21 Life Lessons From People Who Have Figured Out How to Live a Meaningful Life

Life is full of intricate and complicated experiences.

It’s also finite.

Together, these two concepts — complexity and finiteness — remind us that life is both precious and fleeting.

It is a reminder that we should cherish the moments we have, embrace the complexity of our experiences, and make the most of the time we have.

From the relationships we build to the choices we make, life is a constant balancing act that requires us to navigate through a complex web of interrelated factors.

No single person has all the answers for a meaningful life. There are no universal rules for designing or leading a meaningful life.

There are lessons learned, observations made, and timeless reflections passed on from smart and great lives who have come before us.

People who have lived through the ups and downs of life often emerge with a deep understanding of what truly matters.

But the truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to living a meaningful life. Each person’s journey is unique, and the lessons they learn along the way are just as varied.

If you are not finding and applying lessons and principles from the wise, experienced and smart people, most things could take twice as long.

You are also missing out on brilliant wisdom for becoming a better version of yourself. I read all the time to discover meaningful principles for a meaningful life from people smarter than me.

Everyone has a unique definition of what a meaningful life might look like. It could be based on intellectual pursuits, finding a purpose that’s greater than yourself, or simply learning how to take pleasure in the little things.

But, regardless of what your definition is, it’s always helpful to turn to those who have already made strides in their own lives.

Whether learning to live in the present moment, realising what is truly important, or focusing on meaningful relationships, the advice from those who have figured out how to live a meaningful life can help us all find our own paths.

How do you live a meaningful life? It’s a big question that has perplexed philosophers, poets, and ordinary people for centuries.

Heraclitus said, “No man steps in the same river twice”. These wise words can help you navigate the many challenges of life.

Every one of them can help you design a meaningful life. I hope they inspire and motivate you to find your own path to a fulfilling life.

  1. “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

  2. “For me, the best things in life — meaningful work, meaningful relationships, interesting experiences, good food, sleep, music, ideas, sex, and other basic needs and pleasures — are not, past a certain point, materially improved upon by having a lot of money.” — Ray Dalio

  3. “A meaningful life is composed of a series of meaningful moments. If this is what we want, then the ability to infuse each moment with meaning would seem to be a skill worth practicing.” — Bill Crawford

  4. “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

  5. “The more you know yourself, the more clarity there is. Self-knowledge has no end.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti

  6. “The secret of life is to have a task, something you devote your entire life to, something you bring everything to, every minute of the day for the rest of your life. And the most important thing is, it must be something you cannot possibly do.” — Henry Moore

  7. “Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” — Helen Keller

  8. “The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” — William Morris

  9. “Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” — Søren Kierkegaard

  10. “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” — Epicurus

  11. “Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” — Marie Curie

  12. “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

  13. “The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.” — Henry Miller

  14. “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” — Plato

  15. “The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.” — Martha Washington

  16. “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” — Ashley Smith

  17. “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

  18. For, in the end, it is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work. — James C. Collins

  19. “Don’t be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin!” — Henry David Thoreau

  20. “Most of us lead far more meaningful lives than we know. Often finding meaning is not about doing things differently; it is about seeing familiar things in new ways.” — Rachel Naomi Remen

  21. “The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be.” — Marcel Pagnol

In conclusion, the journey to living a meaningful life can be challenging and sometimes overwhelming. Still, the insights and experiences of those who have figured it out can offer guidance and inspiration.

These pieces of advice emphasize the importance of designing your own trajectory, learning more about yourself, cultivating meaningful relationships, appreciating small experiences, embracing challenges, living in the present moment, and practicing gratitude.

By incorporating these lessons into our lives, we can find fulfillment, purpose, and joy and ultimately lead a life that feels authentic to ourselves.

This article first appeared in Medium.