GuidoWorld

Joy and Meaning

July 12, 2008 on 3:47 pm | In General |

Too, often people talk of the search for meaning and happiness. They make these things goals to accomplish. Yet, are joy and meaning objects to be found, won or acquired? When I look at these experiences from a practical viewpoint, I once again am struck with how simple life is, and how difficult most people make it.

My daily senses of joy and happiness come from simple events. Each time I learn something new, or improve my ability to do a skill I find both joy and satisfaction. Self improvement and personal development are two areas which provide me with substantial happiness. Any area of accomplishment and improvement provides my life with joy and adds to my sense of personal history. My sense of time and personal development also give meaning to my life.

My connections and bonds to others likewise are an endless source of joy and meaning. At some moments I relish my individuality and uniqueness and find joy in my specialness. At other times I feel cradled in the care and respect I feel by my friendships and sense of community with others.

I find it is easier and more fulfilling when I make my goals in life practical and attainable. I am baffled by people who structure their goals and quests out of ideals and absolutes. They base their hopes for joys on unearthly and inhuman concepts such as perfection, freedom , eternal life, cosmic consciousness, etc. I am always befuddled by people who try to find meaning in life by concepts which transcend life or are contrary or beyond the normal scope of human experience.

I myself find joy and meaning if the very process of human experience. Everyday human experience, perception and consciousness is full of endless mystery and magic. Life is an endless puzzle and process. The irony is in the fact that the imperfection of life is the very thing which makes it possible for us to grow, develop and learn. It is our limitations which make sensory experience and conscious thought possible. Though some look at the ego and objective life as something to overcome and transcend, I find meaning and joy in the very experience and process of life.

For me those who aspire to overcome life are doing so to avoid pain and suffering. And yes transcending life can be an effecive anesthetic. Yet, one who is under an anesthetic is numb, and therefore unable to experience joy, happiness and passion.

Absolutes, ideals and the need for perfection are contrary to human experience. Our senses exist because they only can process a narrow band of stimuli that is flooding us at each moment. If one heard every sound being made by the universe and one’s immediate environment and internal body functions one would never be able to enjoy a baby’s laugh or the song of a bird.

Yet, despite these obvious facts of human existence, it is the rare person who not only accepts but revels in the finitude of human thought and perception. The fact that there is no completion or perfection makes it possible for me to develop and grow each day. The fact that I am an ongoing process makes it possible for me to make discovery and invention daily events in my life. Likewise, it makes joy and meaning daily events and not end goals.

Instead of finding meaning by overcoming our humanity I suggest we find meaning and joy in our very humanity and finite experience.

Below are two songs from my CD Priorities which echo some of the sentiments of this post. Click on title to listen, click on lyric to read.

Bath of Joy (lyrics/reveries)

Gaps (lyrics/reveries

Jim Guido