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　　source：philosiblogbyBRETSTETKA，SCIENTIFICAMERICAN
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　　Whatdoesthatmean？
　　Thisquoteisinterestingtomebecauseitdiscusseswhatmakeslifemeaningful。Weusuallyworryabouthappinessorsuccessinstead。
　　Thequotestartsbysayingwhatitisnot。Itisnotthethingsweusuallythinkaboutdoingwhenwewanttobehappyorsuccessful。Theseactivitiesmightleadustohappinessorsuccess，butnottomeaningfullives。
　　Thesecondhalfofthequoteisaboutwhathethinksisamethodofhelpingmakeourlivesmoremeaningful。Themethodisquitesimple，andiscenteredonhelpingothers。
　　Whetheritbecomesyourlife’scalling，orsomethingyoudofromtimetotime，itishardtobeatthefeelingofhavingameaningfullife。
　　Whyishavingmeaninginyourlifeimportant？
　　Let’sstartwithasimplequestionregardingyouandthemeaningofyourlife。Whenwasthelasttimeyouconsideredifyourlifewasmeaningful？Didyouconsiderhowtomakeitmeaningful，orevenmoremeaningful？Andyourdefinitionofmeaningfulisdifferentthansuccessfulorhappy，right？
　　Manyofthelowerformsoflifehaveapurpose，andtheironlymeaningistofulfillthatpurpose，usuallyrevolvingaroundpropagatingthespecies。Humanshaveadifferentissue。Wearelargelyselfdirected，andhavedesires，butfindingmeaningcanbedifficultforsome。
　　Someofyouknowwhatitisliketonotknowwhyyouarehere，orwhatyouaresupposedtodowhileyouarehere。Whilemanyofushavemovedbeyondthatpoint，therearestillthosewhofeeltheyaremissingsomething。Inmyexperience，thesepeoplearenothelpingothersmuchifatall。
　　Takeamomentandscanthroughyourlifeforthetimeswhenyouhadmeaninginyourlife，andthetimeswhereitseemedtobemissing。Whichwasthemorerewardingtime？Howdidyoufeeleachtime，andwhichwouldyouprefertohaveasyournormalstateofbeing？That’saneasyanswerforme。
　　WherecanIapplythisinmylife？
　　Everyweek，perhapseveryday，thereareopportunities。Itcouldbesomethingastrivialasopeningadoororexchangingpleasantries。Itcouldbeastoughasmovingtoanotherpartoftheworldandlivingwiththelocalsandhelpingthemtowardsabetterlife，howeverthatisdefined。
　　Butthepointisthatthereareopportunitieseverywhere。Therearebigonesandlittleones。Thereareeasyonesanddifficultones。Therearesomewhichhappenonceinalifetime，andthosewhichhappenregularly。Butineachcase，thereisabenefittoanotherwhenyouchoosetoact。
　　Justthinkingaboutwheretheotherpersonwouldbewithoutyourhelp，thatiswhatgivesmeaningtowhatyouhavedone。Butitisadoubleedgedsword。Allthetimesyouhavenotacted，thosepeoplewerenothelpedbyyouoryouractions。TheyprobablymadeoutOK，butnexttimeyouwillconsiderhelping，right？
　　Forthetrulydevoted，dedicatingyourlife（asthequotesuggests）isagreatidea。Howeveritistimeconsuming，andofteninterfereswiththerestofyourlife。Thatsaid，youcanstillmanagetobededicatedinsomepartsofyourlife，ifyoucannotdevoteallofittohelpingothers。
　　Asanexample，Idonatebloodonaregularbasis。Yes，ittakestime。Andyes，Ireallydislikeneedles。ButifIdidn’tdonate，whomighthavetogowithoutasurgeryortransfusion？ButitisamethodofhelpingtowhichIamdedicated，evenifitisn’treallyallthatmuch。
　　Takeamomentandconsiderallthetimesyouhavebeenhelpfultoothers。Whatdidyoudoeachtime？Howmanyofthemwereonetimeonly，likehelpingpushastalledcarofftheroad？Howmanywereabitmorepredic，likedonatingbloodorparticipatinginanualcharitydrives？
　　Howdidthoseactsofhelpingothersfeeltoyou？IknowIlikedit。Whichofthemoreregularactsofhelpingdoyoulikethemost？Whatcanyoudotoparticipateinsuchactivityonamoreregularbasis？Isthereaparticularjoboractivityyoulikemorethanothers？Whenwillyousignuptohelp？
　　Humansaresocialanimals，evenlonerslikemyself。Wehaveitbuiltintoourbasicneedsandvalues。Wefeelarewardfromourownbrainwhenwehelpanother。Theonlyquestionishowoftenwewillhelpothers，andhowmuchhelpwewillprovide。
　　Ultimately，itisapersonalquestionforeachofustoanswer。Whatwillyoudotohelpotherstoday？Thisweek？Thismonth？Thisyear？Whatareyouwillingtodotohelp。