But here is what's different: in their simplicity these words can be applied to every single human being who seeks such a recipe. And in their application, meaning is given to life.
Find a task that gives you value. The task Kronenberg was referring to - specifically - as he gave this talk, was that of a boy in Nepal. He was a yak herder. The task gave him value. Your task may be very different, perhaps much more sophisticated, perhaps you even went to Oxford in order to "accomplish" your task. But think: does it give you value? In the case of the yak herder, his task gave him value - in his community and in his own eyes - and the value gave him dignity. Thanks to the dignity he gained respect, and thanks to the respect, he gained self-confidence and self esteem. These are very clear building stones towards a life of meaning. Having meaning can make all the difference over the course of a life trajectory, most particularly in times of need, or loss, or pain,or chaos. See also my article from 2011: Finding a Meaning For Your Life
Let's examine where the 'value' of being a yak herder lies. The village - the community - needs those animals for many different purposes and thanks to the fulfilling of those purposes, the community not only survives, but it may even thrive. And the yak herder's role in this is very clear.
Now look at your own life. Examine it just as closely. Do you derive meaning from what you do with your life - from the tasks you have chosen? Look at it like this: does what you do with your life serve mainly to allow you to accumulate money, possessions, and/or prestige, or does it serve a larger purpose (even in only on a very small family or community level)? Does it serve mainly to make you feel successful in the eyes of others, or does it add to the greater good? While money is a necessary part of life and can, indeed, do a great deal of good, money, possessions, or how others see you, in and of themselves are not typically what allows you to feel you have a meaning in your life.
Give this some thought. The answers are not necessarily easy, nor will you necessarily like what you find. But I promise you this: if you find something that gives you meaning, you will love your life.
Jalal ad-Din Rumi wrote: When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. And that joy that emanates from the soul like a river comes to you thanks to the meaning you have given to your life.
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Also visit my book website: www.gabriellakortsch.com where you may download excerpts or read quotations from any of my books (also in Spanish & German). My latest book Emotional Unavailability & Neediness: Two Sides of the Same Coin is available globally on Amazon in print & Kindle. You can also obtain it (or any of my other books) via Barnes & Noble.
Angefangen mit Rewiring the Soul - auf Deutsch: Deine Seele und Du, jetzt weltweit erhältlich als Taschenbuch oder Kindle E-Book (Blog hier), werden auch meine anderen Bücher in Zukunft auf Deutsch bei Amazon erhältlich sein.
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Bücher von Dr. Gabriella Kortsch (Deutsch) ... JETZT bei Amazon (Taschenbuch oder E-Book) erhältlich
DEINE SEELE UND DU
Libros por Gabriella Kortsch (español) ... ahora en todo el mundo en Amazon en versión bolsillo y Kindle
Note: If you are wondering why this blog is now only appearing on alternate days (excluding Sat/Sun), it is because I also post on my other blog on the others days. That other blog is The Tao of Spiritual Partnership, so named for another one of my books. Click here to visit the blog and/or to sign up for the feed.
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