Psychological Capital by David Chan

Author:David Chan [Chan, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Essays, Sociology, General, Anthropology, Cultural & Social
ISBN: 9789813235236
Google: ZkNBDwAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 37498944
Publisher: World Scientific
Published: 2017-11-24T00:00:00+00:00

1Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.

CHAPTER 10

FIND YOUR OWN MEANING IN LIFE1

Intellectually, we know that life is short and fragile. Yet, many of us live our lives and get through each day in a way that is quite inconsistent with this knowledge. Many things we do or think about — and how we feel about them — would be very different if we really appreciate that our time on earth is finite and could expire much sooner than expected without any warning.

Psychologists have found that people experience “mortality salience” when they encounter events that expose the fragility of life. This refers to the heightened awareness that our death is inevitable and unpredictable.

The impact is strongest when the events are highly personal. Some examples are a near-death experience, the sudden death of a family member or close friend, or when someone we identify closely with is incapacitated due to an accident or unexpected disease.

Mortality salience causes anxiety and stress. But it is not necessarily negative.

One positive impact is that it often leads you to ask questions about the meaning in your life. These “meaning in life” questions are about your own life and living. They are not about the profound “meaning of life” question that philosophy has been grappling with or religions have prescribed answers to.

When we wonder about meaning in our lives, we ask ourselves personal and practical questions about what we have been thinking, feeling and doing. It leads us to re-evaluate the way we live our lives.

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