Human beings are likely to put their existence into several questions. A question about the meaning of life has been asked frequently, and many people have articulated different opinions and views. The response to this question is based on an individual’s perspective on life. Life is likely to have meaning to people who are happy or satisfied. In this case, happiness is associated with the meaningfulness of life. To me, life has meaning, and that is why people pursue well-being and happiness. A person who is unable to find the meaning of their life may become distressed (Newman, Nezlek, & Thrash, 2018). The importance of life is personal, and only a person can decide it for themselves. Life has meaning because it provides a sense of control, purpose, and self-worth to an individual towards happiness and satisfaction.
Opposing outlooks indicate that life has no meaning because human beings are not immortal. Death is an unstoppable event that determines people’s last moments to exist. Remarkably, when death occurs, all things that a human being does become useless or invisible to them. The happiness and satisfaction that people achieve do not matter after their death. Another argument why life is meaningless entails the justification for happiness. People encounter many challenges when pursuing happiness and satisfaction in their life (Newman, Nezlek, & Thrash, 2018). Although a comforting environment may be created when happiness and satisfaction are achieved, it ends when death occurs. Life is meaningless because people’s devotion and desires towards satisfaction and happiness are prone to challenges. The possible outcomes of such situations include lack of peace and stress while trying to achieve the depicted meaning. For instance, people who fail to fulfill their desires and wishes in life are likely to feel desperate or useless in life. However, life does not have meaning because things that contribute to satisfaction and happiness are not accessible to all individuals.
One of the Arguments against the opposing outlook indicates that even if human beings are not immortal, life is important if people strive towards its meaning. People are likely to pursue and achieve happiness in their lives, making it meaningful. Although death results in to end of life, people should see the meaning of life before this event happens. A person who does not wake up and accomplish tasks that enhance their goals may not see the importance of life. Therefore, life has a meaning when an individual engages in meaningful activities such as making money, raising a family, and helping others. Such actions are likely to make them happy and satisfied while alive. The things that a person did while alive may not matter to them after death but can make other individuals achieve happiness and satisfaction. Instead of chasing a permanent smile, people should appreciate and endure what they achieve and avoid hedonic things towards happiness. The struggles and challenges encountered when achieving happiness should not justify the meaninglessness of life. Everything in life is not accomplished without facing obstacles. People should be willing to handle various challenges if they wish to realize aspects that make their life meaningful.
My position is that life has meaning because it provides people with opportunities to pursue happiness and satisfaction. The faith that we have contributes to realizing the importance of life. For instance, having positive thoughts and desiring good things in life make people see the meaning of life. Pleasures of life are the source of happiness and satisfaction associated with the meaningfulness of life (Newman, Nezlek, & Thrash, 2018). The notion of faith can be attributed to the finite existence of people because it makes them believe they are alive for a purpose. Life has meaning because it includes various opportunities to contribute in a positive way to the world. Therefore, individuals can create their meaning of life regardless of some deity. For instance, a person can engage in activities such as helping others and making money that enhances their happiness and satisfaction in their life.
The argument that life is meaningful can be supported using various reasons. The meaning of life may not be achieved easily, and people have to encounter challenges and suffering. However, such obstacles should not make life meaningless because they are part of the test phase in life. Happiness and satisfaction are achieved when an individual accomplishes things or activities towards a meaningful life (Newman, Nezlek, & Thrash, 2018). Therefore, if the opportunities offered in life are positively utilized, the meaning of staying alive is likely to be realized. Thoughts of death and suffering should not make people feel desperate for life. If individuals strive towards happiness, life will likely be meaningful to them after achieving their desires. Faith about having a better tomorrow can influence people’s perception of the meaning of life. For instance, having positive thoughts about life can make a person enjoy being alive because of the belief that they will achieve their life desires. Therefore, life may be meaningless without faith in achieving happiness and satisfaction.
In conclusion, the meaningfulness and meaningless of life depend on personal views or perspectives about various lifetime encounters or events. If people utilize life’s opportunities to achieve happiness and satisfaction, they are likely to see its meaning. On the contrary, having a negative perspective about life can make a person view life as meaningless. People should understand that life is associated with suffering and challenges encountered in the pursuit of happiness and satisfaction. Therefore, they should be willing to encounter the possible obstacles to realize the meaningfulness of life.
Reference
Newman, D. B., Nezlek, J. B., & Thrash, T. M. (2018). The dynamics of searching for meaning and presence of meaning in daily life. Journal of Personality, 86(3), 368-379.