Existentialism and Finding Meaning

Allison TsaiJanuary 1, 2024Finding Meaning

In a community full of perspectives and significance, a person can adjust themselves to the nature and nurture of existence. The pure meaning of “finding meaning,” in my opinion, is the search for a transcendent purpose and fulfillment in life. There will be moments when self-actualization hits, but there will also be moments of self-discrimination. The sense of “meaning” may sound different to people, but at the end of the day, they aim for the same accomplishment. With that being said, the intellectual search for meaning is a fundamental task that requires a deep understanding of nature and nurture.

Linking existentialism into my life helps me with a sense of freedom. My definition of existentialism comes from how a person places a strong sense of freedom and commitment in their values. I believe a person will do things by choice. Finding a sense of meaning comes naturally through the moral choices a human makes. People strive for authenticity when it comes to decision making, but the purpose of finding meaning comes from experiences and commitments. It wasn't easy for me to grapple with my sense of purpose. The angst and the feeling of rejection splattered in my heart when something for which I yearned for so long did not come out the way I wanted. Through the mistakes, I learned and evolved into a better version of myself. I was able to find my meaning through validation and aspects from nature and nurture in my life.

Ultimately, the purpose of finding meaning will grab a person naturally. The purpose of existentialism and finding meaning being locked together is important. Existentialism will twist a person’s struggle into something profound and meaningful. It will depend on the person’s moral choices and journey.

Allison Tsai is a high school student from Taiwan. Her friends and family are the most important people in her life. Allison loves spending quality time with them.