When we spend our lives merely surviving, life can start to seem a little empty and pointless. Nevertheless, this is exactly how many of us live: we work for eight hours or more a day and then we come home feeling too tired and exhausted to do much of anything with our time. So, we sit and watch TV.
The same thing repeats and repeats and the most excitement we have is a holiday once a year to look forward to. Is that really living? That's flavorless life and in essence, it tastes like a slice of roasted meat without salt. We have to add some seasoning to make it more delicious.
Here are four simple changes that can make your life more meaningful:
1. Learning
Constantly learning is a great way to give life more meaning and direction. Ultimately, one of the things that the brain craves most is growth. If it isn’t challenged to learn and grow, then it will shrink and we will become set in our ways. In one way or another at a certain point in your life, you'll be required to act prudently in order to get ahead of others in your life. And prudence comes with a commitment to life-long learning.
Make it your job to constantly be learning new skills and pursuits. That can be related to your career, a hobby, or even a new language! Albert Einstein, who is generally recognized as a genius, was quoted as saying: "Once you stop learning, you start dying".
And Scripture speaks:
" If you stop listening to instruction,
My child,
You'll turn your back on knowledge"
Proverbs 19:27, NLT.
2. Relationships
Likewise, relationships are one of the things that we really need to be happy. If you don’t have meaningful relationships, then you’ll have no one to share wit: your pains, your joys, your experiences, your challenges, and your triumphs.
A truly ‘meaningful’ relationship goes beyond friends of friends that you only ever meet in a group. This is someone that you can have a deep heart-to-heart with and who has a long and storied history with you.
The true relationship is honoring the commitment you made to your life-long companion that you'll stay by his/her side no matter what or until death does you apart. You'll need a dose of combination between discipline and self-control to be truly faithful to your life's partner.
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT.
3. Challenge
What’s also necessary for life to feel meaningful is a challenge and to some extent, risk. And above it, you must possess the courage to face any life's adversity that comes in your way. But if you walk wisely, nothing will stand on your way.
Have you ever been in a situation that was truly life and death? Or perhaps that put you in a situation where you were close to accomplishing something truly amazing?
These are the moments that the brain focusses and engages with the world. These are the moments when we learn and when we realize the worth of what we have. It puts things in perspective and creates stories. Don’t shy away from the things that test you!
"Dear brothers and sisters when trouble of any kind comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you'll be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
James 1:2-4, NLT.
4. Travel
Finally, everyone should seek to have some travel in their lives. This doesn’t mean you have to backpack across the dessert – but simply being able to experience new sights and new people is important to keep your mind open and your experiences varied. If you don’t have the budget to go away, then come up with an adventure you can enjoy a little closer to home.
You can also travel in the world of genre fiction produced by talented novelists and enjoy the endless imaginations of what could possibly happen in the universe under their given circumstances. You'll learn a lot of moral lessons and execution of justice along the journey.
But of course, be warned!
"Don't go on a journey with irresponsible people, for their mischief will become your burden. They'll do what they wish and you'll be ruined by their foolishness."
Sirach 8:15, NLT.
And always remember:
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,
and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need"
Matthew 6:33, NLT.
If you follow this advice religiously, hopefully, you'll start to see your life becomes more meaningful!
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