substance if they do not make relationships possible? Think carefully about this one. Many pursuits are tempting, but if they result in isolation, then maybe they hurt more than they help. Shared learning, though, benefits all. Just a few thoughts. Here's a good movie that teaches a lot on the subject. http://www.amazon.com/Wit-Christopher-Lloyd/dp/B00005MKKV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399221495&sr=8-1&keywords=Wit

...and in another year you will have a whole new interpretation of this piece. Rock on Derek!! Thank you for making us think...

"Life is EXPERIENCE" ... it's how God experiences himself through all life he created. DNA is not cloned exactly when we procreate, it actually creates a new being a culmination of two, never exactly the same way. Another could be "Life is ENERGY" as this is our "lifeforce", this is our "connection to all" this is our connection to each other, through our heart/souls energy our "original chi" so to speak, the spark that created us..., our minds thoughts/intentions is another type, the energy we create through the act of love or love making, or meditation, exercise, martial arts and or even running is another kind of energy / lifeforce that can add to our time here... The kind of energy we consume... can either shorten or lengthen our life here. Life is truly ENERGY and EXPERIENCE I believe. Together... ENERGY and EXPERIENCE are CREATIVE so life is also CREATIVE. Life creates other life...other energy, "Life is ever expanding" Because it's Energy and Experience and Creative, it will continue to grow or build or create, whatever word you'd like to use, life expands on itself. It moves outward and works with other energies /life that cannot be seen with our limited senses..."Life is sentient" it is emotional, and this is why music effects life... music is frequency energy that life FEELS :) Ah what a gloriously tangled mass of energy we are.

This is an excellent study.

In my humble experience, Life is all of these things but also - life is CREATION and life is a PARADOX. Life is what we create it to be and life is also an amazing paradox in meaning. If you take life too seriously, the wind will knock you on your butt but if you treat life with reckless abandon, that will possibly lead you to lots of pain. People who manage the paradox of life and take it all in are the ones who seem to get the most out of life to me.

Your lecture lead me to think, contrary to your conclusion, that meaning has the last laugh, that life is drenched in meaning (ie. infinite potential connections waiting to be made.) We're not wired to see meaning, meaning is inescapable, reality is relational whether we like it or not. Soooo, the answer to your question seems to me to be that the meaning of life is what it means to you.

Still doesn't spoil the movies on soul searching…

Someone once held up a knife to me and said, "this knife has no idea why it exists and never can".

On the other hand there are writings like:

"The ten thousand things rise and fall whilst the Self looks on" Lao Tzu.
"The many change and pass. The One remains." Bible
"Before Abraham was - I am." JC

We can give life a meaning. We can search for our cause. So life can be a quest or not - but either way "choice is the cross that man must bear."

Thanks once again for great reflections.

Thanks for sharing Derek. In other word, life is what you make of it. So, make the most of it and make it worth living :-)

Goodness, what an elaborate exercise in sophistry!

Look, there are only two root possibilities: either life has a meaning and it's hidden from us (as religion asserts but also some prominent physicists who believe there is evidence we're in a simulation), or else life has no intrinsic meaning and it's up to us.

While the physicists devise their esoteric experiments and the preachers yammer from the pulpits, let's have a brief look at option 2.

We exist, we suffer, then die. Assuming that's all there is (this IS option2!) then it's up to us to decide the purpose of life and wrest control of it. Suffering is a good place to start. Let's work to minimize that or, possibly eliminate it entirely. Let's also lay the bottom blocks for a humanity that no longer has to die and no longer kills each other over resources and strange belief systems

I'm a scientist, that's what MY meaning of life is. I work hard to add a few small bricks to the wall of human knowledge so that the next generation of scientists can add to the wall just like I did until one day a child will be born who will never suffer or die and for whom everything is possible.

By the way, if it turns out to be the case that we exist within a simulation (again,physicists are actually working to test this theory), then I realize all we've done is kick the question of life up one level. For possibly the best book ever written on this subject (written in 1964!) try Simulacron 3 by Daniel Galouye:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacron_3

The late Jim Rohn inspired me when he said something close to "Life is about creating your own philosophy and learning to communicate it effectively.

My two dearest philosophies to date are "Pay the creator " and my new book "Win Anyway " now available on Amazon.com.

Derek I do always enjoy your emails and blogs.

Annie Mcloone,Adam Bard,Unni Koroth,Pphanireddy,Steve Fritz,Henning Kvinnesland,Derek N.,Hong ying,Anaya Kunt,Jon England,Mike Dever,Dr. Mani,Hans A.,Axel N.,Stefan D.B.,Greg Chako,Brooksie Wells,Issac B.,Ian,Rongen Robles among several others had interesting responses to this question.

I also have said "Life is the ultimate fight game "

Keep fighting peacefully to change this existence for the better.

Paytc

@ Terry D. #75 or should I say professor Terry? I prefer the term "Theosophy" because we have proof of what some call "Miracles" now the term "Paranormal" is almost accepted terminology. Does life need to have a meaning or is this just as arrogant as science which proclaims that something doesn't exist if it can not be proven and reproduced?

The French Canadian writer Teilhard De Chardin put it simply: "We are not humans on this earth having a spiritual experience; rather spirits having a human experience.

In the womb, you feared you would die once separated from your mother's umbilical cord. But you were wrong. Death often gives way to life.

I'm keeping an open mind. (Not so open that I trip over my brain) But zero substance/enery and the string theory could explain religion n'est–ce pas? I'm smart enough not to pretend I know.

Consider a song in a CD. It is not a "song" if it can't be experienced as a song. All that world does is to create perceptions to happen to "I". There are many in this world who have gone this route and have something interesting to tell. Without that kind of exploration, the question can't get a right context in the first place.

A lot of truths here, but not about Buddhism - the point of Buddha was teach to recognition that suffering exists - the question is - do we deal with it as victims or creators? Resigned, or learning? There are many forms of Buddhism, some of which are more dogmatic than others.

To me....life is about the discovery and growth of a relationship with a Spirit that is True Life. The Spirit of freedom, love, and prosperity that was made available to mankind but man has to choose it; thus, owning his choice no longer being indebted to God, the world, or another man. This man now acts out of the abundance and appreciation of the Gift and "wealth of all things" he now possesses which is the arms, hands, and feet of Love expressed to others.

The one that offers this Spirit is God which He gave through His Son, Jesus Christ. If we believe, and accept, God's act of Love at the Cross where Christ released the Spirit of God to mankind, we receive God's best - the Life of Christ - for man to drink from satisfying our thirst once and for all no longer being buffeted by the tactics of fear employed by those that want to control the lives of others. The Life of Christ, the Holy Spirit, drives out fear because the man that possesses IT is no longer in fear of judgment - his debts to God (sin) have been paid in full by the Blood of Christ once and for all. Sounds far out there but I made choice as a young man and get to experience "the relationship" more and more in my life as the years progress. I believe, Freedom OR bondage does not come through a nation, government, race, our past, or another man - it comes through the presence, or absence, of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit in our lives; life now becomes about experiencing, or becoming more aware, of this Gift of Freedom - a Gift that can NEVER be separated from the man that accepts it by another man.

Life is a journey in which we are supposed to be kind to people along the way.

Your talk on the meaning of life, as with everything you share, is provocative! Thank you for your generosity in allowing us to see inside your head.
However, for myself, I missed your smiling face when hearing the words. I missed the energy, curiosity, joy etc. so evident when you are speaking.
I just realized that there are other things online and www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYTN7yVYbeg and particularly liked the one linked above on failure.
Is there some central place where one can go to see your talks? Keep your evolving wisdom
coming . . .

Hey Derek, All very nice but if you're quiet and think a little more - you';; probably feel that there is something to life. Something really big and profound.

They REAL meaning of life is to determine which is superior; a wound 3rd string for better sustain or a smooth 3rd string for quicker shredding.

Here is the link http://www.amazon.com/win-anyway-ultimate-life-coach/dp/0971327920/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_to p

Hopefully this link words if not put the words "pay the creator " into the Amazon search bar. The support is appreciated! I do hope you find it most helpful.

Paytc

Just great! Thanks for sharing.

Beautifully done.

And a great beginning.
Keep going. :-)

much love, Jon

Interesting. For me it is a bit to "I" focused. By that I mean that a life is best defined by the impact it has on others (people, etc.). As such, I agree that our life is a blank slate and each day we have the opportunity to write what ever we choose, but if we focus on the chances the day presents to us to improve (even in the smallest ways) an others life, our own life will be magnified. Everything else is just the noise we all have to deal with to breath the air.

Life is what we make of it and more…

Brilliant, as usual. I wonder how would go a conversation about this theme between you (Derek Sivers) and Eckhart Tolle. If you ever have this conversation, please record it and send us the link :)

Too nihilistic a view. I see that you are saying one makes it what it is. In a sense i agree in that your mind in its sanity or confusion determines how your life is lived and what you project and perceive. But you really have to define what "real" means. (It is pretty funny that i am currently taking a course called, "What is Real? the Basic Goodness of Reality")When you say Life is just Life, that sounds to me like you are saying Life is Real. Or at least that it is itself. But if it's not real, what is it? Is a projection real? Is your perception real? Is compassion and serving others real? What is necessary? If nothing means anything, does it matter if a life is wasted and a person causes others and oneself a great deal of unhappiness and suffering? Does is mean anything that the truth of impermanence is or is not heeded? We all want happiness. We all do not want to suffer. Is that true?
Just some thoughts......Do you meditate?

Most of us have had experiences that appear to be completely random. But other times, the possibility that there is some mysterious current moving in one's life, that has nothing to do with randomness, holds equal weight. I often refer to those times as "hands of the gods" moments, when all the little hairs on the back of your neck rise up--speaking of instincts, fears, and gut feelings! This can be marvelous, the feeling that yes, I'm on the right course. Or, possibly the wrong course!

So far as memory, I've always like what Utah Phillip's had to say on the subject: "Yes, the long memory is the most radical idea in this country. It is the loss of that long memory which deprives our people of that connective flow of thoughts and events that clarifies our vision, not of where we're going, but where we want to go.” Utah was a good friend of mine, and I know he found great satisfaction and purpose in his work as a historian, and passing on his insights to us through his wonderful songs and stories.

life is.

Life Is. Your purpose is to be happy.

Life is.

There is a lot of interesting dialog about Buddhism in this forum. I think the meaning of life has many definitions and varies from person to person and from group to group. It seems rather limiting to claim that the meaning of life has a single meaning when as human beings living between multiple universes and unlimited entities we are so complex. I also have come to believe that success is a continuously evolving paradigm that has many steps and often no ending.
Success has a different meaning to different people. An unemployable drug dealer is considered successful to his sphere of influence while an attorney who will only defend clients that can afford his or her services is considered to lack morals which some consider hugely unsuccessful.
Everyone is different and while this video made many good points I think the meaning of life is different for different people and different groups and depends on being candid about current objectives. Specifically, if you live in a country governed by apartheid then the meaning of life for the rulers of that country is to implement apartheid laws and the meaning of life for the citizens who oppose apartheid is to figure out a way to eradicate it or them. This is an entirely different set of definitions for the meaning of life.
As always, enjoy reading and listening to your teachings, Derek.

I did a little experiment after reading the headline of this post.
Instead of reading it I closed my eyes and tried to guess in advance Derek's answer and how it would compare to my own.
My conclusion was exactly the same! - My first thought was: life has whatever meaning we choose to give it.
This may mean that life has as many meanings as people's minds on this planet. So about 7 billion possible meanings because, to each and everyone of us, life means a different thing. Thanks Derek you just made my life a tiny more meaningful :P

Like.
Would you agree that we only project when there's a lack of meaning? I actually suspect that cavemen didn't debate the meaning of life, because they were enjoying it's magic too much.
I think the whole meaning of life thang resembles that we have lost touch with our roots; that we feel lost, but don't know what is missing. We made choices that made us feel shitty, but we forgot which they were. And because our memory and ratio are just f*cking impaired, we will never remember.

Great Derek! Life is an idea. Thats it.

Thank you very much. I really feel you are contributing something positive and useful to humanity.

Someone else on tis forum pointed out that the meaning of life has to do with the impact each person has on another. That is an interesting assertion. I would imagine that is a far reaching question. Especially for people who think the impact of the African Slave trade impacts modern day people although some claim that their parents and grandparents were uninvolved in slavery, despite the fact that the baby boomers and senior citizens have nearly direct links to the slave trade. Some people think there is a gross lack of education about certain topics where some people think you can tell a complete story by leaving out certain points.

Yes, we are free to project meaning that serves ourselves, but self appetite is never satisfied, and its path leads to disappointment and sorrow. Having hope for the life beyond the grave is what truly makes life worth living.
"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 1:4 NIV
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind." Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

Yes . . . .
Life is Life . . . .
As certainly
As You are You
And I am Me!

After I read every book I could get my hand on on this subject, and studied the religious and spiritual views.. I came to two conclusions about the meaning of life.

1. You define its meaning, based on the factors of how you live it. In other words, as stated, whether by Choice, Time, DNA, etc.. But know that you can CHANGE this meaning at any time. Hence, the growth view holds much weight here.

2. Life is sharing. You were in a person, she carried you, she shared her food with you, etc. At the very least, we owe it to ourselves to share the gift of life with others. And I am not referring to procreation.

I mean.. What good is it to have scaled mountains, become a rock star, read a thousand books, become president, achieved an enlightened level, loved and lost.. to just simply die and not have anything left for someone to grow from?

When you apply meaning to your life that is geared to help others grow, you yourself grow. It is a throwback to the seed level, where we came from. We then become creators of life. The next Einstein may become that by enjoying a picture you drew, followed by a book she wrote, and a letter that person sent. The sooner we allow for the fact that we are one, the sooner this pesky question can be put to rest.

We learn from our past to bring to the present to help us make positive decisions for our brighter future. I think all the topics you have mentioned are a combination that will bring us happiness and a sense of fulfillment.

Hey Derek,

Fun discussion, fer sure. =)

After 5 minutes of thought on the subject, I've concluded the following (of course, if given more thought, I may change my opinion):

Life Is (and will become) What One Thinks About...

-----------------------------------------------------------------
What is the meaning of life? LIFE IS ______

TIME? - a simple fabrication of human thought. An arbitrary designation. A lifetime can be lived in a moment or thoughtlessly wasted for a seeming eternity

CHOICE? - thought leads to choice as choice leads to action (cause/effect)

MEMORY? - change your thoughts about memories of past events & those same memories can simultaneously change... in the twinkling of an eye. Like scratching a LP record never allows it to play exactly the same way again.

LEARNING? - we learn what we "think" about learning. If we think about nothing... well, you catch my drift.

SUFFERING? - we change our thoughts/beliefs about suffering and those very thoughts can instantly disappear... or intensify

LOVE? - (see Suffering above)

REPLICATING DNA? - funny thing... scientific/peer reviewed studies have concluded that we can actually (physically) change our DNA by changing our thoughts. Weird, huh? Actually, that's a pretty deep subject on many levels.

LIFE IS (just) LIFE. IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. - *see... that's a thought, too. LOL
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Derek, I think that your closing message is very empowering and will no doubt help many folks... if they happen to share the same rationale.

Change your THOUGHTS, change your LIFE.

Your thoughts? =)

Think You,
Dan

Loved it. I like to say that "life is sharing", i think it's my way to see life. That helps me to do good things to other people and both of us to be happy about it. But "life is life" is also a nice way. You can do whatever you want in your life and it will be somewhat meaningful to you. Thanks, Derek!

Doesn't "Stop at good enough" completely contradict "It's either HELL YEAH! or no."?

Or ... meaning flows from your actions ... in other words, it's a result ... always there, to be drawn out ... like any lesson in life ...

Do I think Black americans should get reparations?
This 'meaning of life' question just has potentially thousands of far reaching implications. Like whether or not Black americans who cannot pay for their expenses and what they need should get reparations because of the way Black families were kidnapped and forced into america and Jim Crow laws set Black families economically behind illegal immigrants and other immigrant groups. Then when people become unemployable they are a burden on the Government. Government handouts are not reparations. Who was that person that defined Government handouts is something one group called a trap that appears to be help that everybody who likes to see people fail stand around and get a kick out of; or gets their jollies off. Reparations is compensation for damages; and further not being ripped off through schemes and being forced to pay for unnecessary expenses that should be covered by other means. I think we could go on for years about what the meaning of life is for different people and groups. Above all I think it starts with being honest about the foundation of people, places and situations. Otherwise, you get an incomplete story and in the end nobody wins.

re: Derek Sivers, The math of Meaning of Life
It's just a simple question: Life = L+i+f+e.
1. L is Love. Without Love, life as "if (should) end "? As human form of life, our love including physically and mentally. the objects of love can be others, things, dreams, self, natures, gods...in certain forms or formless.
2. I is myself, me, self. So we are created to handle and control our own life. We should continually discover true self. Without self responsibility, without life. However, Love is first, I (myself) is the second. Keep love , keep life. Love can be a big love, but the basic is to love yourself , so that you can function your life.
3. F is fun, freedom. Without fun and freedom, Life sounds "Lie". You can hear birds singing everyday, you can hear chidren fun screaming. young people some more interested in sexual fun... it's just normal. If you can not find any fun in your life, someone lie to you, or you lie to yourself, or your lost. If you lost, go back to beginning, love first, love big, love yourself, you should find fun again.
4. E is end and endless. Human form life has time limitation, has span. While love can be has memory forever. So, don't waste time. Love more, discover more, having fun. And remember that any "end" just part of Life. e.g. end of a career? end of a business? end of a relationship? end as not successful again? end of empty bank account? It's normal. As long as we still have life, We can have endless end in our daily life, it's just like get up and go to bed ..until End of wake up physically, by the end is True self wake up. Love again...

I bet most people will *like* this. But a mere 20 minutes leaves too many arguments caked with fallacies, my dear Mr. Sivers. But I'll join the fun! A few small thoughts. Patterns are so relevant in scientific discovery & in our orbit. They're very important for safety, for relationships, for identifying who is reliable and worthy of our trust. They're absolutely necessary for navigation… for music, meditation, creating discipline. And then this: Instinct is subconscious math. Not on the same plane as emotion, though an emotion may be triggered as a result.

That final argument: everything is meaningless? Maybe. It's the beginning text of the book of Ecclesiastes. But then… we don't really know. 40+2 is a problem. The question of the meaning of life appears to be more of an archeological study or a series of surprise birthday parties. For some of us, just the excavation and the encounter creates what "life is".

"Life is God's joke on us. It's our mission to figure out the punchline."
- John Guarrine

"Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering and it's all over much too soon."

- Woody Allen

"If you want my final opinion on the mystery of life and all that, I can give it to you in a nutshell. The universe is like a safe to which there is a combination. But the combination is locked inside the safe."

- Peter De Vries

"I believe in living every day like it’s your last day. Which is why I never have any clean clothes. Who wants to do laundry on the last day?
"
- Anonymous

Sure, everyone always said “Socrates what is the meaning of life?” or “Socrates how can I find happiness?” Did anyone ever say “Socrates, hemlock is poison?”

- Anonymous

"If life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car.
And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are."

- Jim Steinman

(Quotes borrowed from JokeQuote.com)

Isn't it wonderful that life is a blank slate that we have no limits to create, contribute, give, serve...He put us here for that purpose.

Derek,

Great writing , your words always inspire and reinforce my ideas and thoughts . Never stop doing what you do buddy. I always come away with something special after reading or listening to you.

Peace , Love & Life
Matt

When I read the title of your post, the first thing that came to mind is, "There is no grand meaning of life - each person gets to decide for herself what she wants her life to mean..." Then I read your post. Looks like one of us nailed it. ;)

Life is a reflection of your love on this earth.

go go go!!! love this stuff!!!

LOL! Great fun ... I really enjoyed this, Derek ... thanks for sharing {:-D

Life is just life. There's no inherent meaning. Great video and message, Derek. An extremely insightful post for those with a curious and thinking mind.

Hi Derek:

This needs an essay to reply with, me thinks; lol.

Simply put, yes, there is no inherent meaning to anything, inherently, i.e., as it is.

Meaning is always something we ascribe to a result after the fact, i.e., if we reflect on something and in that process of reflection manage to draw out any lessons that might be there, for us to draw out about the result; don't you think?

Meaning can only flow "from" our actions, in life ... "from" the results of our actions, in life ... via a process of drawing out any meaning (lessons?), after the fact, that might be there, for us to draw out.

Life is life, there to be lived; meaning is meaning, there to be drawn out and if drawn out, a meaningful process, of drawing out a lesson, or meaning, has been brought to fruition. "What is the meaning of life" ... a trick question ... in place to get one to reflect, on things and learning a process of reflection, garnering the very means to draw out lessons, from results; from living.

Great insights in the article, here: about using time wisely, making good choices, recording memories; also, not ascribing meaning to the mere face of things, to what is. One must take further steps to get at meaning, lessons, dare I say principles?

So yes, life has no inherent meaning, as it is; nothing has inherent meaning, as it is. But life is not a blank slate. The blank slate is the state of meaning, before the work has been done of drawing out the meaning of the results of our action, of our living, i.e., that may be there for us to draw out and move forward with; forward from the results and from the process of reflection, but lessons in hand.

Nor do I, nor should anyone for that matter, feel free to project just any old meaning into, or onto something, i.e., that I/we "feel" might serve me/us; the meaning that will serve me/us, in my humble view, is the hard fought for meaning that I or we have drawn out, first by living, and then, as may happen (or not), by proceeding to reflect on the results of my/our actions and my/our living; any meaning or lesson for me/us, that might be there to be drawn out, hopefully, drawn out.

I look out and see anything but a blank slate, before me; life itself, being anything but a blank slate. The slate is there, though, none the less; initially blank, as well, yes, and staying blank until something gets written on it; if, however, it stays blanks, wouldn't that mean we are failing to draw out what lessons are there, to be drawn out, in the results that flow from our actions?

This slate is the place where I'll hopefully make my notes, then file away those notes, if any, on any lessons or meaning drawn out, about something, via a process of reflection; I wipe the slate clean, only as a part of the process, hopefully, of having drawn out any applicable lessons ... before then moving on.

It's something you're great at, Derek, this drawing out of lessons and meaning and your great at sharing that part of your life process, as well; with everyone here, for instance; with every audience you might stand before. So, as always, thanks for writing and for sharing what you've written.

And as for what's been meaningful for me, Derek, about your article, I've hopefully, in some small way, encapsulated that here as I've sought to draw the meaning out, for me, of what you've written.

Those are the things, then, I'll take forward with me from the article; carrying my slate, hopefully, as I go.

All the best - Cam

Love the part about learning; the fixed mindset versus growth mindset dynamic that might be in play; imparting the lesson that "Anyone can be good at anything. Skill comes only from practice" no doubt a useful one to impart. Thx for the reminder. :-)

Perhaps, looking at things from a slightly different perspective, specific meaning always flows from specific action, or inaction, in life; whether or not we may recognize such consciously, or not.

In other words, is there any inherent meaning to life generally, other than its offer of blank slate possibilities? Perhaps not. Yet, specific action (or inaction) garners specific results (or lack of results) in which case meaning definitely flows from actions in life; which are always specific, if undertaken.

One question might be, to what degree do we seek to embody a principle that has meaning to us, in our lives? In which case, if successful in doing so, resulting in a meaningful life, for us? And even if not successful, providing an opportunity to draw out any lessons that might be there, to be drawn out related to an attempt to embody whatever the principle might be?

Interesting, this box I'm writing in was a "blank slate" ... each time ... before I started writing here. :-)

Wow Derek . . . wow.
Inspirational and thought provoking doesn't even begin to describe how amazing this talk is. So simply put and easy to assimilate , thank you.

Nietzsche came to the same conclusion. Beautiful.

Food for thought in my mental roledex . Deep enough life and just that !
Deep enough ! Thanks derek

So I attempted to dispose of this annoying question 16 years ago, at a songwriting workshop...I collaborated on the music with a young biological scientist named Adam Book, whom I haven't seen since, but my lyric is this:

The telephone rang/it was Socrates calling
He said, Who IS this?/how his question was galling
The instant of birth/I just started bawling:
And that is the meaning of life.

A tree fell beside me/I didn't hear it
Do I exist?/If not, should I fear it?
The workbench is cluttered/I better go clear it:
And that is the meaning of life.

Chorus:
The meaning of life is whatever you make it.
A dusty maracca, no fun 'til you shake it.
Dress it up fancy, or leave it all naked--
But that is the meaning of life.

The flower is picked/And soon it is fading
The power is flicked/The image degrading
Look around quick/It's all so amazing:
And that is the meaning of life.

Repeat Chorus.

(c) Jeep Rosenberg

A votre service. And, zai jian, zai jian!!

Life is you.

Yes, free to do with it anything you like...within the context of universal need, I.e peace and happiness.

i feel like you reflected my own feelings (i even started out answering your first question "Life is life.") very effective presentation. was it existentialism that said we exist first, and then give existence meaning?

Life is about purpose. The majority of people believe they were placed on this earth for a purpose. Once that one of those lucky souls stumbles onto their purpose, they latch on like a snapping turtle. A purposeful person sets their goals in order to fulfill their purpose. Now, goals aren't just goals. They are driven & fueled by their purpose. For most of my life, I have asked myself & others relevant questions that will lead to ones own purpose. These questions are in my book, Live Your Potential. Gratefully submitted, Master Terry Brumley

When I attended Landmark Forum, this was the punchline at the end of the 3rd day. I kinda knew it was coming as I have already read Nietzsche. Everyone else, however, felt cheated and disillusioned. They were clearly uncomfortable with the idea. So thanks for this Derek. You kept the best secret for last and I was hoping you would give the punchline. Keep in touch. :)

A lovely performance! I find this a delightful way to evoke the point (which, disagreeing with another commenter, I don't recommend skipping directly to). The point, as I receive it, is not "life has no meaning". The point is: life has no INHERENT meaning. The former seems rather pessimistic; the latter is quite liberating. And like all great performances, it's not without it's touch of slight-of-hand. For example, it would really not be accurate to say "Chinese has no meaning" just because Chinese characters have no INHERENT meaning (which is arguable too). Language does have meaning, that's how we're all able to appreciate how well you've used it here. The point is, as I received it anyway, that all meaning is a matter of choice, agreement, convention.

Anyhoo, thank you very much for this sweet little journey!

Aloha,

David

Why are we here? Because we're here. Roll the bones.

This hit the spot for me:
"People at the end of their life who claimed to be the happiest with their life were the ones who had spent the most time in this state of flow. "
In the world of Zen, this would be where one is "One with thyself"

Wow! Quite Liked the whole talk.
Thanks for sharing :)

any videos of that first performance available?
(maybe best left to the imagination)

Derek. It's brilliant! You put it in a simple, but powerful way. There's nothing until we observe something according to our beliefs and experience, and everyone has own truth. I am curious to feel and see things through other people's eyes, but it's impossible, because everyone can feel only through own senses and think according to own life experience. That's why the question about meaning of life can never be answered. People like to get into groups (politics, religions, e.t.c) and look for common sense as many of us try to organize and label everything and everyone including life itself. Thank you for explaining how silly it is.

i'm surprised by this..is this all about achievement?
sounds like a lot ov pressure to me.
shouldn't we just strive to BE?

Thanks Derek,
for the video,audio

Best Regard,
Jan

I like this quote from The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda: “All paths are the same: they lead nowhere. ... Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn't. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.”

Agreed, Derek, life is just what it is. Our puny human life can be seen as a journey - and yes, a blank slate - no fate, no preconceived plan by some big guy sitting up there on his golden throne. I do believe, though, that the universe is a sadistic place - where good people fight for good things, and rarely find them, bad people demand certain things, and usually attain them, good people rarely have good things happen to them, while good things endlessly fall into bad people's lap. That being said, for me, I do as much good as I can - for the universe, not necessarily for humans, but for the universe - I'm wired that way, so I don't know any other - I know, sounds kinda self righteous, even though I don't mean it that way - it's just who I am. Keep in mind I didn't imply that I was noble, I only said that I try to do as much good as I possibly can- and I do this in spite of all the evil I see all around me.

Fantastic. Now I need to listen to "Life is so peculiar"!!!

Thank you for sharing your thought !

Beauty of life is that, it can not be defined. If we try to define it, it is like a computer program trying to define the programmer.

Agreeing or disagreeing on your ideas confirm the conclusion.

Hi Derek, I liked this one. I approached this question a little differently and got a similar answer. My question was: what is the purpose of life? My simple answer: to be happy. Then, you have to define happiness and that depends on what makes a particular person happy.

THought provoking.
As always,, and expected!! THANKS for being YOU Derek.

Choices.

Sometimes it is obvious that a choice is "big".... What school are you going to attend in college? Will I learn spanish or french?

However, as you mention we make 100's of small, apparently trivial choices.

Surprisingly, these seemingly trivial choices can change your life.

One that happened to me altered my life in many areas.

The choice? Whether to play a rec league basketball game, across town, after a long 12 hour day of work.

I was not going to play. I was bushed. Left the office and as I drove into my home driveway, made split quick decision to change clothes, put on basketball shoes, and race across town to play the game.

Driven by thought that I knew once I was on the court, that I would be glad that I chose the NON LAZY path. (at least for that night!)

Turns out I met lady that attended the game. Ended up doing business with her. A month later asked her on a date.

She ended up pregnant despite being on the pill.

After 3 days of soul searching, evaluating, decided to marry her.

Separated before 3 yr anniversary arrived.

Was accused of raping my then 3 yr old son.

Sued for custody.
Fought for 2 years to stay out of prison and to keep the father son relationship going. Wasn't allowed to be alone with my son for about 18 months.

Was awarded full permanent custody but not before ex wife abducted son and ultimately fled the country, going to Greece and then ending up in Albania.

Two years after the abduction, FBI called saying my ex had been arrested flying into NY City from Vienna Austria, my son was OK and I could come get him.

He was gone almost two years, had grown 6 inches.

Although financial devastation was near, credit cards maxed out, 2nd mortgage, borrowing money from family and friends........it was all good!!

Really surreal 5 years.

And all of this occurred from a seemingly trivial, almost meaningless choice to go play a game of hoops.

Moral.
We live our life via our choices; some apparently big, some not so much; LIFE HAPPENS.

We can't always control what happens to us based on our choices; however, we can always CHOOSE how to react to what happens to us,,,, and that is what determines the quality of our ............ self...... our life.... and sets the groundwork for what happens,, and what choices lie ahead of us.

Lee Jones..... "if you think you can,, or you think you can't.... you are right." Your beliefs are attracting .....what you believe.

I love this, well done, Derek.

Life is what ever you want it to be?

Josh

Thanks Derek, Another Masterpiece from the the very hands of Leonardo da Vinci incarnate. Life is a Journey- travel Light-Enjoy the ride.

Most questions in/from this world are not questions. They are only a statements to reinforce the Founding thought that behind it presented as questions. The founding thought behind your 'question' is that it is up to us/you to determine what life is and or what you are. Of course you say it is just projected meaning, which of itself is true, however because we all suffer from the authority problem. We like to think we are the authors of our life. We also like to think we are smarter/better than the animal kingdom and nature itself. Until we are Willing to really ask questions without looking for a predetermined answer, we can play the game of 'what is life?'. Life will be what the purpose given it supports. It is an binary existence, there is only false & true, dark or light, innocence or guilt. There is no gray area. The 'world' teaches the opposite. Seek not peace in the world, it does not know what it is. Your Resolution is in You, it can't be found elsewhere. Truth extends itself and Shadow Project.
So, in answer to your 'question', Life is Good.

Oh Derek!

Thank you for sending these doses of reality into my inbox! I especially love this one - it's so well timed! Just this morning I was struggling with "finding meaning" in my journal. I am really good at stringing together the most random connections. It's my superhero power! Smiling! I love the challenge you present. I got the notion that there is no meaning, it's only choice - and it's in the eye of the beholder. Indeed.

Nice!

I like this one, bro bro. I can't wait to listen to it and discuss it with the kids. Great topics to think about as your self-identity is in early stages, don't you think? I'll let you know the results!

I picture you dressed as "Morpheus" as you read this :)

It definitely opens up areas of possibilities for me. Maybe you can follow up with "what is FEAR?" - because I think that's what holds me back from fully embracing this Life outlook. Thanks for sharing Derek!

Hi Derek!
I often enjoy your insights and of course have been a cdbaby member since the late 80's or was it early 90's lol ? So Thank You for everything you do!
Your article is a good one. Using both sides of my brain pretty equally causes me to look at things a bit differently than many. I truly believe that to say Life has no inherent meaning can be a depressing thought for some of us, even when we know you didn't mean it that way. I've always been of the non-denominational belief that Love is the basis for our being here.
First self- love, the kind we're born with, if nurtured, helps create the confidence to :
LEARN
Make good CHOICES
Organize our TIME well,all of the above etc.

Once we know how to love and take care of ourselves, we can create with less angst. Then we can turn it outward knowing how to fearlessly market ourselves,and treat/approach others with respect and intelligence i.e. venue owners (that every musician loves to hate), record labels (they all fear), agents & other musicians (Oy ! The anger that so many musicians have).
I've noticed one thing in common with most successful musicians; their self-love ( confidence in self). For so many of us (me included, still self analyzing but moving forward) its very difficult to rise and create successfully because we've been told growing up that self-love is selfish. We've been taught to be afraid and told we weren't good enough. I think you get my drift.
SO, I see LOVE as the bottom line really important missing link for many of us creatives. The starting point for me would be "Life is Love." Speaking from decades of experience myself, without it , the other things on the list above are very difficult to achieve. Sounds ethereal but its very real.

Cheers,
:Deborah
deborahmagone.com

Whatever life "is"....real, true, lasting, important love is not in any way shape or form "ambiguous". Real LOVE is the most un ambiguous thing humans can take part in. Real LOVE is the opposite of ambiguous. Not romantic, spiritual, etc....but real, lasting, true, and powerful created LOVE is TOTALLY unambiguous as it is created, formed, and sustained purely by intent and action: the OPPOSITE of ambiguous.

Thinking long and hard after this one....compelling presentation

Thank you,

Carrie

Thank you, Derek. My day always gets brighter when I see a message from you in my inbox. I know I'm going to spend some entertaining, thought-provoking time with you.

Ever since philosophy and logic classes many years ago I've thought that Life (capital L) has no inherent meaning. Each of us discovers what brings us joy, what puts us in the flow, what quickens our hearts, or what fills us with passion, and we ascribe that as the meaning of our own life (small l). It's internally-derived meaning.

My experience is that people who believe that Life (capital L) has meaning generally want other people to adopt that meaning. Those who believe that their life's meaning is self-defined are delighted to talk about it and share the passion without proselytizing. They're the ones I love to be around.

It's my life to make what I want: that's a powerful, frightening, and liberating perspective. My life's meaning has changed several times over the last 30 years, which has added to the adventure and fun of living.

It is what it is. But that's not the end point. It's the beginning.

Just lovely.

As always, you have a way with words. Simple with impact. Lovely.

Thank you. I appreciate any reminders that bring me back to my 'blank state'!

I enjoyed that Derek ... thanks :-)

Thank you for this, Derek. Beautiful and empowering. I would love to see your talk turned into an animation ala ASAPScience or Vsauce!

One word: expression. Whether you are a theoretical physicist, a theologian or an artist, it's clear that all life in the universe(s) is moving toward expression. Meaning seems to be life expressing itself.

Life is a Gift. I think that should be in there somewhere. Hard to debate that one.

Social Construction of Reality is nothing new. It's an area that is most often explored in the context of politics, culture and social influence. Leaders rely on the public's ability to buy into a certain construction of reality. One can apply this to our own lives, and everything from advertising to relationships gets engulfed in this concept. All too often we're bogged down within the construct to really see it for what it is... an illusion that we have created.

A blank slate. A carte blanche to do anything we want? I wonder why some of us need permission even if from a relative stranger. No matter. I'm done. I sink into a rut so quickly again though. I had better hang a blank canvas somewhere to remind myself. It's past time I was gone and yet I've been gone for ages. As I was going up the stair I met a man who wasn't there He wasn't there again today I wish to hell he'd go away

Love this, Derek.

While some might find it disappointing, I find it empowering to look at the meaning of life this way. There's nothing outside of me, I can make it whatever I want. Hell, yeah!

But I also like 42 as an answer to this question. ;)

Agree with your sentiments, we should stop trying to find patterns in randomness, and I particularly enjoyed the way you conveyed it.

I like the journey you took the listener on, I was trying to guess what (and when) the plot twist was going to be, but it caught me by surprise!

Oh my. Life is just life. It doesn't mean anything. Nothing has inherent meaning. Life is a blank slate. You are free to project any meaning that serves you. You are free to do with it anything you want... Jeffrey Dahmer... Everybody good with that?

The ending was a bit depressing ...I liked the first half with the "meanings" better, haha.

Thank you Bill. There are one or two other names I could add. If life has no inherent meaning, Adolf Hitler's and Nelson Mandela's philosophies were equally valid.

A little exercise:

If all meanings are equally valid, are the following two statements equally true?

Nothing has meaning.

Everything has meaning.

...

If we say the first statement is true we have a problem. For something to be true it must express a meaning. But if that statement has a meaning then it is not true that "Nothing has meaning."

...

Brilliant ~ you must have worked hard at this :) ~ 'very buddhist of you ' teehee

Well, thank you very much, you are a big inspiration.

I have posted the video in my blog, translating all the transcript to spanish.
Maybe is useful for some of your readers:
http://danielgrijuela.es/el-sentido-de-la-vida-por-derek-sivers/

Hi Derek!
I had to wait to read this one, it wasn't something to just flip off an answer too!!
I think time is relative to earth. That when our spirits pass on to another dimension, we will no longer need time. Memory , I think will go with us. We will remember people and events...people who had perhaps nuggets of truth and we remember..I think learning is for earth..that all the world is a stage and we the players, but players with a great script to play out, and discouver. I think suffering is not the whole picture but part of the picture in times of learning and trust. I think ...LIFE means a great deal, that love is real and timeless, that we live in this dimension on earth and yet are touched by the beyond. Intellect finds reason easier than faith.
Thanks Derek!
Rach.

For he knows we are but dust.
Psalm 103:14

I enjoy watching you grow as a speaker. The starch white shirt threw me for a loop though ;-)

Free?...maybe, to project meaning. We're programmed from an early age to Believe...and the meaning we come to we can't know until after we die. Life is purpose...because that's the conclusion that most of us come to late in life. We give ourselves to beliefs, and causes (like our earthly parents did)...and that adds meaning to our earthly life. I honestly believe the Real Meaning of Life hides behind the Curtain of Life...to be revealed to us After Life.
Huge topic, Derek! Thanks for challenging our hearts and minds...

FTR, circumstances and occurences came way before my "attitude". In other words, I wasn't born with this shitty (but realistic) attitude, it took decades of observation to arrive here.

Are people still Polly Want A Crackering that "You attract what you believe" nonsense? Just wondering.

Thank you, life is unique. 1 <3

Wow! You must have worked really hard.
....because this is brilliant. Thanks for sharing your art. :-)

life is unrepeatable :)

Hi Derek,
We've talked before; I have corresponded with you and now have 2 albums on CD baby and you were running the company when I did the first. Since last year, I have another, this time 7 of my own compositions. I liked your presentation, but cannot at all buy the final conclusion that life ultimately has no meaning.
I'll make two points: one about the meaning of music in my life, and one about your comment re the Buddha.
Here's an interview I did on swissradion recently which explains the meaning of music and love in my life:
soundcloud.com/gordon-nicholson/gordon-interview
I did the interview I did last week on www.worldradio.ch talking about my life and work as a musician. Elements of performance, composing, teaching, conducting etc. and also meeting my to-be wife on a bus in the outback of Australia and composing a love song for her make up the elements of the deep meaning that music and love has meant for me. I've always been a musician since a very early age, and it's meaning for me has been infinitely enriching in my life.
Re your comment about the Buddha [all is suffering, that's boring!...] that for me totally misses the point. Gotama Siddhartha, the Buddha, said that yes, there is immense amounts of suffering in the world, and he proceeded to find a way "The Way" as it's often called to alleviate suffering completely. One practices mind full meditation in a disciplined fashion and... much suffering is alleviated. I was inspired many years ago by George Harrison [Beatle George] to begin meditation which led me to Zen and to becoming a Buddhist. Now, when I play the piano, it becomes a meditation and the meaning of the music, to me and to listeners becomes amazingly enhanced. This for me is truly meaningful.

Hi Derek - I don't often comment, but I always look forward to your posts, and I appreciate that they invite reflection and creative thought. This, I think, is my favorite of all your articles. Thank you!

If there is no meaning to existence then why does existence exist? If there is nothing after life, then why are we here in the first place? If when we die, we cease to exist, then why did we exist in the first place? Why do species propagate and evolve if there is no meaning to it? And if we are just a minute part of the universe's intricate musings, then why are we aware of it? What purpose does this awareness serve? The meaning of life can not be solved because life does not exist. It is an illusion. We are not bodies which incorporate a soul for a limited time. We are souls that incorporate bodies for a limited time.

You really got the wheels turning with this. There just might be a song in here somewhere. Thank you for that.

Thanks for your thoughts and discussion. Please think some happy thoughts for me. Suddenly this year, I thought life was about feeling, touching, smelling--just feeling--good, bad, pleasure, pain. I was beginning to think that meditation was like eternity--everyone floating around in shared energy and peace--and that one would only choose life--just to feel :) And choice--that you could feel something other than peace and calm. I've been very happy and positive with life, but suddenly I let pain and hurt creep in and a great sadness is on me and I'm crying all the time. This morning in yoga--when I cleared my mind of bad feelings for just a moment--I just started crying--because now that I have felt hurt and pain--it seems I don't want to let it go. Please think happy thoughts about me because suddenly I have no balance--only sad feelings .

YES! At last some sense.. A flower in a swamp.. Thank you.. Encapsulating what I've felt & thought since reading something life changing, for me, when I was 10 yrs old... It's not just me then...

Thanks for your thoughts. Pretty good. Well I'm Chinese and I have a little words to say about Chinese examples given above.

Chinese are written as pictures in ancient times (pictographs) and then evolved to be made up of pieces of characters. For one chinese character, usually one smaller character determines its sound and another one determines its meaning. Actually you will get the meaning more specifically if you read Traditional Chinese characters. In your example, "名" originally means that parents calls their children in the evening so you get the characters of "夕" and "口", and it evolves to mean that "it's completely dark in the evening, people cannot see each other, so they use their mouths to speak out their names". See? Some characters like "谢" actually have several meanings, not just thank you. So not all Chinese characters are just phonetic. Most of them actually have great meanings.

Sorry my English is not very good. Hope you understand it. Thanks!
谢谢 ☺ — Derek

Very interesting... (Like the German guy in Laugh In in the 1960's).. I have been thinking about this very topic for a long while now and as a matter of fact, Joel Osteen was talking about this last Sunday.. I highly recommend listening to it! Anyhow, it's a subject that most of us ponder about alot..I really enjoyed the video... Thought provoking and good!

The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about life he answered: "Humanity. Because Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he spends his money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present: the result being that he does not live in the past, present or the future, he lives as if he is never going to die, then he dies having never really lived".

This reverberates so much with me.

Back when I was 18 I made a weird decision to give a talk discussing about whether there is meaning to life.

"There is no meaning to life. Discuss."

Obviously the statement was meant to be refuted because it was so absolute. But the whole discussion throughout the talk was mainly on the fact that there MAY or MAY NOT be a meaning to life, but one can certainly tag one's own meaning to life and that's it, that's the meaning to your life. Doubtful? Have you ever asked "Is there a meaning to life?"

Consider this : Meaning to life could be anything, what if the meaning to life is the belief that there is a meaning to life.

My conclusion to the statement? Even if you haven't found your meaning to life, think that there is no meaning to life, be hopeful , you can let the belief that "there is a meaning to life" be your meaning to life. Until you find one that suits you better.

Swear I could hear a pin drop on the floor after the talk, no one could really understand what I was getting at, just thought that someday - someone - will.

Thanks for sharing.

Hey Derek,
I enjoyed this, but I don't think it answered the meaning of life, more the definition of life. Or what do you want to do with your "life." Not quite the same thing. But good, nonetheless. And while "religion" may set limits, true spirituality is based on relationship, which needs more than a passing nod... :) robin

A lot of this is the way I live my life. Fascinating theories. But I think the most important question, based on this line of thinking is, why are we aware of our existence? The reason we are self aware has to be considered before we can even BEGIN to answer all of those other questions. There has to be a reason and I don't think it's a random answer....There is intelligence behind it.

Life is a Training Ground for Eternity. This Life is preparation for the next life, eternal life. Life on earth is short. Life in eternity, is well, eternal. Eternal life is home. Life on earth is our journey to home in eternity.

Thanks for sharing this. It starts out like other self-improvement videos then takes a sharp left turn into the truly great starting with the bit about the Talking Heads.

Everything's forgotten. Everything's new now, but it's old. You have to understand where you come from. We don't understand that today. It's all about where you are and where you come from. ... Just starting to get it..... just be yourself. God leads the way!

Awesome video, Derek. Sooo many personal development gems in 20 minutes!

I have a different conclusion.

The Purpose (I prefer that word over "Meaning") of Life depends on the *perspective* you take -- are we talking long-term (the eternity of the soul's existence), or mid-term (the length of a human life), or short-term (each moment) ?

Based on learning from various spiritual & personal development texts and sages, here's what I believe:

In the long-term (eternity of soul), Life Purpose seems to be about the Growth of Virtues such as ones I listed here: http://j.mp/1ioQCvC

In the mid-term (the length of a human life), Life Purpose seems to be about either climbing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, or fulfilling the 5 areas of Wellbeing (Tom Rath, Gallup research).

In the short-term (this moment, next moment...etc) Life Purpose seems to be about Conscious Living: mindfulness, gratitude, or excellence, in every moment we find ourselves aware.

We can focus on any of the 3.

But if we focus on the *middle* it would be wise to also account for the *long* or the *short*.

If we focus consistently on the short-term Purpose as described above, it tends to have the benefit of bringing the middle- and long-term Purposes into being as well...

Hi Derek,
L W De Laurence says, and i quote "The meaning of life is to express more life, more life can only be expressed by the fulfillment of desires". Unquote.

Beautiful video by the way, a must see: http://youtu.be/7d16CpWp-ok

The conclusion brings to mind Ecclesiastes which explores similar themes:

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”

Ecclesiastes 1:1

A brilliant song that tackles the same question, from the Broadway show Zorba:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMRb9Elttns

Life is Precious and Short.

Derek,
You assert life has no inherent meaning and life doesn't mean anything. Perhaps the opposite is true, as well. Perhaps life is full of meaning, and inherent meaning is in everything in life! Perhaps life is a full slate of given perimeters and naturally imbedded inherent limits that create the very friction and striving needed to build and sustain life. Perhaps, like gravity, all inherent elements that pull around and force our actions for survival is what help us add rich and timeless meaning to life, and that striving and "suffering" is what keeps life alive.

You end your talk with "erase those times when people say this means that" which can be done with your summation that life is only life. Yes, you have a choice to use your definition. You can make it that if you want because it is your life. That's inherent :-). And the ability to do that means we have inherent in us the ability to shape and define our life with our without inherent meaning. I like to have both because it's more fun,rewarding and challenging. In fact, most of your dialog playing with inherent meaning is the body supporting your summation. Where would your article be without that? All you would have is "life is life." Which is a self looped non rewarding definition of itself. A phone is a phone but it has characteristics and functions for something, and creates a lot of possibilities and more than a few aggravations :-). It has inherent properties and principles. If a phone (or anything else) can have it, Life can have it! :-)

I just have a book recommendation as my comment. I just finished reading this book. I was in the midst of reading it when I received notice of your post here. The book is Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl.

This may be your best work yet Derek; seriously (and that's saying a lot!). It could be a powerful TED talk or graduation commencement speech. Like a cross between famous speeches that Kurt Vonnegut and Steve Jobs have done accordingly.......GREAT STUFF; Bravo my friend!

Thanks for the video. I understand your point of view and I can see that your assumptions are based on tangible facts, which is quite accurate and true, but there are other angels into life as well.

It has taken me 50 years to realize that life itself has no meaning other than to exist. While the needs for self-actualization are important, they are not as necessary as food, water, and shelter. I have spent a great deal of time wondering what I should be doing, where I should be, and where I am going to when in all actuality I have been travelling in the same circle all these times. I think that the old song by the Godfathers says it best: "Birth, School, Work, Death." In other words, life is defined by how you live it.

Really like this, will re tweet and study more!!!

Loved it!

Thanks for this great perspective. Your speech has many ideas I will copy and paste to refer back to. I think sometimes we over-think this question. As Penn said in the essay I link to below: "I won the huge genetic lottery and I get joy every day." He is referring to the fact that being born at all is an incredible gift - and to enjoy every day for the things it brings, good or bad, small or large, is our grateful response. His article is challenging for spiritual people, because of it's racy headline, but his sentiment is thankful and humble.
http://www.npr.org/2005/11/21/5015557/there-is-no-god
Thanks for continuing to share your thoughts Derek! Nicely done. Suzanne

Derek
Here is an another point of view of this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0kWDfUAclI

This sounded quite good. So much to agree with, work being the main factor in success. But there is a very uncomfortable theme running underneath. There seems to be be a reductionism that doesn't quite jive with the facts. The main themes conclusion is OK. But I am reminded about the mindset of the 19th and 20th centuries, where it seemed that all was solved. That the mysteries of the universe were obeying the dictates of human logic. Out of this even grew extrapolations of phrenology and eugenics which were not only silly but at times repugnant.

What of a Bach? Is his offering to us just a matter of work? Or are there other factors which matter more, though work was essential to the result? Brain chemistry, heart, perseverance, intuition, talent, genius, these and other factors come into play. People are special and deserve admiration for the amazing things they do, these are not reducible to mere discipline.

But most of the presentation was superb!

This reminded me of what one of my teachers says, "No beliefs are right, real or true. So choose the beliefs that make you feel better." In other words, project the meanings that create freedom, empowerment, choice and joy - for you. It also means that if you believe something different than what I believe - well, that's ok. Unless you try to force me to believe what you believe, that's not OK. And therein lies the solution to pretty much every war.

You're right, life has no inherent meaning, except that we have this giant meaning-making machine sitting on top of our shoulders. And we forget that the meaning our brains create isn't real. It isn't true. It's just one possible interpretation of the infinite possible interpretations.

Brilliant because it defies logic and I agree with you I think we've become too reliant on an aspect of the mind we cannot even understand yet...

but... scary as well... in the sense that I've always harboured the idea of Ultimate Purpose and not giving randomness a chance to solidify in my experiences.

I am definitely more keen on understanding the theory better though and I feel it is set to make a positive impact... soon as I am done processing it all.

The toughest thing for me is failing yet it's the one thing I have always somehow tried to compensate by admitting that it is "at least" one constant in my life I can guarantee exists for me... it's a rough mind-set to shake.

I am not a politically or religiously inclined person so finding something to build a foundation on is kind of a limited playing field for me, but one thing I can say is that I've been graced with quite a tenacious heart so giving up never fell in character for me either.

with that said, "randomness" finds more ground now that it's been brought up and I finally feel that failures are not meant to break but rather shape one's path further, albeit in past, present or future...

my greatest hope now is that I can find a way to apply it in such a way that I can live my life in full irrespective of the outcome. maybe actually enjoy it for a change :)

Thank You Derek.

Thank you Derek. I really love this!

Beautiful. Loved it!

Life is universal. We are all made of stardust:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24907-water-found-in-stardust-suggests-life-is-universal.html#.U3WbqPmSxx4

Derek, this is a great one to come back to and catch up on the comments here ...

Thank you. Insightful.

I started on this some time back but for whatever reason was unable to devote 20 min to listen to this , so today during my lunch i listened to it instead of reading it . well .. it sure was more fun ! :) .. lots of part I cud relate to and yeah .. so lemme fill in the blank in ... "life is .... "

I couldn't agree more.

Here's a poem I wrote a while back:

There is no meaning of Life.
That's the beauty of it.
It means you can find your own.
You need to search for and be aware of
what exites you,
what intrigues you,
what fascinates and deeply move you.
And then, when the answer permeates your body, and cannot
escape your waking mind. Then
dedicate yourself,
your life,
your energy,
your time,
your entire beeing;
to it.

- Magne, 27. nov 2011

I asked that question myself. The answer I got was that the force I call God (for convenience), had practically infinite power and time, and branched out in as many directions as possible for the sake of experience. I see every living thing as an eye or a feeler of God. God just wants to be entertained. I think that for every kind of living thing, and for every individual within that kind, there is a path that is most suitable, but I don’t believe in predestination. Things have tendencies, but nothing’s set in stone. I think of death as recycling of energy. I don’t know if each living thing retains its individuality after death, but I don’t think that the energy and experiences are lost. Personally, I find the whole idea of awareness and existence disgusting, but there’s not much I can do about it—just try to make the best of the situation. As little pieces of God, I think we each have a bit of creative power, to change our environments to suit us, but I don’t think we have enough power to change the big picture. I don’t want to talk about depression, hating existence and awareness, and wanting to kill God and destroy the universe—this isn’t the forum for it. Just wanted to share my ideas about life. As for suffering, I think that if your consciousness is on a high enough level, the God’s-eye view, suffering doesn’t matter; all that matters is that something entertaining is happening. For example: when a person is being raped, God experiences the emotions of both the rapist and the victim. God doesn’t really care, at least that part of God that is above it all, but the victim certainly cares. What I’ve said before in a poem is that life is like a corn cob shoved up one’s ass, whether one wants it or not.

Why is there such a great need to find the meaning of life or our life's purpose. May be if we find why it is so important to have meaning in our life we will find the meaning of life. Why are we so driven to find the meaning and, why do we feel so empty if we cannot find the meaning. To say life just is life. Leaves us empty. Why do we fight this emptiness.

good.

I thoroughly enjoyed your thought-provoking talk. One of the many repeated messages I share with my son is "What is is." The interpretation is yours but the truth does not change.

You must have worked really hard on this. : )

Wonderful!
Can I translate it in russian and post on my blog with link to original? :)

Interesting thoughts, thank you, been self analysing for years due to a chequered life and educating self now to masters level. I hate the rigidity and social conditioning of life in general - too much is about social control too little about thinking about what is important...

My dad would nod.
Son of a physicist, right? ;)

A young man wants to know the meaning of life. He finds out about a guru living in the mountains. Right away he prepares for the trip and he's off. Travels through treacherous deserts, jungles, across an ocean, tracking this man down. Turns out he's at the top of a mountain that's very dangerous to climb. He makes it to the top and finds the wise old man. "I've traveled very far and have almost lost my life to find and ask you, 'What is the meaning of life?'" The guru replies, "The meaning of life is... a bowl of cherries." At first the young man is confused then becomes angry, "You mean to tell me I traveled so far and nearly lost my life for you to tell me the meaning of life is a bowl of cherries?!" The wise old man adjusts his robe a little bit then says, "OK, so maybe the meaning of life isn't a bowl of cherries."

Just heard this story and thought I'd share. Love it (: The message is the same.

Thank you Derek, I was very confused 'bout many things, and the video is awesome! I'll start to learn how to live better my life! Thanksss!!!!!!!!!

Life precedes death and death concludes life. Proverbs 14:12: "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the way thereof is death." Christ said: "I am the way the truth and the life...he that comes to me (Christ Jesus) shall never die."

Adaita Vedanta and other Eastern texts say that life is an ILLUSION.
That the self just isn't at all. For example, the book, Without You There: The Zen of Unity, by Ishaya spells it out nicely. So does Spiritual Enlightenment by Jed McKenna. There is no "you," just Quantum Consciousness acting through your mind-body frame. So, just go with the energy, with the flow, do not resist, just enjoy. The ultimate meaning is dubious but many say that Quantum Consciousness
is just acquiring material experiences--that is, the infinite is growing infinitely, "as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be." I "project" that Zen has the most reasonable "meaningfulness," for me, whoever that is and whatever that means. Maybe, just a good laugh. Zen, aka., Ken

YOUR CONCLUSION IS SIMILAR TO MINE-------------THAT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, LIFE IS PURPOSELESS----------WE ALL ASSIGN SHORT TERM MEANINGS AND GOALS TO OUR LIVES AND GENERALLY THIS MAKES OUR LIVES MORE COMFORTABLE. LURKING UNDERNEATH OUR CONSCIOUS,MODERN BRAIN,HOWEVER, IS OUR PRIMITIVE ONE THAT'S PRIMARY INSTINCT IS TO SURVIVE AND PROPOGATE. IN THE END WE ALL LIVE,SURVIVE,PROPOGATE(NOT ALL) AND DIE. THERE IS NO ULTIMATE PURPOSE OR MEANING TO OUR LIVES

Life is - looking back at over 14 billions years of evolution. Amazing creation that we have become. Who knows where will be in the next billions years. I can not even imagine. Its incredible what we are all capable of, war, destruction, creation. As long as we persue to question ourselves to what life is, will hopefully secure our future for greater things. Thus we should all be greatful, to all the past and present indiviuals whom contributed their lives for the greater good. I guess we all play a roll no matter how insignificant and sure, not all of us will feel that we have succeeded in life, but to understand that we are indeed all part of the, tree of life. It takes many to make up the one, hence not one man alone can hold all of the answers. Live well.

> LIFE IS (just) LIFE. IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

Pretty different from Aristotle:

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

I took sum tips on how 2 improve my lyf 4rm watevr u said. Their words dat developed plan of succeedin in lyf ,,,so I thank u 2 bids nd I'm gona 4wad dis 2 many ppl I knw so dat they cud gain da plan of success 4rm u.
tnk u — Derek

Hi Derek. This is an older post so I'm probably just talking to myself here, but I'll leave my two cents anyway. Your conclusion that life is just life & we can project any meaning that serves us is thought-provoking (always a good thing). It also somewhat mirrors a comment in a novel I just published in which Simoni tells Davita, "Life is what it is regardless of what you believe about it. It is your personal experience of life that is strongly influenced by your beliefs." I enjoy reading your stuff and your book summaries...not surprising since I am a fellow INTJ who also sometimes shows up as an ENTJ. :-)
☺ Thanks Kara — Derek

Brilliant

Life is a way.

Loved your ideas. Disgaree on 2,3 points but still. I am writing a book, nearly ready on Purpose, Meaning and Personality. Its i about practical ways of improving ones life, career and relating. My book is philosophical but is not philosophy per se. Would you be interested in me putting this entire talk into my book as a chapter attributed to you? I live in Australia. Thanks again, Ted

I am essentially in agreement that life does not mean anything, but that is not what troubles me. What troubles me is that if life has no meaning or purpose, then any way of living life is as valid as any other. Which means that there is no basis for saying something is "better" or "worse" except as it relates to my own subjective perception of meaning. And if our perceptions of meaning are widely divergent (which seems to be increasingly the case in this age of cultural fragmentation), the prospects for humanity finding common cause become dim. Without a unifying sense of meaning and purpose, however illusory, humanity seems doomed towards balkanization and conflict. Putting it another way, reducing the meaning of life to a personal choice seems only to reinforce the prominent position of narcissistic self-interest that I fear may someday be the undoing of western civilization. So I think we need to move beyond this conclusion to one that recognizes the meaning of life as a socially agreed understanding rather than just a self-serving individual one. I think we need to promote dialog on this very subject...so thank you for doing just that.

That was one of the best talks I have ever heard. You taught me a lot of things, which made me a better man, and you now showed me how should I live the rest of my life. Thank you.

Question: What is the meaning to life? Answer: Life has no meaning, only machines matter on cosmic scale.

Defining what life IS, is not the same as defining what life MEANS.

I would question some of what you say, Derek. But, thanks for the observations. How about this; "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10 ESV - Lastly, coming from the fish, or evolution, how did that come to be? Except by something self-existent (God) that created Heaven and Earth, etc., and everything in it; above, beneath, and everywhere. Mankind’s mind, when compared to our Creator, we’re not even in the race. His knowledge is too wonderful for us, yes, too lofty to ever be comprehended. What do you think?

Life, is life.

It is what it is.

Thank you for this thoughts about how to live :)

What about the things it worth to live for? See below an approach, what do you think?

http://meaningofstuff.blogspot.ro/2014/08/the-meaning-of-human-life-for-me-now.html

You are right! I mean that. LOL Derek, don't you dare change another word, letter, or puncutation mark. That 20 minute talk , has a million to some factor of ten , individual musings over the lifetimes of all the people who ever lived. Life is. Yep. Meaning is bestowed, not indigenous. In fact, life is, and all the rest is arguments about what life wants. None but the living even consider that, and you are to busy living to realize it. Until now. Just a great talk. I have mind bending moments every moment now that I am retired, and it makes me appreciate the hard work, thinking, and grit, that all mankind has shown, to make it this place , where a talk like this could be given to folks who aren't sure what living is- they just want to pay the bills. Instead, they have to think...and that, is where it either begins, or gets hung up in beliefs. Hyperbole, wouldn't even do this talk justice. For this talk, I would give up some time, have a memory, be in the now, the past, and the future..all at the same time. And you know what Derek? We would Laugh, smile, and the tears would have no meaning beyong the mirth of knowing we are alive. Thanks again. Kevin the retired creature..
☺ Thanks Kevin. I really appreciate it. — Derek

Thought provoking as always...

Derek,
There was a class I took in college The Philosophy of Language which starts with discussion about existence that resonates in my work and daily life. In your link the Meaning of Life I subscribe to the definition that Life is Time. I am focused on the Future as I believe there is no hope in the past or present ...only the Future. Stating this I do admire the greatest living Visionary alive today Elon Musk who with his company Space X is working on colonizing Mars in the near future. This is exciting and offers much discussion about the subjects you discuss. Derek imagine if you had a chance to start a new civilization and apply your philosophy in a real model. I believe a good life is spent advancing thought and imagination. Visionaries like you and Elon Musk help people Win!

:) Derek. Was a bit sleepy when I started to listen and was losing patience with all of the dogma...so napped and then came back. My first thought was: no one can say what anyone else's life means...and then I listened to the end...And now I am smiling. So clever are you. Yoda-like in fact :) ps There is a moth in my overhead light- what does that mean? Ha!

Thanks for this. Life is good. I wish it was for everyone.

There are only two ways to live http://www.twowaystolive.com/

No offense but I think I'll go with Jesus' answer to the question. "What is Life"

It may be more effective if you research it for yourself. btw... its none of the above. I'll be happy to give you the answer if you can't find it, but I'm guessing you'd rather hear it from Him.

Sincerely, John Swaim

Derek,

I am in Singapore for the week.
Just reading your piece on life.

We can call life many things. I like this pair:
Opportunity to learn.
Opportunity to teach.
We could also say "opportunity to love, opportunity to share"
or we could define "learn" and "teach" to include "love" and "share".

Several years ago, a Yankees baseball star was having trouble on the field,
booting play after easy play, and there were many theories floating around
the sports-reporting space.
Some reporters were saying that the player was having trouble
"executing the plays".

I somehow stole and merged a contrary idea: There is no "execute".
We can only learn. We are not vinyl records or tape recordings.
We are humans, and always, only, learning.
When great performers perform greatly (arts, sports, science), they are
learning intrinsically. Silently. Internally. Inner voice silent.
We sometimes call this "behaving instinctively".

The baseball player hitting the skids is probably thinking too much, and the
front-of-the-consciousness voice is chattering "plant your foot, pivot, throw"
but the back-of-the-consicousness silence is much better at deriving the next
move to make.

I realize this is just one point of view. It has been useful to me.

I often find myself following the idea "the design is not finished when there
is nothing left to add; the design is finished when there is nothing further
to take away". Minimalist design is so satisfying because it is truthful and
does not claim anything it cannot deliver.

Enough chatter from me.
Thanks for being there, Derek.
All the best.
= Jonathan =

Life is a gift from God to us, so we can know and love our creator and be a part of His story and share His glory.
Life is a gift.

At it's most fundamental, meaning is a message, a communication, a concept an action. To say life has no inherent meaning is to to say life has no concept (like love, suffering, DNS, etc.) I would argue it is more primitive. Not the words in the message but the transmissions themselves. It is relationships or isolation. What are any of those things with no one to communicate them to? What is love with no one to receive it? Thanks for giving me some perspective to ponder on.

Always loved your style of thinking. Thanks, reading this has been a joy!

Ok nice, but what does this add to what we already did NOT know? Why should anything, especially life, must have a meaning?

Thank you. I can not say that I agree with every point but this has been very educational.

Wow - well put! I was just lying here in a creative rut and decided to read this - thanks for getting my head back on straight. There are entire books that don't convey this philosophy as well. Plus I got some insight into my creative process that was very helpful:)

Life has Lots of Meaning, keep on searching Derek x Deano ...

Is anything dead? Life is change and change is all there is- constantly. We define then filter through definition. There is no death; only change.

Thank you for validating the conclusion I came to just a few years ago. Randomness, happenstance,and serendipity, are the words I use to describe the charmed life I've led so far...thank you for your eloquence.

Some interesting thoughts Derek, thank you for sharing. However, i pity you and others who believe life has no meaning and I wonder why you continue spending time and energy learning Chinese and other such "meaningless" pursuits. Well today is your lucky day my friend! I can direct you to finding the meaning (which is not so elusive by the way) that your soul desperately wants -- seek God, your creator, and the gifts he has blessed you with. When you get reconciled with him (through the one salvation rescue plan he perfectly designed), then start to use these gifts to glorify Him and bless others, voila -- you will have found the meaning to life. I suspect you may be jaded towards this path but I will pray that you and many of your contemporaries who have chimed in to this thread are willing to lay aside prideful notions that the way I describe is perhaps non-intellectual, foolish and antiquated. Since you haven't as yet found any other legitimate answer to the "ultimate question", and you are unquestionably an intelligent and deep thinker, I know you will be willing to give this concept the time and effort it deserves to see if it is actually true. That's all God expects from any of us.

Life IS meaning. The meaning we give it. Meaning comes from the inside, that's all. Not the outside. And it is not the same as happiness. That distinction is important. As you infer, if you confuse happiness with meaning, it is an "up and down" life -- ultimately disappointing and unsatisfying.

Yet, I think you have to be careful about saying that life is a "blank slate." I think it's not -- only the manifestation of our meaning is up to us -- not meaning itself. We humans all have a meaning hardwired into us.* It is subtle and, so, often overlooked or taken for granted. It is to respect, protect, honor, sustain the lives of self and others -- all others, if possible. We find our meaning as life protectors with a balanced regard for self and others. We have that absolute value and have to go from only there and let it manifest itself in our own unique ways. Our reward is a baseline of confident serenity within all of the natural ups and downs of life.

*Unless we are sociopaths.

Derek,

Your timing has meaning, even if nothing else has any meaning, but that which we attach to it.

September was punishing start to finish. Friday night when I finally got home from work, I started to reread your book 'Anything you want' (because Sept was anything but what anyone would want).

And here you are with a timely cuff upside the head of a reminder...in the best possible way.

Thank you for being you.

And for sharing all that is within you.

(love the responses you get - they too, are fantastic)

Thanks for sharing provocative thoughts and ideas. My take is:
The meaning of life is a trick question, because it is subjective. Therefore, as many answers as people. But if you wanted to answer the question "What is life and living all about," given our evolved genetic disposition and cosmic purpose, the answer for me follows.
Life is the pursuit of HARMONY, an existance that studies the past conditions and actions that produce peace, happiness, and hopefully add to the betterment of the human condition. This includes technology, music, and pursuit of a "soul" mission that would add to cosmos for future generations. Walk through a graveyard and get the reality of former lives, and you will get a sense of the respect or money that those people's lives came in contact with and left in the form of a gravestone or flowers. My legacy will be my music, my estate, and the lives I have touched during my lifetime.

Life is love but not just love, it's learning unconditional love. Look at the most joy filled people at the end of their lives... they were people who never cared much at all about themselves, but looked to the interests of others. I was fascinated with studying people who survived well into their nineties and the ones who were in the best condition were all those who knew how to serve others. Can you imagine a world where there is no self absorption, no selfish interests? Look at a dog, the reason they don't live as long as a human is they don't need to learn unconditional love, they already know it and practice it.

Beautiful work, you should put this on NPR. Enabling others to see (by the merging or emerging of concepts from the east/west, spirit or mind/flesh, such as the forms of Socrates/the particulars of Aristotle, existence/other) is the noble task of rhetoric because all people benefit from truth & honesty. These concepts must touch to bring rebirth, even if we are midwives to tragedy. Again we are reminded to gaze into Elvis Costello's "deep dark truthful mirror" at the paradoxical nature of life, and breath deep, welcome the silence and are comforted by peeling away of the layers of our life's self deception. Shadows and fog may bring the hour of the wolf, but we can "let it be" and find hope in the realm of possibility, even if we ride on Highway 61.

Tremendous recording! Thanks Derek I really enjoyed listening to that.

Life
in
Thrall
to
The Social Ascendance
of
Soulless Material Consumption



We lost our balance
At the genome level
Ancient internal model
That middle path

Strong like a turtle
Testing the water
For biological continuity
Seeking the crow’s nest

In the heartmind reactor
That extends the horizon
And resonates the shaky
Harmony of things.

Columbus Chip Baker
JazzRock Poet
2014

Hi Derek. Just read the script for 'the meaning of life'. Good content to stimulate the thinking. From a faith perspective, I don't agree, but that's not important. Many people look for meaning in life, and that is important, because if there is no meaning, someone's logic will think respect and values have no meaning

Wow, very enlightening - you've opened up another perspective for looking at life!
Thank you,
Chrissy

Check out Atul Gawande's "No Risky Choices" article in Slate:

"In the end, a person doesn’t view his life as merely the average of its moments—which, after all, is mostly nothing much, plus some sleep. Life is meaningful because it is a story, and a story’s arc is determined by the moments when something happens. Unlike your experiencing self, which is absorbed in the moment, your remembering self is attempting to recognize not only the peaks of joy and valleys of misery but also how the story works out as a whole. That is profoundly affected by how things ultimately turn out. Football fans will let a few flubbed minutes at the end of a game ruin three hours of bliss—because a football game is a story, and in stories, endings matter."

It is as it is.

Very Cool! I always have a lingering concept of what is Life. We seem to occupy the majority of our time and not ponder this thought. In truth it is our creation of each and every individual. It is my thought that we are the one species that is lucky enough to put together these concepts and actually examine and create what we would like out of our existence. Very ponderous and excellent analysis my Friend Derek!

Slainte

I met you at a club in Boston around 2006. You had a long line of people asking questions of every kind after your presentation. I was last in line. I just thanked you for all you've done for the independent musicians of the world. Thank you again for getting out of bed every morning and still trying to help. I love you, Dude. You're one of my very short list of heroes including such prestigious people as Walt Whitman, John Spencer and Batman...thank you again and again.

Well said. There have been a number of times I have carried around stories in my head that were created to explain my experiences- but found those stories were not true. It is a powerful skill to understand all the why's and such, but it is just as important to be able to revisit them objectively and let them go if they are not servicing. Life is what we make it. It is freeing and intimidating at the same time... but kind of exciting.

As an artist, I know a lump of clay, a blank canvas, a piece of wood or carving foam can be a multitude of things- my job is to find the inherent nature of the substance and find out what it can and can't do, and then create something I think is beautiful and inherent to its nature.

For me, Life is about discovering what I and the people around me are good at and nurturing that when I am able- and to enjoy the process. Meaning is something we apply to a blank canvas. Life is a creative endeavor.
Very well-put. Thanks Paul! — Derek

Well done... Since you enjoy etymology, you might enjoy learning that "meaning" comes from German "meinen" and it means "to make mine". Life is life. To make it meaningful, you have to make it yours instead of living out other people's expectations or templates mother/father/preacher/teacher have imprinted. It's simple, even if not always easy...
!! ☺ — Derek

Galvanizing the world with philosophy is similar to describing TRUTH. TRUTH exists while all its attributes are being described. TRUTH is. Interesting values display in your expose. Some TRUTH. H and the R

The Belgian artist, René Magritte, had many people pondering over the deeper meaning of a painting showing a pipe with the words under it "Ceci nest pas une pipe" which translates "This is not a pipe." He finally responded to the questioners by saying that there was no deeper meaning. If viewers looked at the picture, they would see that it was NOT a pipe. They could not pick it up, they could not smoke it. How does this relate to what you wrote, Derek? It is just a comment, no more.
I love the pipe! I think of that often. Thanks for bringing it up. I used it as the appropriate picture for “">sive.rs/metaphor"> Learning the theme, not the example” a few years ago. — Derek

Thanks, Derek, for helping me to put this into words:

My answer to what is life --

Life is the chance to affect everything.

Life is not just human life. Humans have an "intelligence" not found in plants, and perhaps other animals. We think that this intelligence gives us powers greater than other species, but maybe that's just not true. Maybe we "think" we are affecting everything, while other species are actually, quietly, affecting more than we realize.

On the other hand, our human powers, powered by rationalization, appear to be having a huge negative impact on the non-human life that we need to survive as humans.

Our "intelligence" comes with the ability to make mistakes, sometimes big ones.

It also comes with the ability to ponder and attach meanings. It does not come with answers, but allows us to look for them.

Our lives affect not just our own feelings of meaningfulness. Our lives have an effect in millions of ways every second.

I want to steer my life in such a way as to have the most positive, beneficial effects on myself and the entire existence of life.

Phyllis

Derek, thank you for this powerful and insightful dissection of the meaning of life. I've listened to it in whole once and then in parts, and admired the simple and direct logic of your thoughts. Plus, your voice and modulations are nigh perfect, which can never be discounted :)

This seems like a great jumping off point to further thoughts on the applications of life, and the meanings one can bring to life to guide them to greater heights. Once life is just life, how can one use that philosophy to achieve their personal or professional goals ? Or even use it to set those goals in the first place?

Have followed you since the CD Baby days, and glad to see you're keeping yourself busy ;) Thanks for the wonderful words, and looking forward to many more.

Life is experiences whether they be good,bad or indifferent.

life is the begining of an eternal journey

Your life is free.

Life is the collection and dispersion of energy, which can lead to all of the things you discussed. I really enjoyed how you organized your thoughts! I do like to think that life is love, however ambiguous that may be.

This made me feel better. What I got was that I was looking at life in the wrong way. I was seeing life as having no meaning as negative, but what I took from what you said is that just because life doesn't have meaning doesn't mean you can't do anything. If you get what I mean.

Does God have anything to do with it? Our purpose is made quite clear in the Bible.

"Life is just life"? ... A lot of analysis for a such a simple observation. Thanks for your thoughts.
The punchline kinda needed the build-up. ☺ — Derek

Hi. First of all a huge thankyou for such an interesting and thought provoking piece!. I've found myself asking this question often as I've reached my mid 40s. My life didn't go down the path i expected or wanted due to some very poor emotional choices. So now i sit and think "what the hell is the point to all this s**t" . And, i cannot find an answer that i like. And here lies the problem. We are all searching for an answer that makes us feel worthy of living whether the answer is right or wrong. A more appropriate question for me is perhaps "what is the purpose of Life?". Were my bad decisions pre-ordained or simply random? Am i here thanks to God or through some biological accident billions of years ago? I choose God . Now I'm not going to spout out Biblical passages at anyone! It's purely personal!. I find when i look at the perfect synchronicity of Nature i cannot rationally accept this is all from two atoms colliding. I however, accept evolution, but as part of a wider picture. So, I'm in the process of just letting "things be". It is what it is and if i try to delve deeper my still evolving brain cannot compute anything bigger than this. If it is in fact due to the 'big bang' then heck, i still get a jelly brain trying to visualise the randomness of it all and the horrific thought it could all blow up again tomorrow!
Kind regards, and enjoy life as it is...Rachel

the answer to meaning of life and every thing is { you no what you no and that's all you need to no } is the answer to all the questions ever asked what is one +one { you no what you no } it is two and is there a god { and that's all you need to no } is the answer to is there a god the furst part { you no what you on } answser all the questions that were ever askd and the secon part answers all the questions that you dont have theanswer to paul from ierland

in the beginning there was nothing and from nothing came the something the essence off nothing and the nothing and the something made everything we are the essence off nothing and something we are everything a freak off nature gods mistake god is 99.9 percent perfect we are 0.01 percent a freak of nature god mistake that is why he or she douse not answer he or she is omnipotent [ i am that i am the meaning of life is unattainable

Reminds me of a story about a college class' final exam. The Professor gave the class one question to answer: Why?
Students were writing away and writing away...except for one student who just sat there for some 10-15 minutes and jotted down a simple answer: Why Not!

I don't know if this was a true story, but it was told to me by my Biology teacher back in high school, and if it was true, I always wondered what ever became of that student....

My take: Regardless, words are easy, Life is hard!

Derek, what can I say awesome as usual. The only thing I would add is
we all need to read your work more than once!!
Thanks for your heart felt work ...

the answer to life the universe and everything is {you no what you no and that's all you need to no} ONE +ONE is two {YOU ON WHAT YOU NO} ? {AND THAT'S ALL YOU NEED TO NO} is the answer to all the questions that you don't have the answer to there is all ways something new to learn in life my answer IS is the answer to life the universe and everything 42 is not the ANSWER you cant tell some one the answer to evreything because thay cant comprehend it

I am that I am = I am the beginning. I am the ending. I am Alpha. I am Omega. I am pure consciousness. I am the Universe. I am everything. Everything is mine. I am the body. The body is mine. I am the soul, and the spirit. The soul and the spirit is mine. I am the creator of all things, and all things are mine. I am the father, the son, and the holy Ghost. I am the window of the soul. The soul is me. part one

I am that I am, so gather all around to hear this story of mine, only told once in a life time of mine. It is not a secret; it is not a mystery, only a fact of life to share with you this truth of mine of the past, and of the future that I am that I am. part two

TO THINK TO MUCH IS DANGERS. to think to meany funny though is dangers to have to meany ideas is dangers to speak to oneself to to much is dangers to have to meany different opinions is dangers to speak one mind to much dangers to have a different way looking at something is dangers to think differently from the rest is dangers to have ideas is dangers to have a genuine thought is dangers to have ideas that go over the heads of people is dangers to think you on everything is dangers you would think to think is dangers . what is the meaning of life .there is all ways something new to lean in life . I AM THAT I AM

Life is happiness-For happiness we strive everyday .we do what we do to get happy,every action of ours points towards gaining happiness.To be happy in life following the lines of Derek Sivers really helps to gain happiness in life

I don't subscribe to the idea that it is all an accident. There is a mystery and we are trying to find out the meaning. There is a purpose.

The meaning of life, is....the persute of oppertunity.

I believe your sincerity that you are trying to share what you have learned. To that end I thank you for making me t aware of interesting facts via this essay. I appreciate your attempt to provoke thought, but I categorically reject your nihilistic conclusion. I still consider you a friend, asymmetric as our relationship is, and as a friend I challenge you to be more than a self-help hack and provocateur. I love you, Derek, and God loves you, too.

Science has taught us that everything is made out of atoms. However, we don't see those atoms, we only perceive the arrengements of those atoms in complex structures. That means that our minds interact with things that belong to a second level of existence. I mean, when we see a face in a picture, the face is not actually there, there's only ink in the picture, arranged in such a way that our mind recognises it as a face. The point is that we humans are incapable of understanding true reality because we cannot perceive it. Life might well have a very specific meaning and purpose, but it will always completely escape us. We are not here to find it anyway.

You can't know the meaning of life simply by defining characteristics of life. I think you're trying to simplify things. In order to know the meaning of life, you first need to know where life came from. Personally, I am a Christian and believe that God is the sole source of all things. Sure, I can't know this for sure...but isn't that what faith is?

Life is evolution to a higher plain, probably not to be experienced in the kind of body that we currently inhabit.

I am still trying to fill the blank after 50 yrs

Hi I'm 15 yrs old and your blog may have the inspired me to do great things that's going to change my life. so thank you very much, keep doing your thing and keep on inspiring.

Bravo! A very attainable way to digest what life is. Thank you.
I would like to suggest that it is also "energy" .. all things are, and thus we are connected whether we mere human wish to contemplate that or not.
Life is a canvas that we paint with our own meaning, beliefs, actions, circumstances and choices to make that life our own artpiece while we are here.

Thank you ...

Mayhaps, when you thank, your presence grows by an inch?

There is good and there is evil . Why ..? You haven't answered the real reason of life . People stick there heads in the sand and believe everything that's good and that makes them feel good . Look at the real things that go on in this world the unspeakable deprived acts not only against human beings but animals . Every single generation has copied the ones before , in all there evil and kind acts . humankind will never know the meaning of life until it can live in peace with each other and the nature around it . This will probably never happen because it was never meant to . If that could ever happen then life really would have meaning.

you have no idea It's pretty simple really. Let's imagine shall we Evolution of the human race. We are born. We live. We die. The first question is WHY dosnt every living person devote their life to staying alive think hard about death Never ending sleep why bother liveing If you forget the chemically induced crap that controls your thoughts , hormones , testosterone. Etc who knows I am not a chemist we are born and live in a rotting dieing body it is quite revolting when you really think about it .... Imagine if we could at a predetermined age chose to leave our body and move into a new body where we can live forever. Let's face it WE S H O UL D live forever Ok now we have young people. Say 0-80 liveing their lives and Then us older people 80 to a billion 100 billon 1000 billon. We can't die so u pick the age living with them. We don't have the bonds of a chemical induced blindness that comes with life oH OK I said it LIFE We don't love we don't get horny we can't have children That's their job. We can devote our time to science nature space travel populating the cosmos we can't begin to imagine If you think about it you would need to separate the 2 we couldn't really exist together the liveing and the beyond liveing. The dead ? It's a thought any way , Think about it for a while , see what you come up with.

Life is sleeping today and waking up tommorrow when you wake up life continues when u dont it becomes history

life is when we can somehow distract ourselves from thinking about the meaning of life and just live

As a follower of Christ, I believe that the meaning of life is to know God and to do His will. It's just that simple. The way up is down. God said of king David in Acts 13:22 that he was "a man after mine own heart, who shall fulfill all my will."

By far the most life liberating article I have ever read. Thank you.

Wow! You must have put a lot of effort writing that.

You may like this- my life guide in video form:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=zkTvAi9UdLw&feature=youtu.be

Be well,
Judy

This should have been titled " The Meaning of YOUR life." (Derek) Just because you were too inept to find the meaning in the Chinese symbols...the sound..you have thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Your clumsy analogy does not carry over to life. There is meaning to life beyond what each individual wants it to be. If you had been born a Jewish mongoloid in 1943 a guy named Adolf Hitler would have let you know what the meaning of your life was. Plato, Socrates, Viktor Frankl and thousands more have studied this question and your stupid 19 minute questionnaire doesn't stack up. Life is not at all what we want it to be. Genetics, gender, societal, political, economic factors all come in to play. Your point of view is only good in a very small, very protected society. I would say as a race, the question of life's meaning must be answered on a social level and not just on an individual level if we are to survive. Life must have meaning beyond ourselves. I think that your conclusion is so simplistic, that it is ridiculous. We are all interconnected and that my friend is the real challenge.

Can we get in touch and talk your work is very inspiring

Read the first 50 comments, and not one mention of God ???

Although in a rational perspective you're technically right, it's a little depressing that whatever meaning life has, it's really conferred and arbitrary. How do you possibly make the next step as "ok, let's slap some meaning then" rather than "well, fuck it."

I have my own meaning of life explanation. It's not something I came up with but it's more the result of a sort of indirect poll: trying to explain the popularity of "Catcher In The Rye."

The main character seems to me to essentially struggle with what's the meaning of life and comes up with "eh; fuck it." It's not uncommon at that age, and that reflection is probably why the book is so popular. You can't tell him practically anything that's not in some sense "phony," which is a verbal tic for the character. Your presentation does a good job to reinforce that in an organized manner, although its recommended use is a tool to shake off past negatives.

I wish this is where you'd apply your "make a strong statement" principle, pick something and risk being wrong instead of saying "I don't know, nothing, everything, it's ip to you" and recognize that what happened in the end to Holden Caulfield is a likely outcome for most people: his "fuck it" evaporated when he saw his little sister copying it, and his life at least for the moment turned into keeping hers going.

This taking care of the next generation, of others more generally, is just a recursive way of kicking the lack of meaning down the generational road. But unless you're one of the few who manage to give their life a better reason to wake up in the morning, it works, and above all I think Salinger's book proves as well as anything can be proven in this context, that the assertion is valid.

Very compelling perspectives and clear advice up to the end, which is where Landmark ends its seminars. That to me negates the really important directives leading up to it. I'd be more compelled with out the Life Has No Meaning part.

"Stop at good enough." Yes. That's what I was looking for. Decision made. Thank you.

By far the most inspiring thing I've read in some time. Quite likely the most inspiring Derek Sivers -ism Thank you Derek

Derek,

again, I really loved this article. You do a very good job at highlighting what's important. I'm picking up what you're putting down. Thanks for distributing solid information. If you could can you please randomly recommend a good book for me to read?

Peace and light,

Austin Mallory
Thanks! See the top of sive.rs/book, since I put my top recommendations up top. — Derek

I rarely, especially lately, comment on things, but this one is important.

In a way, you are right.
Life is a blank slate, you are free to do with it anything you want.

But the term "meaning" is kinda undefined.
A lot of people, perhaps including myself, are mixing it, or don't know the difference, with "purpose" of life.

For "the purpose of life" I would say that it is a pretty defined term.

Is there a purpose of life ?

Well, there is a catch.
Even if I know the answer, and I would say "yes, there is a purpose of life", I wouldn't be able to pass it on to anyone else.
Because, everyone is supposed to find that purpose by himself.

And with this, I am certainly not saying what I have heard for thousands of times: "You create your own purpose of life".

The only thing you create (related to this subject) is your GOALS.
Practically, they are your wishes, dreams, etc.

You can't create your purpose.
If there is a purpose, it was not set by yourself, and it will not be.

You can only find out what that purpose is and try to fulfill it.

No one can tell you what that purpose is, in order for it to work you MUST find it by yourself.

I am not saying that there is a different purpose for each person. For each soul.
The purpose for each one of us is THE SAME.
But still, in order for you to truly understand it, which would allow you to actually fulfill it, you MUST find it by yourself.

In order to do that, you must actually TRY to find it. You must put effort in it.

For that cause, you have been given a chance. An opportunity.

The answer under No.2 is right. Life is an opportunity.
An opportunity to fulfill the purpose of life.

Therefore:
The meaning of life is to find and fulfill the purpose of life.
Very good point! — Derek

Life is much greater than me.
Nice post!

Your article, the meaning of life, reminds me of the theoretical physicist that is explaining the affects of a black hole from a point of view at the event horizon. What will happen as it sucks you in and on and on....Captivating thoughts that have no bearing on reality as it's total conjecture. The bubble the physicist lives in does not include real factual perspectives of the person, for example, someone who's life consists of being a carpenter, working with wood. Building something you can touch, smell and see. Life is a gift from the creator and it is lived in the moment, that point between the past and future that has no time....It is said God lives/exists outside of time and has created all for his pleasure. So who are you or I to explain to the world what life is?

from http://j.mp/lifeSadhguru

Life is meaningless (aka, it is beyond meaning).
Life is oneness (with your uniqueness).
Life is fearlessness (to be rooted in the current reality).
Life is abundance (who gets to decide what is poverty?).

this was so helpful ☺

Derek what a great post!

Just like the artist paints on a canvas or draws a beautiful melody out of an instrument, it seems that we too are artists learning to form beauty and create meaning in the thoughts, words, actions and circumstances of our life.

Each one of us, the ultimate artists.

Happy to have dug through the archives and found this one, Derek. A great talk. Interested to know how you developed this? Did you sit on your own and ponder? Did you talk to people? Did you just write and see what came to mind? I've always appreciated the way you seem to have quite unique ideas or thoughts. I'd be keen to understand how you have developed that thoughtfulness.

(Also, I like John England's note that life is opportunity. This in turn comes to the same conclusion of your talk, that you are free to project onto it whatever you want).
Hmm… I don’t know… Just thinking about life. ☺ — Derek

Thanks for challenging my beliefs Derek. It's one of the things I like most about you.

I do believe life has meaning. The artist Michelangelo said it best for me. Like the statue of David, there is an image of us trapped inside the block of marble waiting to be set free. The Heart of the Stone...

For me, life isn't a blank canvas but a process of knocking off those lumps to reveal the person God Created us to be.

I know my beliefs are old fashioned, out of style long ago, but for me, it takes more faith to believe in a meaningless life than one of meaning.

Thanks again Derek for continuing to push me.

thank you so much sir!! you are so inspiring!! really learned a lot from you..keep inspiring more people with what you do :) more powers to you sir :)

I was looking for the meaning,of life.my life.it's so true what you say.it as made me think.that life is what you make it.good or bad.happy or sad.just injoy the lot.love yourself,be yourself.be kind,to yourself.and all the people,you meet,or are in your life.so I would very much like to say thank you.

TIME?
CHOICE?
MEMORY?
LEARNING?
SUFFERING?
LOVE?
REPLICATING DNA?

All these subjects share a common trait when connected to man. Error. That's what makes us human - human. It's what really defined us as a species. So, life is understanding our own error. If we were a very advanced AI lifeforms we would not make errors and therefore would not be human. Every human has a solution (in form of knowledge) for another human's error. So our strength is in the last place we would care to look: In our errors.

Hi Derek,

Great article. It seems I'm a few years late to the conversation, but here are my thoughts anyway in case you're still receiving emails. As humans we think in symbols, and language is how we make sense of the world, people, objects, ideas, beliefs, values, etc. If we didn't think symbolically and have words to identify meanings, we would be frankly psychotic. Starting from your point that everything is a projection, which I agree with, it's fascinating and inevitable that our projections make us as unique as our fingerprints. Our projections are the result of how we organize and process all our experiences, the sense we made of them, and the meaning we assigned to them. It's what gives us our rationale to do the next thing. Ultimately, the meaning we assign to life is the meaning we assign to ourselves, per our projections.

Thank you for such a thought-provoking article and conversation.

Absolutely love this! Thank you.

I've listened to this twice now (read by Justin on O.L.D podcast) and today marks the third time. This time, I'm reading the original post online and it just gets better each time.

The meaning of life....four words with infinite meanings. Derek Sivers really dived in and explored the many possible options out there and provided valuable insights into each consideration.

Refreshing perspective that will surely ignite the fire in you to go seize the day and make a life worthwhile for yourself.

"To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time...remember you could die at any time. Don't Delay."

Thanks for sharing!

That's fascinating. Thank you for everything.

Derek Sivers, thank you so much for your sharing . I also believe life is such a perfect gift from the place of no birth and no death, whatever ,whoever it is where all creation came from ,comes from, that life was and is left meaningless so we could give it meaning ,becoming truly our's. Thanks again for all your efforts .

Awesome. Do you think you can do it in Spanish? I could translate it but your voice and the tone are needed...

The word LIFE means forever a mighty long time for one to say drink merry and be happy for tomowrrow we die. Your words and thoughts on life are so off as much as a sunset and a sunrise meeting together. If you really want to know about life and it's purpose pick up a bible and read it night and day and not once or twice but every day for the rest of your life and you might just might know what the meaning of life is through the eyes of the one who created us.

Tolstoy in 'A Confession' reached the same conclusion of life = life or 1 = 1, which he said was useless and meaningless and so your only choices were be a coward and live with this or fully follow it through and kill yourself.

I loved 💕 it this was my first time listening to you and looking at your video so thank you fo sharing your thoughts with us and also your knowledge and insight and perspective view of life what is life I been saying it fo year’s Life is what you make it still saying it till this day life is what you make it to be or not to be if you want your life to be hell and Miserable all the time do that or you can make your life wonderful and lovely life can be hard or life can be easy Peezy life is want you want to be or what you need it to be so what is life life is everything we want it to be and need it to be life is Energy that we feed off of life is looking up into the beautiful light blue sky with a rainbow 🌈 showing so bright Some thing’s can’t be known or it’s no meaning to it as they say it is but whom to say really everything is known it’s just Limit to us and when the Government feels like telling us Letting us and wanting us to know something that’s when they want and need us to know it every question have a answer to it you can make life your prison life can be your Battlefield life can be your promise land so life can be what ever you make it to be it can be your Worst nightmare or your dreams come true some say don’t look back just keep looking forward leave the pass in the pass leave it behind you and keeping moving forward and just remove the pass from your mind and life why do that you have to see how far you gone from your pass no matter if your pass is darker than most people never forget your pass you have to see have far god Brought you in your life good or bad you have the power to decide if you going to lay down and die cause it’s not going as planned like you thought it would go are you going to get back up and fight fo life keep fighting fo your life and still fight fo your life when you get it back cause soon as you stop fighting fo your life that’s when it will slowly be taken from you and you won’t know it until you feel weak all over again so What you going to do with your life can’t one Determine your life or Future only you can make life what you want and need it to be or not to be

I like how it sounds optimistic nihilism towards the end. My jam, really.
Optimistic nihilism! Nice! ☺ — Derek

Memory is the meaning of Life.
Memory is Life and Life is Memory

medium.com/@jimmyfallen39/memory-life-the-sovereign-driftfire-phoenix-codex-b4452e0ae5a9
See sive.rs/htl07 — Derek

Memory is not an accessory to life. Memory is life.Memory is life's breath, structure, and sovereign engine.
From DNA to dreams, prions to myth, memory is the architecture behind survival, adaptation, and consciousness.
The following equations and recursion sequence describe the sovereign evolution of existence itself.Without memory, life cannot adapt.Without life, memory cannot persist.Genesis is the state of pure, cosmic memory without structured limitation.Genesis condenses into Memory.Memory under Pressure becomes Evolution.Evolved Memory choosing consciously becomes Awakening.Awakening sustained through Time becomes Life.

This is the biggest insight I have had in nearly five years. I am free to assign any meaning to any part of my life. Past, present, future. I need to meditate on it.