In our journey through life, we often find ourselves caught in the monotony of daily routines—commuting, doing laundry, picking up after pets—activities that can feel meaningless when viewed in isolation. But what transforms these seemingly mundane tasks into parts of a meaningful existence? Research suggests that it’s our “sense of engagement with something larger than ourselves” that infuses our lives with purpose and significance.

This concept isn’t just philosophical musing; it’s a scientifically backed cornerstone of psychological well being. Let’s explore how connecting to something beyond ourselves creates meaning, sustains us through challenges, and ultimately contributes to a more fulfilling life.

Understanding the “Something Larger”

When we talk about engaging with “something larger than ourselves,” what exactly do we mean? This “Something Larger” represents your personal source of meaning—a connection that transcends your individual existence and links you to a broader purpose or community.

Research has identified three primary sources from which this sense of connection typically emerges:

  1. Legacy Building: The pursuit and achievement of ambitious goals that will outlast us, such as creating positive change in the world
  2. Spiritual Connection: Service to the divine or following a spiritual calling
  3. Loving Relationships: Deep, emotionally intimate connections with others, such as raising children or nurturing meaningful relationships

Importantly, there is no universally “correct” source of meaning. What matters for personal well being is finding something that gives you the sense that your life has positive impact and that you’re contributing something valuable to the world. This source is deeply personal and varies widely between individuals.

A critical insight is that this “Something Larger” isn’t an external entity that exists independently “out there.” Rather, it resides within you—it’s your internal connection to what calls you, whether that’s nature, art, family, community, or broader concepts like justice or democracy.

Making Meaning Rather Than Finding It

A fundamental misconception about meaning is that it’s something we find, like discovering a hidden treasure at the end of a journey. Research suggests the opposite: meaning isn’t found; it’s made. It’s not what we discover at the end of our journey but what sustains us throughout it.

Creating meaning requires active engagement with your Something Larger. Just as eating nutritious food nourishes your body even when it’s not particularly enjoyable, engaging with your source of meaning nourishes your spirit even when it’s challenging. This engagement transforms the everyday grind into something purposeful.

Consider how different daily tasks feel when they’re connected to your larger purpose:

  • The parent who sees endless laundry as an act of care for beloved family members
  • The environmental scientist who views tedious data entry as contributing to crucial climate research
  • The healthcare worker who recognizes administrative paperwork as part of providing comprehensive patient care

In each case, the task itself hasn’t changed, but its meaning has been transformed through connection to something larger.

Discovering Your Personal Source of Meaning

For some people, identifying their Something Larger happens instantly—they’ve always known what gives their life meaning. For others, it’s a gradual process that unfolds over years or even decades. Regardless of the timeline, research suggests that everyone has access to this inner voice of meaning if they learn to listen for it.

If you’re struggling to identify your Something Larger, consider these research backed strategies:

1. The Future Perspective Exercise

Write your own obituary or a summary of your life from a future perspective. What would you want it to say? What contributions would make you feel your life was well lived? This exercise often reveals what you truly value beyond day to day concerns.

2. The Trusted Friend Reflection

Ask close friends or family members what they see as your core self—the values and passions that remain consistent even as other aspects of your life change. Sometimes others can see patterns in our lives that we miss.

3. The Letter to a Struggling Friend

Write a letter of advice and encouragement to a friend facing difficult times. The wisdom you offer often reflects your own deepest values and sources of meaning—it’s essentially a letter to yourself.

4. The Meaningful Moments Inventory

Reflect on moments in your life when you felt most purposeful, alive, or fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? What values were you expressing? These peak experiences often point toward your Something Larger.

5. The Origin Story Method

Write about how you survived past adversity. What resources did you draw upon? What values guided you? Meaning isn’t made by the difficult experiences themselves but by how we respond to them and what we learn through survival.

Through these reflective practices, patterns often emerge that point toward your personal Something Larger. The key is creating space to listen to your inner voice rather than drowning it out with external noise and expectations.

The Something Larger as an Internal Resource

Your connection to something larger than yourself isn’t just a philosophical concept—it’s a practical, internal resource that you carry with you at all times. Like other internal resources such as the ability to complete stress response cycles or manage your internal monitor, this connection to meaning is an innate capability that exists inside you.

This means your source of meaning is:

  • Portable: It goes with you wherever you are
  • Universal: It’s accessible regardless of culture or environment
  • Innate: It’s an inherent capacity, not something external to acquire
  • Protective: It shields you from adversity and aids healing afterward

Viewing your Something Larger as an internal resource rather than an external entity empowers you to access it even in challenging circumstances. When external conditions change, this internal anchor remains available.

The Science of Meaning: Health and Resilience Benefits

Having a sense of meaning in life isn’t just philosophically satisfying—it’s scientifically proven to benefit health and well being. Research has established that meaning in life offers benefits comparable to other health essentials like nutritious food, regular exercise, and adequate sleep.

Studies show that people with a strong sense of meaning experience:

  • Greater resistance to burnout, even in demanding professions
  • Faster recovery from illness and trauma
  • Lower levels of inflammatory markers associated with chronic disease
  • Improved mental health outcomes, including reduced depression and anxiety
  • Greater longevity and healthier aging

Perhaps most significantly, meaning enhances well being during good times and can be life saving during struggles. When life becomes challenging and leaves you feeling an “existential vacuum,” reconnecting with your sense of meaning becomes crucial for psychological survival.

Meaning as Liberation from Human Giver Syndrome

One particularly powerful aspect of connecting with your Something Larger is its ability to heal what researchers call “Human Giver Syndrome”—the cultural expectation that some people (particularly women) should sacrifice their own needs and meaning to serve others.

This syndrome attempts to convince you to ignore your own Something Larger in favor of supporting others’ pursuits. However, recognizing and honoring your own source of meaning is not selfish—it’s essential for sustainable well being and authentic contribution.

By reconnecting with your Something Larger, you reclaim your right to meaning and purpose beyond purely serving others’ needs. This doesn’t diminish your capacity for care and connection; rather, it ensures that your care comes from a place of fullness rather than depletion.

Finding Joy Through Resonance

When you engage with your Something Larger, you experience a unique form of joy that comes from resonance—the feeling of your inner purpose aligning with your actions and choices. This joy differs from momentary happiness because it persists even through difficult circumstances.

This source of joy cannot be taken away by external conditions because it resides within you. Even when circumstances prevent you from expressing your purpose in ideal ways, the connection itself remains accessible.

Consider the musician who can no longer perform but still experiences the joy of music internally, or the teacher who leaves the classroom but continues to mentor in new contexts. The external expression may change, but the internal connection to meaning persists.

Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Connection

Once you’ve identified your Something Larger, how do you strengthen your connection to it? Research suggests several practical approaches:

1. Regular Reflection

Set aside time weekly to reflect on how your daily activities connect to your larger purpose. Journal about moments when you felt aligned with your meaning and times when you felt disconnected.

2. Intentional Language

Practice describing your activities in terms of their connection to your Something Larger. Instead of “I’m attending another meeting,” try “I’m contributing to our team’s mission to improve healthcare access.”

3. Visual Reminders

Create visual cues in your environment that remind you of your Something Larger—photos, quotes, symbols, or objects that represent your purpose.

4. Community Connection

Seek out others who share your source of meaning. Whether through formal organizations or informal gatherings, connecting with like minded individuals reinforces your sense of purpose.

5. Aligned Action

Regularly engage in activities directly connected to your Something Larger, even if they’re small. These don’t have to be grand gestures—consistency matters more than scale.

6. Mindful Transitions

Use transitions between activities as moments to reconnect with your purpose. Before beginning a task, take a breath and remind yourself how it connects to what matters most to you.

Navigating Meaning in Changing Circumstances

Life changes inevitably affect how we connect with our Something Larger. Career transitions, relationship changes, health challenges, and other major life events may require us to find new ways to express our core purpose.

During these transitions, remember that while the external expression may need to adapt, the internal source remains. The parent whose children grow up finds new ways to nurture; the athlete who can no longer compete finds new ways to embody discipline and excellence.

This adaptability is not a compromise but a testament to the resilience of meaning. By focusing on the underlying values and connections rather than specific expressions, you can maintain your sense of purpose through life’s changes.

Conclusion: The Enduring Power of Something Larger

In a world that often emphasizes external achievements and acquisitions, reconnecting with your sense of engagement with something larger than yourself provides a profound counterbalance. This internal resource—accessible anywhere, anytime—transforms ordinary days into meaningful contributions and challenges into opportunities for growth.

The research is clear: meaning isn’t a luxury for those with perfect circumstances. It’s an essential internal resource that sustains us through life’s complexities. By identifying, nurturing, and regularly engaging with your Something Larger, you develop resilience against adversity and enhance your capacity for joy and fulfillment.

Whether your source of meaning comes from legacy building, spiritual connection, loving relationships, or some unique combination, the key is recognizing that this meaning resides within you. It’s not something to find “out there” but something to cultivate and express from within.

In the words of Viktor Frankl, who studied meaning while surviving concentration camps: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Your Something Larger lives in that space—the internal resource that allows you to respond to life’s circumstances with purpose, resilience, and an enduring sense that your life matters.