Abstract
A sense of meaning counters feelings of worthlessness and alienation. Creating meaning means creating hope. And hope is to the meaning of life what breathing is to the body. If we can find something to live for, if we can find some meaning to put at the center of our lives, even the worst kind of suffering becomes more bearable. In this context, the torturous lives of many saints can be read as examples of people who managed to transcend suffering. Meaning, self-affirmation, and self-esteem are closely intertwined. Finding meaning in whatever we do will bolster our sense of self-esteem as it affirms our existence.
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© 2009 Manfred Kets de Vries
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De Vries, M.K. (2009). Immortality systems. In: Sex, Money, Happiness, and Death. INSEAD Business Press series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-24036-0_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-230-24036-0_25
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-36757-3
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-24036-0
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