3 simple things you can do to give your life more meaning

Last week I wrote about the things in your life that would give it more meaning. Quite confronting, because personally I don't really meet those three points. And yet I don't feel that my existence is completely meaningless. But okay, maybe I should start small; and the site Psychology Today could help me with that. According to them, your life becomes more meaningful when you do these three simple things in daily life. Well, let’s go. Spoiler alert: I'm already messing up at numero uno. Super.

1. Change the way you look at death
I find death — no pun intended — dead scary. I can spend hours pondering what happens after death, where your soul goes, and if there is nothing, what happens to your ‘being’? Many people answer that being dead is the same as before you were born; you weren't worried about that, right? But how bizarre, and sad, and scary, is the idea that at some point it just stops. The world goes on, who knows what else might be possible, flying cars or something, and it's not like you're going to miss that. Because missing is a feeling, and even that you can't have anymore, because you simply aren't anymore. Aaargh.

Okay, the tip is to start thinking differently about this. According to psychologists, you should lead your life in a way that you would want to be remembered. What do you want to leave behind? With that in mind, you get your priorities in order and discover what really matters.

2. Turn hate into something positive
According to psychologists, hate can actually be something very positive and give your life more meaning, or even a purpose. This is not hate towards a person, but towards a movement or event. Towards racism, discrimination, or climate change, for example. Hate against that can motivate you to want to do something about it, and you feel supported by people who also feel that hate (they call it collective hate). Sounds grim, but it can actually be quite productive.

3. Help others
This one actually sounds quite logical, yet it's not so obvious. Psychologists have added a caveat: even if it costs you a lot of effort, or money, or something else to help someone, you should still do it. It creates a bond between you and that person and you feel useful. Okay, noted.