In today's world, we are witnessing major disruptive changes such as climate change, economic uncertainty, rising inequality, geopolitical tensions, emerging job crisis due to AI and automation. The world is now filled with uncertainties and different kinds of anxieties. We are also becoming hugely confused, overwhelmed, and distracted due to digital obsession and information overload. These rapid developments are transforming the way we think, work, live, connect, and communicate with others.
Our lives are getting too noisy and distracted and they frequently involve a lot of noise. The mental cacophony produced by the world might leave us feeling disoriented. This noise just grows louder as the world becomes more sorrowful and painful. Everywhere, both inside and out, we experience more suffering and bewilderment.
We may feel as though we are stranded in a storm with no way out during such moments. It can seem quite challenging to discover purpose in life amid all this chaos. However, there is a place where we can discover serenity and the real meaning of life even beyond this chaos and suffering.
Why Does Meaning Matter?
We all must pass through the emotional pain, which includes grief, rejection, failure, fear, and loneliness. However, the way we react to pain determines our progress.
As psychiatrist Dr. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and author of Man's Search for Meaning, said, "If we cannot change the present, then we must change the way we see the present."
The whole of Frankl's therapeutic approach, which he called logotherapy, was based on one idea: the search for meaning is the main motivation in life. He found out that individuals who had a reason to keep alive could endure any amount of pain.
This is not just the philosophy.
The results of a study published in the journal Psychological Science in 2014 showed that individuals with a high sense of meaning in life experienced less stress, less depression, and better overall well-being. The study found that meaning acts as an adversary to hardships.
The concepts of Mental Noise, Digital Distraction, and Emotional Numbness are interconnected.
We are connected to everything and everyone around us, but we are not connected to ourselves. Social media and endless notifications, as well as other external noise, make it difficult to sit with pain and listen to our inner voice.
In 2014, a study conducted by the University of Virginia revealed that 67% of men and 25% of women preferred giving themselves an electric shock to spending 15 minutes in solitude.
Why? Sitting quietly with our thoughts can be challenging. But to heal, one needs to feel the pain and acknowledge the surrounding mental noise. Avoiding the feeling of pain leads to emotional burnout, distraction, and numbness.
To have a meaning, one must feel pain.
Pain Has Purpose: What Science Tells Us
Pain is not meant to be eliminated—it is a message, a guide. According to Dr. Paul Wong, a clinical psychologist and researcher in existential positive psychology, "Suffering is not the enemy of happiness—it's often the gateway to it."
His research indicates that people who find meaning in their suffering experience post-traumatic growth—a phenomenon where individuals emerge stronger, more compassionate, and more resilient after trauma.
According to a 2019 study in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, meaning-making was the best predictor of emotional recovery after loss. People who were able to look at their pain and understand it as a part of a bigger picture healed faster.
How to Find Meaning in a Pain-Filled World
The following are some of the practical and research-backed ways of finding meaning in life even in the midst of the pains:
1. Change the way you view your suffering.
Ask: What is this pain trying to teach me? This does not mean denying the hurt. It means to contemplate it in a different way rather than criticizing it. When we stop asking, "Why me?" and start asking, "What now?" we begin to grow instead of staying as victims.
Tip: Write about your experience in a journal. Research from the University of Texas discovered that expressive writing assists people to make sense of traumatic events, which results in reduced mental distress.
2. Serve Others, Even in Small ways.
Helping others gives pain a purpose. A 2020 study that was published in The Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who volunteer tend to have higher levels of life satisfaction and lower levels of depression, as well as higher levels of meaning in life.
You do not have to change the world. You can start with one small act of kindness—listen to someone, help a neighbour, or donate to a cause you care about.
As philosopher Albert Schweitzer said, "To serve is the very essence of human existence, to show compassion and to assist others."
3. Connect with Something Bigger
Regardless of whether you choose to believe in something spiritual, nature, art, or community, connecting to something larger than yourself makes you feel part of something bigger and gives you a sense of meaning.
The Gallup survey from 2021 showed people who practiced spiritual beliefs achieved emotional well-being scores that were 30% higher than those without any spiritual practices.
Scientific studies demonstrate that spending time outdoors reduces stress hormones while simultaneously improving happiness levels.
4. Embrace Silence and Solitude
Meaning exists in silence rather than in the noise because silence gives birth to meaning.
Make time for quiet contemplation. The practice of meditation or mindful walking or simple sitting allows you to listen to your inner voice, which becomes audible when daily distractions fade away.
Sharon Salzberg, who specializes in meditation, explains, People meditate not to develop better meditation skills. Meditating helps you develop better abilities in your daily life.
5. Let Go of the Need for Immediate Answers
Pain asks us to be patient. Your suffering at present may remain unclear to you. The healing process extends across various time periods. Life's meaning develops over time as people actively live, reflect, and grow.
Final Thoughts: The Journey Beyond the Noise
Life will never be free from pain. But it can be full of meaning. The path to meaningful living requires facing pain with both strength and mindful purpose. Your inner peace exists within the silent truth, which contrasts with the noisy world.
Rumi expresses this through his poetic words: "The wound is the place where the Light enters you."
Select the option to observe through the noise in a world that is suffering from pain. Select meaning and become the light you are looking for.
