by Andrei Yashurin

Created on: May 24, 2009   Last Updated: May 27, 2009

There is a simple tip which can help you to make your life more meaningful, more productive, and happier. Every time you are about to do something, ask yourself: 'Why am I doing it?' Ask, and quietly listen to what your heart will have to say.

Most of us are looking for meaning of our life. Often we assume that this meaning has to be something great and outstanding. Yes, in a sense this is true. But let me tell you a secret few people know: You cannot live a meaningful life in a large way if you are doing a lot of little meaningless things. You need to discern these things, and then either to stop doing them, or to give them a new meaning in a context of your large goals and dreams. This is possible only through daily and honest self-analysis.

Listen to your heart, not just to your mind. Sometimes, we don't know why we are attracted to certain activities - we just feel that they're the right ones for us. We need to trust our heart enough to follow our deep and lasting desires.

On the other hand, we might have intellectual arguments for doing something while our heart says 'no' to it. What usually happens when we listen to our head rather than our heart? We either become unhappy to some degree, or we get out of touch with our intuitive nature. From now on, we cannot listen to it clearly and distinctly, and it cannot provide us the guidance we need.

Whenever you are doing something, ask yourself: 'Why am I doing it? Do I really want it? Does it help me to achieve my goals, or it takes me in some other direction? Does it agree with my deepest convictions and values?' If your answers are 'no' or 'I am not sure', consider eliminating that activity from your life. Your life is too precious to waste it on that which prevents you from living happily and meaningfully.

Don't be afraid to appear inconsistent. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that 'a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds'. It is natural for us to change and to become different over the time. It is natural for us to lose interest in certain things and to become interested in other things. We all change, but my recommendation is to make this process conscious and more rapid. Why should you wait?

Claim your freedom to do that which is right for you to do. If other people around you are doing something, don't feel that you are obliged to follow their example. Find your own unique path in life.

Remember to ask 'why' even when you are doing habitual things. Most of what we do in life is habitual. Almost all of our habits are useful, but we need to be aware that habits are not laws of our life. We should control them rather than be controlled by them. If a certain habit is not useful to us anymore, the best thing to do is to drop it and to make a room for a new habit instead.

Asking 'why' does not imply that we should look for immediate gain from the things we do. When you follow your intuitive nature, you will often want to help others without any reward or even expressed appreciation. However, you will feel joy and satisfaction.

As we said earlier, many people think that meaningful life is about doing great things or having great experiences. My opinion is slightly different. True greatness and true meaning are found in our ordinary life, in the things we do on a daily basis. If we won't discover meaning in the present, we might not discover it anywhere.

Different philosophers, psychologists, religious authorities, and spiritual teachers have their own opinions on what makes human life meaningful. While listening to them, let us not forget that finding the meaning is a personal adventure. We have to do all it takes to find the meaning of our own life - right where we are.

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