"This wise, stirring book argues that the search for meaning can immeasurably deepen our lives and is far more fulfilling than the pursuit of personal happiness. There is a myth in our culture that the search for meaning is some esoteric pursuit-- that you have to travel to a distant monastery or page through dusty volumes to figure out life's great secret. The truth is, there are untapped sources of meaning all around us--right here, right now. Drawing on the latest research in positive psychology; on insights from George Eliot, Viktor Frankl, Aristotle, the Buddha, and other great minds; and on interviews with seekers of meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith lays out the four pillars upon which meaning rests. Belonging: We all need to find our tribe and forge relationships in which we feel understood, recognized, and valued-- to know we matter to others. Purpose: We all need a far-reaching goal …
"This wise, stirring book argues that the search for meaning can immeasurably deepen our lives and is far more fulfilling than the pursuit of personal happiness. There is a myth in our culture that the search for meaning is some esoteric pursuit-- that you have to travel to a distant monastery or page through dusty volumes to figure out life's great secret. The truth is, there are untapped sources of meaning all around us--right here, right now. Drawing on the latest research in positive psychology; on insights from George Eliot, Viktor Frankl, Aristotle, the Buddha, and other great minds; and on interviews with seekers of meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith lays out the four pillars upon which meaning rests. Belonging: We all need to find our tribe and forge relationships in which we feel understood, recognized, and valued-- to know we matter to others. Purpose: We all need a far-reaching goal that motivates us, serves as the organizing principle of our lives, and drives us to make a contribution to the world. Storytelling: We are all storytellers, taking our disparate experiences and assembling them into a coherent narrative that allows us to make sense of ourselves and the world. Transcendence: During a transcendent or mystical experience, we feel we have risen above the everyday world and are connected to something vast and meaningful. To bring those concepts to life, Smith visits a tight-knit fishing village on the Chesapeake Bay, stargazes in West Texas, attends a dinner where young people gather to share their experiences of untimely loss, and more. And she explores how we might begin to build a culture of meaning in our schools, our workplaces, and our communities. Inspiring and story-driven, The Power of Meaning will strike a profound chord in anyone seeking a richer, more satisfying life"--
There is a myth in our culture that the search for meaning is some esoteric pursuit: you have to travel to a distant monastery or page through dusty volumes to figure out life's great secret. The truth is, there are untapped sources of meaning all around us-- right here, right now. Smith lays out the four pillars upon which meaning rests: belonging; purpose; storytelling; and, transcendence. She explores how we might begin to build a culture of meaning in our schools, our workplaces, and our communities.
"من خلاصه کتاب رو توی بلینکیست مطالعه کردم" کتاب جالبی بود، روی یکی از موضوعاتی که من اخیرا خیلی توجهم بهش جلب شده، موضوع معنا بخشیدن به زندگی خانم اصفهانی توی کتابشون ۴ تا ستون برای زندگی با معنا معرفی می‌کنند و در مورد هر یک توضیحات جالبی می‌دهند که مطالعه‌اش رو واقعا پیشنهاد میدم. با اینکه کتاب یکم حرفای عجیب غریب میزنه یه جاهاییش، حرف‌هایی که هضمش شاید سخت باشه، ولی در کل کتابی نیست که خیلی شعارهای فضایی بده، در کل مطالعه این کتاب رو پیشنهاد می‌کنم، البته خلاصه‌اش رو بخونید بهتره یک TED talk هم نویسنده در این مورد داره، اون رو هم گوش کنید خوبه یادگاری از کتاب: This is the fourth pillar of meaning, and it’s all about experiencing a higher reality in which everything is interconnected.
Emily's ideas a great, but writing a little uninspired. The four pillars and the importance of meaning over happiness need to be evangelized on our society today. This book can definitely change your perspective on life and help your form meaning using the four pillar framework.
If you've read Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning," this book is essentially an update for the modern era. Current cultural trends tend to promote the idea that you can "find your purpose," as if it's hiding under a rock somewhere, and you just need to keep turning over additional rocks until it reveals itself. Personally, I follow the view that one must work to create meaning by focusing on service to the loved ones and world around us in whatever ways we are most naturally adept. This book examines that view and others, presenting personal stories combined with sociological research about how different individuals find meaning in their own lives. The paths the author looks at include a service mindset, crafting the stories we tell ourselves about our lives, transcendental experiences, and events that create a feeling of communion with others. It's a great read that helped me develop …
If you've read Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning," this book is essentially an update for the modern era. Current cultural trends tend to promote the idea that you can "find your purpose," as if it's hiding under a rock somewhere, and you just need to keep turning over additional rocks until it reveals itself. Personally, I follow the view that one must work to create meaning by focusing on service to the loved ones and world around us in whatever ways we are most naturally adept. This book examines that view and others, presenting personal stories combined with sociological research about how different individuals find meaning in their own lives. The paths the author looks at include a service mindset, crafting the stories we tell ourselves about our lives, transcendental experiences, and events that create a feeling of communion with others. It's a great read that helped me develop a more focused action plan of how to create purpose in my life for both today and for the future as I get older.
