Hey there! I just changed my blogskin :) It's a little user-unfriendly because you can't navigate my past posts by headings or hashtags. So i'm gonna update the codings, stay tuned! (The font's kinda hard to read too..other than these 3 peeves, i'm quite satisfied) Follow me on the links below! :) 29/4/2015.
Started this blog during the last few weeks of SEM1(AY2014/15) cos' i regained interest in blogging. I blog about anything - news, social issues, music - but mostly about my university life :) Hope my posts will help you to make better life (and module) choices! Currently a Sociology Major. Still fresh. xD
“The meaning of life is to give life meaning.” – Viktor E.
Frankl.
I always thought that the meaning of life is to be happy. I
believed that humans in general are motivated to do things that make them happy—that,
as long as they see an end in present suffering and instrumental good, they
will most likely do it. The problem arises from the subjective meaning of ‘pleasure’
attached to our acts. People can derive pleasure from wrong acts prescribed
according to our laws and societal norms, hurting themselves and people around
them.
The above roughly explains a theory called Hedonism. Hedonism
is a theory of absolute value, and it says that the only thing that is absolutely
good is pleasure itself, and the only thing
that is absolutely bad is pain itself.For a hedonist, it is the total amount of pleasure that
matters, not the net average. For this reason, hedonism is a rather attractive
theory. As we question our acts—why we do certain things, we often end up with
the reason for ‘pleasure’.
However, this quote by Frankl struck me -- “When people
can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.” I
was appalled. My ‘meaning of life’ was a distraction? I was almost convinced by
Hedonism, but now I guess not.
I forced myself to think deeper. Our sophisticated
experiences do make our lives more meaningful than others. I think surmounting
life challenges makes one’s life more meaningful. Our sufferings and hard
experiences shape us who we are today, making us humbler and stronger and a
better person.
In today’s society, our achievements matter very much as
well—pragmatically speaking, this can be seen from the comparison of resumes,
the one with the better resume gets the a higher chance of winning an interview
and getting the job. In that sense, perhaps, we can say that Lee Kuan Yew’s
life is much more meaningful than the layman, for he has surmounted many
challenges in building the infrastructure of Singapore, his legacy extends beyond Singapore, and his quotes were also inspiring to many. I am not saying that we
should strive to lead a more meaningful life than others—when you compare our
lives with others, it’s often an end to happiness, for humans always think
about what we do not have, than being satisfied with what we have. Thus the
saying goes, comparison is and end to happiness and the start of misery.
But who are we to say that A's life is more or less meaningful that of B? By drawing comparisons above, I am trying to bring across
the point that above being happy in life, we should have a worthy pursuit of
our own. Something that gives us the drive, where we will put our heart, mind
and soul to it. And get people who are equally passionate as you to join you. Instead
of finding happiness, one should create their own happiness. Creating our own
happiness brings us satisfaction. Our achievements need not be so great, its
just needs to be one that we find satisfaction in.
That being said, I recognise that the meaning of life is
something personal to all of us, and we hold different meanings to our life. As
such I feel that this quote sums it up: “the meaning of life is to give life
meaning,” Viktor E. Frankl. But one thing’s for sure, focusing on
relationships than material wealth will make one a happier person.
// What's your Meaning of Life? YOLO? Live life to the fullest. (This used to be my life philosophy..but I feel its quite hard to uphold this. But i still like this quote. :) ) // Or, is it even necessary to find meaning in life? I mean there are many who just waste their lives away on drugs too. ><
“The meaning of life is to give life meaning.” – Viktor E.
Frankl.
I always thought that the meaning of life is to be happy. I
believed that humans in general are motivated to do things that make them happy—that,
as long as they see an end in present suffering and instrumental good, they
will most likely do it. The problem arises from the subjective meaning of ‘pleasure’
attached to our acts. People can derive pleasure from wrong acts prescribed
according to our laws and societal norms, hurting themselves and people around
them.
The above roughly explains a theory called Hedonism. Hedonism
is a theory of absolute value, and it says that the only thing that is absolutely
good is pleasure itself, and the only thing
that is absolutely bad is pain itself.For a hedonist, it is the total amount of pleasure that
matters, not the net average. For this reason, hedonism is a rather attractive
theory. As we question our acts—why we do certain things, we often end up with
the reason for ‘pleasure’.
However, this quote by Frankl struck me -- “When people
can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.” I
was appalled. My ‘meaning of life’ was a distraction? I was almost convinced by
Hedonism, but now I guess not.
I forced myself to think deeper. Our sophisticated
experiences do make our lives more meaningful than others. I think surmounting
life challenges makes one’s life more meaningful. Our sufferings and hard
experiences shape us who we are today, making us humbler and stronger and a
better person.
In today’s society, our achievements matter very much as
well—pragmatically speaking, this can be seen from the comparison of resumes,
the one with the better resume gets the a higher chance of winning an interview
and getting the job. In that sense, perhaps, we can say that Lee Kuan Yew’s
life is much more meaningful than the layman, for he has surmounted many
challenges in building the infrastructure of Singapore, his legacy extends beyond Singapore, and his quotes were also inspiring to many. I am not saying that we
should strive to lead a more meaningful life than others—when you compare our
lives with others, it’s often an end to happiness, for humans always think
about what we do not have, than being satisfied with what we have. Thus the
saying goes, comparison is and end to happiness and the start of misery.
But who are we to say that A's life is more or less meaningful that of B? By drawing comparisons above, I am trying to bring across
the point that above being happy in life, we should have a worthy pursuit of
our own. Something that gives us the drive, where we will put our heart, mind
and soul to it. And get people who are equally passionate as you to join you. Instead
of finding happiness, one should create their own happiness. Creating our own
happiness brings us satisfaction. Our achievements need not be so great, its
just needs to be one that we find satisfaction in.
That being said, I recognise that the meaning of life is
something personal to all of us, and we hold different meanings to our life. As
such I feel that this quote sums it up: “the meaning of life is to give life
meaning,” Viktor E. Frankl. But one thing’s for sure, focusing on
relationships than material wealth will make one a happier person.
// What's your Meaning of Life? YOLO? Live life to the fullest. (This used to be my life philosophy..but I feel its quite hard to uphold this. But i still like this quote. :) ) // Or, is it even necessary to find meaning in life? I mean there are many who just waste their lives away on drugs too. ><
“To put away aimlessness and weakness, and to begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment; who make all conditions serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully.”
- James Allen Quotes
Sometimes I wonder how people see me and what they think of me. It scares me a bit, honestly. I am sure though, that what they think of me,
what they think my life is, is a complete misperception. I have always tried to show myself as a carefree person, as someone who wont get bothered
because of public judgements. I am sure my friend and family think there is nothing going wrong in my life, that I do not worry enough, that
I am always happy. And I am sure they probably somewhat hate me for it because, lets admit it, there is nothing worse than seeing someone
who is life seems so perfect while yours is a complete mess. Truth is, I have become an expert at pretending. I think we are all experts
or at least we are getting there.
my projects
links exchanged opened! just tag me but link me first
: Amelia Lim, 20 October.