The Search for Meaning

Perhaps the oldest and most essential questions that humans have ever asked themselves are “Who am I?” and “What is my purpose?” The search for meaning and understanding in an unpredictable and sometimes harsh world is something that we all face at some point in our lives. Some have the time and awareness to ask these questions early and often throughout their lives. Others are confronted with these questions in times of great stress or tragedy, usually with unsatisfactory answers.

Our goal is for you to start the questioning early in life so that you may be able to influence the destination and purpose of your life. While I do not explicitly ask myself these questions every day, I have asked them often enough that they exist in my subconscious as a layer of security. When I am confronted with a situation that counters the vision I have of myself and my perceived purpose, I am challenged to reconcile the story or cast off the contradictions. I have to ask myself, “Is this who I am? Is this consistent with my values?”

Throughout our history, stories have been inextricably linked to how we perceive the world and connect with each other. The earliest cave paintings told stories of the hunt, we passed down myths and legends through song and epic poetry, and today we do it by writing blog posts, creating YouTube videos, and even coding video games. It is so engrained in humans that it helps us to learn abstract concepts easily and to connect with others more deeply.

In the study of personality psychology, there is a term narrative identity, coined by psychologist Dan McAdams, that reasons that we form our identities by taking events from our lives and constructing a story that helps us to understand our experiences and gives us meaning. This self-narrative is constantly evolving and can be influenced by internal and external factors. It has been demonstrated that whether we can cast a difficult situation in a positive or negative light has implications on our level of well-being and, ultimately, our happiness. So the story we tell ourselves is especially important.

Since we tend to view ourselves as the protagonists of our reality, it might be helpful to reflect on The Hero’s Journey, which is a classic template of myths and stories made popular by Joseph Campbell, who wrote The Hero with a Thousand Faces. He sums up the journey by writing “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” If you look carefully, you will recognize this pattern in stories from Harry Potter, Star Wars, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, and many more!

So consider your acceptance into college as your Call to Adventure and your time in this course and college as part of your preparation in Crossing the First Threshold, or becoming a self-actualized adult in this big, chaotic world. Your entire life lies ahead of you, complete with challenges to overcome, treasures to obtain, lovers to encounter, achievements to attain, and truths to discover. Are you ready for the Hero’s Journey?