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Meaning
of life
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"As I look at the possibility of dying, it’s
made me reflect on my life. Looking at my past has led
me to forgive and to ask forgiveness. Now I feel the most
important thing is to express the love I feel for those
around me. In the end, that seems to me to be the purpose
of living."
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The search for meaning appears
to be a uniquely human trait. Along with hope, having purpose
can sustain us through even the darkest circumstances. Noted
psychiatrist Viktor Frankl spent many years in Nazi concentration
camps. During his ordeal he established that a sense of purpose
and a goal for the future were essential to human existence.
They made the difference between surviving that tragedy with
grace and dignity or succumbing to bitterness and despair.
When faced with a diagnosis of
serious illness, we can learn lessons from Dr. Frankl’s
observations. Although we cannot control many of the external
events of our lives, we do have some control over our attitudes
and how we approach even a life-threatening condition. This
perspective in turn can have a significant effect on the quality
of our life and how we experience our days, whether we have
many days left or only a few.
Finding purpose in life, both
in the past as well as the present day, can transform a serious
illness into a deeply meaningful event. Indeed, many family
caregivers and people diagnosed with terminal conditions have
said that the illness brought them gifts along with the sadness.
Reflection on one’s life and one’s contributions and
achievements is often cited as a source of insight into the
meaning of it all.
Many people struggle with identifying their contributions and
achievements and tend to count only the financial and material
aspects. Few of us can be a great statesman or a brilliant architect
who leaves behind a legacy to be seen and remembered by the
world. All of us, however, leave behind a very meaningful legacy
in our friends and families. The way we have lived our lives,
the values and principles that have allowed us to touch the
hearts and souls of others, and that we have passed on to our
children and family is a legacy that is every bit as important,
and one that will live forever as it is passed down from generation
to generation.
The world’s religions have
acknowledged this need for reflection with important parables.
The Christian faith describes St. Peter reviewing the life of
the recently deceased at the gates of Heaven. In ancient Egypt,
the god Osiris was said to weigh a dying person’s heart
against the Feather of Truth.
Writing down life reminiscences
is an excellent means for a patient to reflect on achievements
and shortcomings. If writing is too taxing, dictating to someone
with a laptop computer may be easier. This process can also
help the patient identify tasks that can still be completed
to rectify any missteps or misunderstandings from the past.
For instance, many patients discover in this process that they
want to write letters or make phone calls to reconcile
family relationships.
Hope and a goal for the future
are the counterparts to finding meaning or purpose. Even with
a terminal diagnosis, people need to feel hopeful and have things
to look forward to. The end of life, in fact, presents many
opportunities for growth and change, even if one is bedridden.
To learn more about finding daily meaning and future purpose,
please see our article about hope.
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This website was created by the Grand
Island Coalition for End of Life Care, a community organization dedicated
to improving end of life care through education, advocacy and support. We
gratefully acknowledge the generosity of KDSI for
their donation of webhosting services. Site design and layout created by Let's
Collaborate! |
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