Knowing that life has an end, ironically, makes it valuable. If we were immortal, the value of our existence wouldn’t be appreciated, because we would always have the chance to do something one day. For better or worse, we’re simple mortals, gifted by the biological lottery with an advanced state of consciousness that allows us to contemplate our mortality. Every human, at some point in life, realizes they won’t be here forever. That realization creates a sense of urgency to experience life and create some form of meaning.
I don’t think there’s a right or wrong meaning. If you think there is, you’re assuming a universal, stateless meaning that every human is bound to. That’s not the case, leaving a complete subjective answer for your own meaning.
Whatever your answer is, that’s your life’s commitment. Limited time and energy are constants for any living organism. And since we no longer need to worry about primitive survival in our modern society, we have the space to think about the important questions of life and the universe. Your life’s commitment is not your career, values, principles, or the money you make. It’s deeper than that. It’s the legacy you’re leaving for present and future generations through your actions or when they read your words. That’s the only proof of your authentic thoughts.
For me, a lifelong learning journey is totally worth it. Two hundred years wouldn’t even be enough to condense the entire spectrum of human knowledge into our brains. If our senses filter only a fraction of reality, then our knowledge explains only a fraction of what can be known. A lifelong learning journey is a noble meaning for a curious mind.
It’s not about achieving something specific. It’s about answering what you want to do with your existence at this precise moment and how that compounds into your vision. Your life’s commitment is your definition of how one should spend their limited time. How can you live without a life’s commitment? Only if you’ve never reflected on your own mortality. One day is not a day. Nothing is guaranteed. Uncertainty is a core property of the universe itself.
True power lies in deciding where your attention goes, all the time. That’s not a decision you should let someone else take for you.