
The power of finding meaning
What is the meaning of life? It is a question that has been subject of debate for centuries. It is certainly not a question that I have the answer to. However, I am slowly discovering what gives my life meaning. Insignificant as that may sound, I find it remarkably powerful.
When I was admitted to the flight academy to become an airline pilot, nearly 25 years ago, a childhood dream came true. However, from the start of my career something felt off. I was struggling to find my way, I felt stressed and purposeless. Once I realized that my dream hadn’t turned out exactly as I had imagined it, I started to look for help. Most of the professional help I received was aimed at working on my weaknesses, to deal with the challenges of the job. Did it help? To some extend. I was able to function, but I wasn’t exactly thriving.
Things changed after I was introduced to the field of positive psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). As opposed to traditional psychology, which focuses on what’s wrong, positive psychology asks: ‘What makes life worth living?’. It focuses on talents, passions, core values and finding meaning, and gives guidance on how to live a happy and fulfilling life. Getting my core values and passions clear helped me find some direction and meaning in my life, and it led to significant changes.
Writing this blog, I have recently left my old job and am doing an internship at mHub – Rwanda. I am surrounded by people with whom I share core values and passions. I feel like I am contributing to something that is important to me: helping others improve their mental health. And it gives me a sense of meaning and belonging. Does that mean there are no difficulties? Certainly not: work can still be stressful, challenging, tiring. But there is an important difference: working on something that gives my life meaning makes it worth it, and I am feeling quite happy doing so.
Another testimony to the value of meaning is the story of Alain, a former drug user whom I met here in Rwanda, who turned his negative life experience into something positive. With his organisation, STEPS Initiative, he raises awareness on mental health issues and addiction among adolescents. Sharing his life experience gives a positive meaning to the struggles he had to go through, while being able to contribute to others gives him a sense of purpose. His remarkable comeback from a seemingly hopeless situation into a passionate and dedicated expert, is a strong illustration of the power of meaning.
These examples show that positive psychology has a lot of potential. Focussing on your talents and passions helps you to not just endure life, but to flourish. And finding meaning can increase feelings of fulfillment, happiness and life satisfaction. These positive states of mind help you endure the hardships that, inevitably, are also part of life.
So, take a moment to reflect on your passions, values, and what gives meaning to your life. Allow it to give you direction. A fulfilling future lies ahead.
Author: Jöran Schakenraad, mHub intern, 1 August 2025
Literature
Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive Psychology: An Introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5-14.