The Circle of Life
A simple way to view the meaning of life
What do you think about when you think of a circle?
Perhaps you think of a ring, the sun or the moon.
Perhaps you think of bicycles or cycles such as plant cycles or life cycles.
The circle of life is a symbolic representation of birth, survival and death. Life is represented as a circle because it’s a constant loop.
The question “What is the meaning of life?” is often asked and thought of.
We will all have different answers.
When we talk about the meaning of life, are we really talking about what makes our lives meaningful and significant?
Perhaps for you this involves faith, social connections, achievements, knowledge or wealth.
Perhaps it is some or all of these things.
Philosopher A C Grayling says that the answer to the question is that
the meaning of your life is the meaning you give it; it consists in what you create through the identification and pursuits of endeavours that your talents fit for you and your interests draw you; together with the relationships you form in the process.
Grayling also says that ‘good relationships give meaning to life’.
There is no one size fits all ‘meaning of life’.
But everyone’s life can be viewed as a cycle — some will have a large circumference and some will be much smaller than we would wish them to be.
Trying to figure out what brings you joy and how you can help others whatever the circumference of your circle or theirs is all you have to do.
