Andrew Hackett* says no one leaves this life wishing they had done more work; many might wish they had enjoyed more fun.
If you’re looking for meaning in life it can help to think about the way that life really works.
Our culture conditions us to strive in a very specific way but sadly, that may not be the way to be happy.
So, let’s do a little thought experiment and then let’s talk about the real point of life.
I want you to think about something really expensive that you bought.
Ideally, pick something that you haven’t just bought — something a few months old.
Now, I want you to think about how you felt when you bought that item.
Were you excited and happy? Couldn’t wait to show it to others?
Then, I want you to think about how long it is since you felt like that about your purchase.
It’s been a while, right? Quite possibly a long while.
Human beings don’t obtain lasting happiness from possessions. None of us do.
It doesn’t matter whether you bought a car, a house or a computer.
You start out buzzing from having it and after a while it becomes an ordinary part of life.
It no longer delivers that happy hit that it once did.
Now, choose an occasion when you had fun with other people. Real fun.
It could be a vacation, it could be a party, it could be a family day on the beach.
How did that make you feel?
How does it make you feel to think about that now?
For almost everybody, the activity that helped us have fun still makes us feel good when we think about it.
When we tell other people about it, it makes us feel especially good.
It’s also worth noting: People love to hear stories about people having fun; when was the last time you wanted to listen to somebody else’s shopping list?
Let’s assume that the atheists have it right. There’s no god, no afterlife and the universe itself has no point.
Some argue that this means that our lives have no meaning.
This is not true.
You don’t listen to music thinking “what’s the point of this?” You listen to it because it’s fun and it makes you happy.
The meaning of life is not working hard, accumulating stuff and then bragging about it.
This doesn’t make us happy and it doesn’t make other people around us happy either.
It’s in the experience of life. Your purpose is not to exist pointlessly, instead you are free to create that purpose.
A purpose that is fun and meaningful to you.
Your life is just like music. It doesn’t need big meaning for it to be beautiful, powerful and exciting.
You can choose to experience life to have fun and to connect with others.
Experience is what makes us happy.
Give yourself some time each and every week to have fun.
Nobody’s gravestone says: “I wish I’d done more work” but many ought to say: “I wish I’d had more fun.”
*Andrew Hackett is a personal redevelopment coach, author and transformational trainer and strategic negotiator based in Canberra. He can be contacted at linkedin.com.
This article first appeared on LinkedIn.
