There is one more secret of meaningful life which I would like to mention: we should not be guided by feelings or judge by appearances. There are times when we feel that our life is meaningless and empty. Should we accept those testimonies as the final judgment? Certainly not. As we continue to move forward, a new meaning will dawn for us.

The same thing often happens with our work. We begin a certain project, we dedicate our time and efforts to it, but it seems that we don’t succeed at all. At this stage, some people decide that it is better for them leave this plan and move on to something else. They aren’t passionate enough about this project and do not have their will developed in sufficient measure in order to follow it through. But this is a lousy and an ignorant attitude which can never make anyone successful in anything.

Nothing happens instantly. There is always time between planting of seeds and reaping the full harvest. There is always time between starting of a project and its completion. There is always time between searching and finding – including our search for meaning.

Meaningful life is not to be taken for granted. The meaning of our life is not always evident. The old saying still holds true: “Seek, and you will find”.

Not so long ago I received a message from a lady who wrote: “Once I felt that my life is meaningful, but now this feeling is gone. Why did it happen? What is the problem with me?” Frankly, I don’t know what the case with her is – she did not give me enough information to analyze. Every person is a complicated and multidimensional being, and we should not settle for simplistic answers in dealing with others. Yet there are universal principles which work for all people; and there are directions where we may look for possible answers when difficulties arise.

From my own experience I learned that life is the path of ascension. We ascend form meaning to meaning, and it is quite natural that things which were important and meaningful at some point of our life lose their value for us. Perhaps we tried to settle at one place which we liked (and I mean a mental place, not a physical one), forgetting that life is a journey. Yet life always prevails and forces us to move if we aren’t willing to do so of our own accord.

There is a positive way to look at our discontent and seeming unhappiness. Those feelings are promises that there is something greater waiting for us. It is up to us to rise up and walk forward and to discover new meaning of our life.

The worst thing we may do to is to sit and wait for something to happen or for someone to come and “save” us from our miseries. The desired transformation will come from within, not from without. We are masters of our lives. We are to choose, to make up our minds.

So, even if our life looks empty at the present moment, let us not think that it is over. There is no absolute darkness; there is always a glimpse of light. Can we see it now? Let us look carefully enough, and we will notice it. Let us then stay focused on it. Let a small desire become a dream; let a dream become a passion; let a passion be translated into an action. Let us become engaged in creative work which stimulates us, challenges us – and leaves us no time to feel sorry about ourselves. At this point we should not look for immediate fulfillment – it will come in due season. Our goal to gain a momentum.

At the same time, let us observe our inner and outer life – and be flexible. Certain things looked meaningful and important at certain periods of our development, but now they exhausted themselves. So, why should we drag them around forever? Let us not hesitate to let go of things, relationships, and even ideas and beliefs which do not add value to our life.

In the coming year, I wish every one of you to enter into more abundant and more meaningful life. Let us travel from meaning to meaning!