The meaning of life

Are you one of those people who has asked the question: what is the meaning of life?

I believe anyone who has experienced many times of ups and downs in life enough to ponder about why life is the way it is would have asked this question. I am one of them. Have you found your answer yet? This question has been in my mind for many years but it is not until most recently that my thoughts begin to crystallize on a definite answer - the meaning of life is to pursue THE purpose of providing value/s to this world. 

Let me explain why...

It begins with 5 basic levels of needs

In one training classes I took up, I learned that there are 5 basic levels of needs in human as explained in Marslow's hierachy of needs, the highest level being 'self-actualization'. This highest level of need is about a man's need to achieve his full potential to actualize what he/she wants to be, after the lower levels of needs have all been fulfilled. In our context here, self-actualization refers to the need to accomplish the ultimate best of the best ideal success one desires for himself/herself (different from esteem/respect), for instance, being top salesperson of a global company, or being renowned surgeon in a medical field, or being the most sought-after consultant in a technology field, etc. In today's developed nations where physiological needs (food/shelter etc), safety needs and social needs are more easily achieved, most people will probably be looking to satisfy their higher level needs in esteem (4th level) and self-actualization (5th level). Speaking from my life experience and what I have seen happening around me so far especially in the corporate world, I fully agree that lacking in a need in any level will cause dissatisfaction in a person's life, even for the 4th and the 5th highest level of needs. No one level of needs can be compromised. When there is dissatisfaction in any level of need, there will be discomfort and therefore unhappiness in a person. So, it is very natural that everybody is in pursuit of fulfilling all those levels of needs because the pursuit of happiness is in everyone's nature. 

Let's say many of us already have the ability to unleash our best potential in us and have become the best performer we believe we can be in our field, is it the end? Once all the 5 basic level of needs have been fulfilled, what is next? Have we then grabbed the trophy of happiness that will last permanently till the day we die? I asked myself these questions. My answer is No. 

Why fulfilling the 5 basic needs is just the foundation of the pursuit of actual happiness?

The tip is in our everyday life. Just think of these cases for example and imagine you have already unleashed your fullest potential and you are now the best performer in your field by your definition (i.e. you believe you have achieved self-actualization). When your kid is stressed over homework, do you feel like helping him/her? Yes, I think you do. When your spouse is unhappy over his current job, do you feel like you can do something to release him from that situation? Yes, I think you do. When your parent is unwell in hospital, do you feel like you can relieve him/her of suffering? Yes, I think you do. Now let's move away from anchoring on people who you love on the personal level, and let's check our conscience for group level. When your neighborhood has children who have not enough to eat because of low income parents, do you pity them and want to do something? Yes, I think you do, even when they are not directly related to you. When your hometown has been damaged by natural calamity when you are living abroad, do you immediately want to donate money and time to rebuild it? Yes, I think you do, even if none of your relative is living in the city anymore. Am I right? Just like you, my answers to all those few questions are also "Yes, I do.". Otherwise, I worry, I feel uncomfortable, my happiness will be short-lived and I cannot truly be happy.

Do you see what I am getting at?

Happiness derived from an individual's success is limited in my opinion. True happiness is derived from contributing to other people's happiness as well. Long lasting happiness can be reality only when others within our influence are also in the process of achieving happiness.

That concept was supported by Maslow because in his later year, Maslow further suggested there is one further level of need in man beyond self-actualization which is called self-transcendence. This level describes one's actualization by achieving higher goal outside of oneself, thereby attaining holistic level of human consciousness.

I conclude the meaning of life...

Since we are living in connection with people, it should be difficult to be happy when others around us are not happy due to unfulfilled needs. Doing something meaningful to help others feel happy should in turn make us feel happy too. Afterall, what is it we yearn for everyday? The feeling of being happy and secure, isn't it? Imagine a world where everybody's 5 basic needs have been fulfilled and even the 6th need is fulfilled, what kind of world will that be? That world will not have suffering anymore. I certainly will want to live in such a world. (Could it be nirvana as described in Buddhism? I do not know and cannot comment)

Therefore, I conclude that the meaning of life is to provide value to others within our influence by helping them so that the basic needs of others can be fulfilled and then together happiness can be created and multiplied.