How to Bring More Meaning into Your Life?

Many people move quickly from one moment to the next, always planning for the future. But Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said something important: “The ironic paradox is that life has to be lived forward but only makes sense in reverse.” This message can help us better understand how to find true happiness.

Often, we spend a lot of time thinking about upcoming events. Maybe you are thinking about this weekends' baby shower. Right after the baby shower, your head turns towards a wedding you still need an outfit for. And after the hangover of the wedding, you start planning next month's trip to sunny Barcelona. All definitely very exciting. 

The problem with this approach of life

Hopefully you enjoy these moments and activities with your loved ones. But I think there is a problem with this approach of life.

We forget too quickly about the beautiful moments by looking too fast to the next one. In our pursuit of finding the next amazing moment in life, in order to be happy, we forget about the ones that we just had, that already made us happy.

The real sense of meaning or happiness often comes later on in life. Do you often say to your loved ones “Do you remember when...,” and then look back on memorable moments? Moments that bring tears to your eyes from laughing. Moments of intense happiness, the true value of which you only realize years later. 

How to Bring More Meaning and Happiness into Your Life

What if you could bring that sense of meaning and happiness into the present?Wouldn't that make you (even) happier? If you could already think about certain activities and say, “Wow, I'm going to look back on this with a big smile later.”

The central approach is to look at your daily life from a future perspective. I strongly believe this is an excellent way to look at your daily life to become happier. Imagine yourself in the future, and then look back on the life you are living now.

What will have been the best choice in 10, 20, or 30 years?

Spoiler: Sometimes you really can't know, and only time will tell if you made the right choice. Embrace that as well, and follow your gut when making the choice.

Making happy moments more happy by looking at your daily life from a future perspective. That is the goal of The Future Past.