The Meaning of Life with Dr. Bob

People search high and wide for meaning in their lives. Are you one of them? There is a very simple method for increasing the meaning in your life. Walk toward the truth. Every day make an advance on verity. All truth is already contained within you. Follow that path to perfection.

When I speak of perfection I do not mean that you become perfect – never making mistake. I mean that you pursue a place within yourself, where everything makes perfect sense. Will this happen all the time as you are walking toward truth? No. But with practice and time, you will come closer and closer to the reality of the meaning of life for you.
Truth is ambiguous. By that I mean that my truth is probably not your truth. So, you have to be mindful that everyone looks at authenticity as they see it. In other words, two of us, you and me, can look at a computer video and quite possibly get two different, but valid, interpretations of the single video. You begin with your own perspective on all things. I begin with my own vision of the way things are.
Each of us, then, must work for his or her own truth that comes through our unique perspectives. This does not make you or me better than someone else. When you “see” a truth that is real to you, as you walk the path of veracity, you may claim it for yourself. But because you have seen a truth that is different from someone else, does not make your rank in the universe better than someone else’s. You need to understand that everyone’s truth may a little or a lot different that yours.
Besides, truth changes. Yipes. If truth changes, what’s the sense of chasing after it? Hold on there. Truth changes because you change. You do not have the same mind now that you had ten years ago. Everyone’s perspective changes according to how one interprets the events that occur in one’s life.
Take your emotional strength as an example. As a child you may have felt yourself powerless. Everyone was bigger and stronger and knew more than you. You lived with that powerlessness as your truth. But when you become an adult, you realized that you have your own strengths.  You may have changed your outlook on yourself. As an adult you have more physical strength than when you were a child. Not everyone is bigger. You know more about some subjects because of your study and experiences, than those of your immediate circle of friends and family.
Truth does change – because of your present day view. Your present day view may be quite different than it was last month.

But to walk towards the truth means you see what is best for you right now. Be prepared to modify your views, but constantly amble down the path of veracity. You will find meaning for your life even if you do nothing more than what helps you discover the validity of your life from your own point of view. From your own perception of validity you grow closer and close to Truth. As you grow closer to Truth, you will learn more of the meaning of you life. It almost just comes to you. You will gain a clearer and clearer vision of who you are. As you discover who you are, you will want to be the best version of yourself that you can. That leads, then, to continued strolling down the path of truth.

And I invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a Force-Source-Resource where you will find more about yourself and your strengths. Just Click Here. “Two Life Phrases for Self Development, ‘I Am My True Self’ and ‘I Am Conscious’” is a title that you will find immediately useful. Remember, one bit of information can give you a lifetime of self realization.

Shirley came through the door of my office. It was early on in my career as a life coach (clergy). This was going to be one of first encounters with someone who was looking for happiness.

Shirley was in her late 30s at the time. Pleasantly dressed in a warm outfit as it was winter. She did not look or act depressed or anxious. I wondered what might be her concern. Nothing was obvious. We talked good-naturedly for a few minutes about the life coaching association (church) I headed. But no point to her visit was presenting itself. I finally needed to ask how I might be of help to her.

The remainder of the text for this blog follows immediately after the video pane (pain?)

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“Dr. Bob, I think I am happy. But … I am not sure I am happy enough.”

Now, there was a statement I did not see coming. Even the idea itself was new to me. I mean happy, but not happy enough. Most people, in my experience to that point in my career, were looking for happiness. They had no concerns about being happy enough. All I could do was sit and listen and try to maintain an intelligent look upon my face.

Shirley asked, “Do you know what I mean?” I told her, frankly, that I did not. She seemed to accept this answer as routine. “Well, it’s like I seem to sense that there can be more. Like I am missing something that is just out of reach because I can’t see it. Does that make sense?”

I assured her that feeling this way was normal for many people. They needed something more in their lives but were not sure what it was or where to find it. I knew this insight of mine was fine and true as far as it went. I was not sure within myself if I wasn’t slipping into water that was going to be over my head. But I ventured forth as inexperienced therapists might do when confronted with a never before discussed topic.

“What brings you the most happiness?” I asked. A shot in the dark.

“When I am giving to others and not expecting something in return,” she replied.

A light bulb of learning lit up in my head. “You are talking about love and compassion?” I asked.

“Those are the words,” she blurted. Then I could see the wheels turning in her head. “When I act in a loving way, being compassionate toward others, I feel the best about myself.”

“I think you just sighted those ‘out-of-reach’ things you mentioned. It seems to be human nature,” I said, “that when we give without expecting return, we are at our happiest. When we calculate what we might receive in return for a generous act, the process of happiness is somehow short-circuited within us. When we give of ourselves out of duty, instead of compassion, the experience is somehow empty.”

“So, by being loving and compassionate in every circumstance possible, I will achieve greater happiness?” she asked.

I answered in as wise a manner as I could, “I believe you have answered your own question very well.” (Such a newbie was I.)

Shirley left feeling as she had gained something. As I returned to my desk after seeing her to the office door, I reflected on what I had learned. 1. Sometimes the answer is within the question. 2. There may be different degrees of happiness. 3. Perhaps the greatest happiness we can find lies simply yet profoundly in our nature to be loving and compassionate. 4. It would seem that all persons in their right minds cherish love and compassion in others and in themselves above all else. 5. Following that insight then, your greatest happiness lies in love and compassion.

And I invite you to know a lot more about your life. Sign up for Free Instant Access to some of my Force-Source-Resources. Pick out the one that says Two Life Phrases for Self Development – “I Am My True Self” and “I Am Conscious” or any or all of the other freebies. Remember, one bit of information can give you a lifetime of self actualization. Just click here and you’ll be on your way. I believe these resources will change your life.

In the quest for meaning in life, to be happy, death is an ever-present reminder that things come to a close.

Further text is available immediately after this video pane.

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Phil was his name. He had been a school teacher for more than 30 years. Phil also worked in the life coaching organization (church) I lead for many, many years. He had been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Of course, we are all terminal. Each of us will only occupy this body for so many years. Then we will pass on to the next life.

Phil, however, had not given much thought to what came next, after death. Though he had been in the life coaching organization all his life, he still had not come to terms with death. He came to my office to ask me what I thought. How did I handle my own view of what was to come to all of us?

I tried to keep the focus on him, though I needed to answer straightforwardly. He was asking a direct question. I asked him if he believed in God. He said he did not. He surprised me. He said that was why he was having such a problem with the diagnosis. Now, he said, was the time to face something he had never tried to face.

Here was an opening that is rare. Because he did not believe in the traditional God, we could talk in other terms. Did he know about the preservation of matter and energy? He believed in those principles, he said. Then I was able to say to one who would understand, we never die. The energy that we are does not cease to exist because the physical form we now inhabit ceases to function. From that positive note, I said that we as spirit never cease to be because spirit is energy.

Beyond this life we assume our spirit form until such time as we choose to return to the physical form and continue our lives through the ages. We continue our lives until we reach the state of all-encompassing love.

Death is not the end. It is a new chapter in our existence. The next reincarnation will be a time to complete unfinished karma.

I asked if he was frightened of the dying process. Phil’s color drained from his face. That answered the question. I told him that at the moment when this physical body ceases to function, there is no pain. There is only the welcome form a being of light. This being of light resides at the other end of a tunnel that we move through at death. The being of light welcomes us with an infinite love. Phil took that in like a dry towel plunged suddenly under a stream of cool water on a hot summer’s day.

Phil summed it up very nicely: “The energy that I am, spirit, has never ceases to exist. When my physical form dies, my spirit passes to another dimension. There is no pain in the final process. A being of light welcomes me. I then await the opportunity to return in physical form to fulfill my karma.” The color had returned to his face. He seemed happier as he left the office. He seemed to pass from this physical life, when the time came, with an ease.

Of course, that’s what the meaning of life is all about, to be happy in life and in death.

And I invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to a Force-Source-Resource where you will find more about yourself and your strengths. Just Click Here. There are several to choose from. One is titled, “Two Life Phrases for Self Development, ‘I Am My True Self’ and ‘I Am Conscious’” Remember, one bit of information can give you a lifetime of self realization. You’ll get that info here.