Life is _______
from the book “Useful Not True”:
I was at a workshop, and right before dinner, the teacher wrote this on the whiteboard:
LIFE IS _______
He told us to think about what goes in the blank. He said that after dinner, he’d reveal the meaning of life.
At dinner, I was at a table with seven other people, each arguing about what should go in that blank. One said life is learning. One said life is memory, since if you can’t remember your life, it’s like it never happened. One said life is love — the most powerful emotion. One said life is giving. One nouveau Buddhist said life is suffering, repeating his recent lessons. One said life is choice, since our choices shape our life. One said life is time, since life is what we call the time between when we’re born and when we die.
Each was arguing that their answer was definitely the right one. I’m usually talkative, but I stayed quiet and just listened. Because there were different valid perspectives, it seemed clear that none of these could be the answer.
Then I thought maybe there is no answer — there is no built-in meaning. Maybe life is like a blank canvas for everyone to project their own meaning into.
Oh! Maybe that’s why the teacher wrote: “LIFE IS ________”. Maybe that’s not a question! Maybe “________” is the answer. Ooooh that’s good. I like that a lot.
After dinner, yeah, my hunch was right — that’s what the teacher intended. He pointed up and asked, “What’s the meaning of this ceiling?” Someone said, “It provides shelter.” Someone else said, “Safety. Structure.” The teacher said, “Those are your meanings. The ceiling itself has no meaning. It’s just a ceiling.”
He asked everyone, “What does it mean that you’re here today?” Someone said, “It means I’m trying to improve myself.” Someone else said, “It means I’m committed.” The teacher said, “Those are your meanings. Your presence here today has no inherent meaning.”
Then he asked, “So what’s the meaning of life?” This time people’s answers were emphatic, each arguing for their favorite meaning. The teacher said, “Those are your meanings. Life itself has no meaning.” Now people were upset, saying this whole workshop was a scam and they want their money back since they expected an answer.
But I like that “_______” answer a lot. Not just for the meaning of life, but for everything.
You love travelling. What does it mean? You must be running away from something? You’re privileged? You’re a curious soul, searching for answers? Nah. Nothing has inherent meaning. Whatever meaning you project into it is your own.
You were just thinking of your long-lost friend this morning, and then they contacted you for the first time in years. What does it mean? Our psychic connections bind us? Our souls are in sync? The universe is sending out energy waves that we can feel? I mean, if you like that idea, why not? If that makes life feel more special, more magical… If that makes you curious about the unseen forces all around us… If that makes you marvel and wonder, then maybe that meaning works for you. Great. Give that event that meaning. That’s coming from you. Though maybe you need to believe it’s true to feel its magic power.
Meanings can help you feel your life is important, with a narrative and purpose. Meanings can help you make peace with events out of your control. Meanings can give you a reason to persist in difficult times. But they’re internal, not external. They’re yours, not others’.
Me? I like the “________”. I like the blank canvas. I love that nothing, in itself, has built-in meaning. I love the creative power of choosing my own. Meanings are useful, not true.
This is amazing Derek. Thanks for sharing.