Meaning Of Life Research Articles

Competitive Value, Noncompetitive Value, and Life's Meaning

ABSTRACT This paper explores the notions of competitive and noncompetitive value and examines how they both affect meaning in life. The paper distinguishes, among other things, between engaging with competitive value and participating in a competition; between competitive value and comparative value; between competing with others and competing with oneself; and between subjective and objective aspects of both competitive and noncompetitive value. Since any competitive value is also comparative value, the paper criticizes Harry Frankfurt’s claim that comparative value is just a ‘formal characteristic of the relationship between two items’, from which nothing follows about their value or desirability. The paper also argues that, overall, noncompetitive value has the advantage over competitive value in terms of attaining meaning in life. Reasons for this claim include that: competitive value relates less than noncompetitive value to what is meaningful in life; competitive value is harder to attain than noncompetitive value; competitive value depends more than noncompetitive value on luck and on what other people do; and competitive value is more likely to lead to stress, hypocrisy, and aggression.

ПРОЕКТ „РИЦАРИ И ДАМИ“

The ‘Knights and Ladies’ project fosters moral and spiritual development in children by encouraging the conscious practice of universal virtues in everyday life. This program aims to enrich teachers’ pedagogical approaches to character education, equipping them to cultivate essential virtues in their students. The project introduces children to foundational virtues and equips them to apply these principles in daily interactions. Through this program, students develop a ‘language of virtues’ that promotes positive communication and fosters empathy, understanding, and patience. ‘Knights and Ladies’ builds character and emotional maturity by encouraging self-refection and appreciation for ‘noble qualities’. The project emphasizes the importance of integrating virtue education into the core curriculum, creating a holistic educational approach that nourishes both the mind and the heart. By focusing on universal human virtues, the program provides a foundation for students to build meaningful lives.

Bringing Gratitude to Aphasia Intervention: A Scoping Review of Gratitude Interventions for Adults with Chronic Health Conditions.

Aphasia negatively impacts mental health, disrupting social connections and meaningful life activities. Gratitude interventions for healthy adults positively impact well-being, physical health, and mental health. A systematic review of gratitude interventions for people living with chronic health conditions was conducted to identify current practices and existing gaps and to map the literature for incorporating gratitude interventions into aphasia rehabilitation. A scoping review of the literature published prior to March 2023 was conducted using CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed, and ERIC to identify gratitude interventions for adults with chronic health conditions. The search identified 414 studies. Five met the inclusion criteria. Interventions targeting chronic health conditions included alcohol use disorder, chronic heart failure, cancer, and asthma. No empirical studies were identified that used gratitude interventions with people who have aphasia or have had a stroke. Four studies used journaling as the intervention and one used gratitude letters. All interventions used written or verbal expressions of gratitude. Gratitude interventions have been used in limited ways with chronic health conditions. As gratitude interventions are language-based and rely on writing, people with aphasia may need modifications to support accessibility to these interventions which can positively impact mental health and well-being.

HARMONY OF DUALITIES IN HERMAN HESSESSTEPPENWOLF

The personal life of the German- Swiss Nobel Laureate Herman Hesse (1877 – 1962) can be regarded as a period of crises, aggression, depression, cultural pre-conditioning and dogmatism. Despite his pietistic upbringing, he suffered adversities, resulting into mental trauma, emotional turbulence and inconsolable disgrace. These unpleasant experiences caused extreme depression and he had to receive Jungian psychoanalysis from Dr. Lang and Dr. Jung. This refuge in psychoanalysis brought him solace. Pietism, once a pain, became a life-long support for his spiritual journey and literary yearnings. He was, however, diagnosed with bipolar-II disorder due to his intense mood shifts, the factors being ambivalence, guilt, aggression and sexual conflict. The current work is an attempt to exemplify the impact of this disorder in his novels with special reference to his cult classic Steppenwolf , wherein the protagonist Harry Haller portrays the dichotomy of the personality, being split between a human being and a wolf. This novel which was published in 1927 is a complex, philosophical novel and deals with the themes like identity crisis, duality of human nature and quest for a meaningful life, to ultimately attain spiritual transcendence and harmony of dualities.

HARMONY OF DUALITIES IN HERMAN HESSES STEPPENWOLF

The personal life of the German- Swiss Nobel Laureate Herman Hesse (1877 – 1962) can be regarded as a period of crises, aggression, depression, cultural pre-conditioning and dogmatism. Despite his pietistic upbringing, he suffered adversities, resulting into mental trauma, emotional turbulence and inconsolable disgrace. These unpleasant experiences caused extreme depression and he had to receive Jungian psychoanalysis from Dr. Lang and Dr. Jung. This refuge in psychoanalysis brought him solace. Pietism, once a pain, became a life-long support for his spiritual journey and literary yearnings. He was, however, diagnosed with bipolar-II disorder due to his intense mood shifts, the factors being ambivalence, guilt, aggression and sexual conflict. The current work is an attempt to exemplify the impact of this disorder in his novels with special reference to his cult classic Steppenwolf , wherein the protagonist Harry Haller portrays the dichotomy of the personality, being split between a human being and a wolf. This novel which was published in 1927 is a complex, philosophical novel and deals with the themes like identity crisis, duality of human nature and quest for a meaningful life, to ultimately attain spiritual transcendence and harmony of dualities.

In pursuit of happiness: motivations for urban to rural migration in Turkey

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been a growing global trend in which people seek to establish a simpler, slower, and more sustainable lifestyle away from the pressures of city life. This research analyses globally shared social, political, and planetary concerns, with a specific focus on the urban to rural migration phenomenon in Turkey. The project is based on participatory field research over a 12-month period with individuals who have made life decisions to quit their middle-class jobs to settle in small towns and villages in the West and South-West coastal parts of Turkey to engage in natural and ecological farming. Motivated by the pursuit of a meaningful life in the midst of the happiness and wellness industry intensified by social media, this study examines the key motivations behind migration to rural Turkey. It argues that although these motivations may seem personal, they are entangled with national, local, and global problems that push individuals to migrate to rural areas.

“If you do not have Black futures in mind…then what’s guiding the steps”: anti-racist recommendations for traumatic brain injury rehabilitations’ investments in hopeful Black futures

Purpose The need for specialized rehabilitation considerations to address racial health disparities and optimize functional outcomes such as participation in daily life for Black people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been acknowledged. This study uses anti-racism as an entry point for addressing institutional racism by examining what the experiences of Black survivors of TBI, rehabilitation providers, and family caregivers tell us about imagined possibilities for rehabilitation to promote Black futures. Material and methods A constructivist-informed narrative inquiry using critical race theory and in-depth narrative interviewing was applied across ten women and four men. Reflexive thematic analysis within and across groups of participants led to conceptualizing two main themes and five sub-themes. Results Conceptualized themes captured requirements for TBI rehabilitations’ investments in Black futures: (1) the need for critical information and specialized educational supports and particular requirements for supporting participation in meaningful life situations, and (2) responsibilities of delivering rehabilitation care for Black service users. Conclusion TBI rehabilitation must be tailored to the realities of living while being Black, integrate personal values, beliefs, interests, and equitable supports to maximize optimal functioning and participation if the goal of rehabilitation is community integration for all persons living with the impacts of TBI.

Development Approach for Quality Assurance in Higher Education on Area-Based and Community based on the Concept of Management of Educational Institution as the World of New Learning to Promote Students’ Living Valuable Lives

The misalignment between educational standards and the needs of students and the labor market often results in education that is underutilized. Thus, enhancing quality assurance in education to achieve learning outcomes that improve the value of life is essential for students to lead meaningful lives and attain true success. This study aims to: 1) examine the current and desirable states and priority needs, and 2) proposed development approach for quality assurance in higher education according to Area-Based and Community based on the concept of management of educational institution as the world of new learning to promote students’ living valuable lives. The respondents were 291 participants from 36 institutions. The results indicated that the overall current state is at a moderate level, the overall desirable state is at a high level, and the overall priority needs index (PNIModified=0.236). The proposed approaches are: 1) establishing policies and standards for data in various disciplines, considering societal trends, economy, environment, and other factors, with a focus on goal-orientation and regular updates both quantitatively and qualitatively; 1.1) developing a comprehensive database with national and international interlinks, 1.2) advancing technologies for teaching and learning management with an emphasis on outcomes, self-adaptation, discovery, and creativity, 1.3) fostering knowledge construction with innovative data; 2) formulating pedagogical policies and strategies that cater to students' potential and interests: 2.1) creating integrated trans-disciplinary courses that reflect learning outcomes, 2.2) developing modern learning resources, 2.3) establishing data collection methods for evaluating outcomes, including the progress and success of both teachers and students; 3) setting policies for supervision and monitoring of data management linked to instructional management and research, with a focus on academic integrity and national context: 3.1) developing an integrated data system for knowledge, innovation, and research that highlights the creation of new ideas for career development, 3.2) ensuring data access for discovering methods to improve instructional management, foster creative innovations, and develop positive career attitudes and societal security.

Disrupted coping and skills for sustainability: A pluralist Heideggerian perspective

What is the ontological significance of sustainability crises – and the struggles to overcome them? Drawing on Heideggerian perspectives – in dialogue with Laclau and Mouffe's discourse theories – I argue sustainability crises become meaningful at the level of everyday experience when they disrupt the flow of ordinary skilled practices and their orientations towards the future. Such disruptions trigger what Heidegger termed ‘anxiety’, which implies an erosion of life's coherence, meaning and purpose. Developing skills to ‘cope’ with sustainability crises may enact alternative ontologies that restore what anxiety threatens; ‘skills for sustainability’ potentially disclose new worlds, meanings, values and goals. I illustrate this through vignettes of individuals transitioning to organic farming in India. I show how disruptions to farmers’ skilled practices triggered anxiety while also prompting the development of skills for alternative agricultural practice. These skills enabled new ways of experiencing worlds, non-human entities and the telos of everyday activity.

Фаббинг: стремление к поверхностным контактам с другими и избегание глубинных контактов с собой

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective. </strong>Analysis of the relationships between phubbing behavior and the characteristics of communication skills, sociability, escapism and existential fulfillment of people aged 18 to 50 years. <strong>Background. </strong>In the situation of digitalization of society, it is important to understand new types of communicative norms of human interaction. There is a demand to uncover the main factors and predictors of phubbing behavior in modern society, as well as to understand the role of phubbing in changing the nature of communication. <br><strong>Study design. </strong>The study revealed the relationship between phubbing behavior and communication and sociability of an individual. The relationships between phubbing patterns and indicators of existential fulfillment and the depth of contact with oneself and other people were also examined. The study was conducted using correlation analysis. <br><strong>Participants. </strong>The study involved 316 people aged 18 to 50 years (54% women, 46% men). The sample was stratified by gender, age (youth/middle-aged people), and level of education (higher education/specialized secondary education). <br><strong>Measurements. </strong>The following methods were used in the study: General Phubbing Scale (Phubber) (Chotpitayasunondh, Douglas, 2018); The Generic Scale of Being Phubbed (GSBP) (Phubbee) (Chotpitayasunondh, Douglas, 2018); Sociability test (Bogacheva, 2021); Methodology for measuring the level of expression of escapism (Teslavskaya, Savchenko, 2019); Test of existential motivation (TEM) (V.B. Shumsky, E.M. Ukolova, E.N. Osin, Ya.D. Lupandina, 2016). <br><strong>Results. </strong>Phubbing behavior is interconnected with such personality characteristics as sociability, contact, social adaptability and ergicity. Escapism reduces the likelihood of phubbing behavior and is not a direct characteristic of it. Existential fulfillment, meaningfulness of life and one's future, satisfaction with one's life and oneself reduce the likelihood of phubbing in relation to a partner. Phubbing behavior is more pronounced in women. There is a connection between active phubbing and having a higher education. The vast majority of the sample (both young people and mature people) consider phubbing to be an acceptable social norm of modern communication. <br><strong>Conclusions. </strong>The desire for quick, superficial and varied contacts increases the likelihood of phubbing in relation to a communication partner, and meaningfulness of one’s own life and deep contact with oneself reduces the likelihood of such behavior.</p>

The Existential Vacuum and Its Relationship to Pessimism and Optimism among Undergraduate Students

University students may confront an existential vacuum, characterized by a loss of life's meaning resulting from personal crises, socio-political shifts, and health transformations. These challenges, which some young individuals may struggle to adapt to, contribute to an existential vacuum, fostering feelings of pessimism and despair. The current study investigated the prevalence of existential vacuum, pessimism, and optimism among undergraduate students, assessing their interrelations and exploring potential differences based on gender. The research sample consisted of 466 students, both male and female, during the first semester of the 2021-2022 academic year. A correlational method was employed in this study. Utilizing validated scales to measure existential vacuum (α = .90, r = .87), pessimism, and optimism (α = .88), the findings indicated that while existential vacuum presented at low level (M= 2.44, SD= .96), optimism was high (M= 3.03, SD= .89), and pessimism was moderate (M=2.80, SD= .73). Gender-specific analyses revealed statistically significant differences; males showed higher levels of existential vacuum (F = 40.136, p<.00) and optimism (F = 196.548, p<.00), whereas females exhibited greater pessimism (F = 379.674, p<.05). Additionally, the study found a negative and statistically significant correlation between existential vacuum and optimism (r = -.09, P<.00), and a positive and statistically significant correlation between existential vacuum and pessimism (r = .19, P<.00). The study concluded that enhancing individuals' levels of optimism is crucial due to its role in providing meaning to life and reducing existential vacuum.

“Somewhere along the line, your mask isn’t going to be fitting right”: institutional racism in Black narratives of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation across the practice continuum

BackgroundOver two decades of research about traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation emphasized the persistence of racial health disparities in functional outcomes that disproportionately impact Black populations without naming or addressing racism as the root problem. Further, the experiences of Black people with TBI have yet to be documented and accounted for in scientific scholarship from the perspectives of Black persons in Canada.PurposeThis study intended to examine the rehabilitation narratives of Black TBI survivors, family caregivers, and rehabilitation providers and use critical race theory as a conceptual framework to understand how anti-Black racism manifests in those experiences.MethodsThrough critical narrative inquiry informed by a critical constructivist paradigm and a critical race theory lens, in-depth narrative interviewing were conducted with seven survivors, three family caregivers, and four rehabilitation providers. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis within and across groups of participants to conceptualize themes and sub-themes.FindingsThemes captured how racism becomes institutionalized in TBI rehabilitation: (1) the institutional construction of deficient Black bodies, (2) the institutional construction of rehabilitation access, (3) the institutional investment in resisting and approximating whiteness in rehabilitation practice, and (4) the institutional construction of deficient Black futures.ConclusionStudy findings point to the dire need to ensure rehabilitation programs, services, and the delivery of care are not determined based on inequitable practices, racial biases and assumptions about Black people, which determine who deserves to get into rehabilitation and have opportunities to be supported in working towards living a full and meaningful life.

An exploratory study of the mental health and emotional challenges of women inside Ghanaian witches’ camps

For years, older women accused of witchcraft have been persecuted and forced into sanctuaries known as witch camps. This highlights a lack of public policies and social support for older women facing disabilities, aging, and dementia. Labelling them as witches and isolating them from their families and familiar surroundings profoundly impacts their emotional well-being. However, little is known about the mental health of older women in witch camps in northern Ghana. This study interviewed 15 women from the Gambaga witches camp, identifying five main themes and 21 related sub-themes: ‘Physical and Mental Health Issues,’ ‘Psychological Impacts of Displacement and Trauma,’ ‘Social Isolation and Emotional Distress,’ ‘Living Conditions,’ and ‘Community Support and Strategies for Improving Well-being.’ The sub-themes included ‘Physical problems (chronic body pain) impacting upon general health and well-being’, ‘Anxiety and nervousness’, ‘Sleep and restlessness- “can’t sit still”, ‘Suicidal thoughts and anger’, ‘Forgetfulness’, ‘Concentration and confusion’, ‘Loneliness, sadness from family disconnection’ and ‘stigma – self and others’, ‘Loss of respect and dignity (‘Dariza’)’, ‘Frailty and loss of independence’, ‘Feelings of helplessness, unhappiness, and despair’, ‘Lack of family support and dignity’, ‘Lack of basic needs, and inadequate social facilities’. Findings revealed the negative effects of cultural beliefs and discrimination on the mental health of these women. Addressing public stigma and challenging these beliefs can improve healthcare and outcomes, allowing older women to stay connected with their families, reduce depression, and lead meaningful lives.

Empowering Orphaned Children Through Counseling: Enhancing Life's Meaning

Counseling services are very important to help children find meaning in life and overcome the various problems they face as adults. Children are the future of the nation and need attention; many of them lose their identity during adolescence but can lead good lives with an intact family. The aim of this study is to understand the implementation of counseling services in developing the meaningfulness of life for orphans at the Al-Washliyah Orphanage in Lubuk Pakam, Indonesia. The method used is a qualitative approach. The subjects of this study are the children of the Al-Washliyah Orphanage in Lubuk Pakam, Lubuk Pakam District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The results of the study show that the success of the counseling services at the Al-Washliyah Orphanage in Lubuk Pakam can be seen from several indicators, such as understanding a clear purpose in life, knowing how to find meaning in daily activities, recognizing their potential and knowing how to develop it, valuing life experiences, having positive relationships with others, creating a harmonious family within the orphanage, feeling gratitude and accepting themselves without comparing themselves to others, being optimistic about their life choices, learning valuable lessons from suffering, and having spirituality with the belief that Allah SWT loves them. The activities provided by the counselors to the children in the orphanage include religious activities such as prayer guidance, teaching reading and writing of the Qur'an, and moral guidance. The children at the orphanage can understand their purpose in life through various processes and activities conducted during their stay.

Reflections on a Career in Pediatric Neuropathology, with a Note of Gratitude.

I am honored to be asked by the journal to write this personal essay about my career in pediatric neuropathology-a life of immense satisfaction, meaning, and fulfillment. My motivation to enter this discipline is highlighted, as is my decision to perform brain research in the sudden infant death syndrome, the leading cause of postneonatal infant mortality in the United States today. I also touch upon collaborations, mentoring, and experiences along the way-especially with the light microscope. I close with thoughts about the future of the discipline from my perspective as a lifelong devotee.

Increasing psychological flexibility is associated with positive therapy outcomes following a transdiagnostic ACT treatment.

Increasing psychological flexibility is considered an important mechanism of change in psychotherapy across diagnoses. In particular, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) primarily aims at increasing psychological flexibility in order to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life. The purpose of this study is to examine 1) how psychological flexibility changes during an ACT-based treatment in a transdiagnostic day hospital and 2) how this change is related to changes in symptomatology, quality of life, and general level of functioning. 90 patients of a psychiatric day hospital participated in the study. Psychological flexibility, symptomatology, and quality of life were assessed at three measurement time points (admission, discharge, and 3-month follow-up). The level of functioning was assessed at admission and discharge. Differences in psychological flexibility were tested via two-sided paired samples t-tests. Correlations of residualized change scores were calculated to detect associations between changes in psychological flexibility and other outcomes. Psychological flexibility increased significantly from pre-treatment to post-treatment (d = .43, p <.001) and from pre-treatment to follow-up (d = .54, p <.001). This change was significantly correlated to a decrease in symptomatology (r = .60-.83, p <.001) and an increase in most dimensions of quality of life (r = -.43 - -.75, p <.001) and general level of functioning (r =-.34, p = .003). This study adds further evidence for psychological flexibility as a transdiagnostic process variable of successful psychotherapy. Limitations are discussed.

Meaningful life changes following hearing aid use: a qualitative user perspective

Objective This study aimed to explore meaningful life changes due to hearing aid use in adult users. Design A cross-sectional survey design was used with open-ended questions analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Study Sample US-based adult hearing aid users (n = 653) from the Hearing Tracker website community and Lexie Hearing database. Results Participants had a mean age of 65.4 years (13.6 SD), including 61.2% males, 38.3% females (0.5% other). Analysis of 2122 meaning units from responses identified two broad domains: 'meaningful benefits’ (n = 1709; 80.5%) and 'remaining difficulties’ (n = 413; 19.5%). The meaningful benefits domain included five categories (27 sub-categories): (a) psychosocial benefits, (b) improvements in hearing, (c) personal benefits, (d) hearing aid features and connectivity, and (e) situational benefits. Participants reported enhanced relationships and improved occupational functioning as key benefits. The remaining difficulties domain contained four categories (25 sub-categories): (a) hearing aid limitations, (b) hearing and communication issues, (c) situational difficulties, and (d) personal issues. Notable difficulties included hearing aid design issues and challenges in noisy environments. Conclusion Hearing aid users reported diverse benefits and persistent challenges related to device use, illustrating the complexity of their lived experiences. These findings can inform empathetic, effective rehabilitation strategies and user-centric hearing aid technologies.

Mindfulness Meditation and the Meaning of Life

Throughout the history of philosophy, ethics has often been a source of guidance on how to live a meaningful life. Accordingly, when the ethical foundations of mindfulness are considered, an important question arises concerning the role of meditation in providing meaning. The present article proposes a new theoretical route for understanding the links between mindfulness meditation and meaningfulness by employing the terminology of Susan Wolf’s contemporary philosophical account of a meaningful life. It opens by examining the question of what kinds of life-meanings are made available by Buddhist doctrine, considering the two alternatives of a cosmic, human-independent meaning of life versus the subjective meanings that humans give to their individual lives. After surveying current psychological theories that aim to explain the correlation between mindfulness as a trait and meaning in life, all of which see mindfulness as a mediating factor in the production of meaning, I argue that Wolf’s framework offers a promising theoretical basis for clarifying the relationship between mindfulness and meaning in that it explains why mindfulness has a direct bearing on meaning in life. I then show that mindfulness meditation, as understood in Buddhism, can respond to some of the philosophical worries that arise from Wolf’s theory, specifically her concern with the standards for securing the objective value of meaningful activities and projects. My claim is that mindfulness meditation is representative of a broader class of activities that are non-subjectively valuable insofar as they are required for any exploration of objective meaning or standards of values, as well as for engagement in objectively valuable projects and activities.

“A Satire on What It Is to Be a Human Being”: A Kierkegaardian Critique of Neoliberal Subjectivity

Abstract Neoliberalism has come to be understood not only as an economic system, but as a mode of existence that understands the self as primarily the bearer of human capital. This paper contrasts the neoliberal ideal of selfhood with Kierkegaard’s notion of the self as developed in The Sickness unto Death. Using Kierkegaard’s typology of despair as an analytical framework, I argue that the neoliberal subject displays an impoverished grasp of the various elements that, for Kierkegaard, are constitutive of the self, and shows serious deficiencies in its understanding of what it means to live a meaningful life.

Amelioration of a liturgical ethos mindful of anamnesis and its convergence with environmental justice

This article deals with the problematic praxis of life in the Anthropocene amidst the urgent calls for environmental justice. Normally, people are confused and misled by this concept due to a political ringtone. However, the article argues that justice or righteousness should always be integral to a faith community’s outlook on life. Among numerous other ministry manifestations, liturgical praxeology offers unique opportunities to establish a deep-rooted liturgical ethos. Contemplation about the harmful effects of injustices on a meaningful life provides the opportunity to reconsider how liturgy can enhance or ameliorate a liturgical ethos grounded in moral principles. The concept of ethos touches on the persuasive or performative essence of liturgical enactment. If this is the case, surely a hunger for destruction, wars, and devastating acts that limit opportunities for a liveable life in the environment should be considered essential. The liturgical ethos must remind people to remember the precious memories of what should be done regarding righteousness (justice) and wardship. In laying the foundation for a deep-rooted ethos, responsibility takes centre stage. Faith communities, by emphasizing this sense of responsibility, can contribute towards a renewed hunger for justice and righteousness in their environments. The research question guiding this exploration is articulated as follows: How can liturgical ethos, with explicit reference to anamnesis and its convergence with the gravity of environmental justice, contribute to fostering responsibility for the environment among participants of the liturgy? This question is addressed through a qualitative literature study. Browning (1996:34), for example, is interested in practical wisdom’s (phronesis) purpose of understanding human action and defines a research activity as a process that starts with a description and then moves to the endeavour of systemization. Eventually, strategizing perspectives will offer liturgical perspectives on a liturgical ethos or praxeology that could promote moral responsibility among the liturgy participants.