locating the meaning in life

so, assuming locating the meaning in our particular lives is of paramount importance, in order to lead a fulfilling and content existence, how do we go about doing it? how do we determine this particular thing or cause is the thing we should live for, rather than some other thing? don't these things change all the time, according to our moods, time of day, stage in life?

perhaps - the point is to find meaning in whatever it is we do, and not get tripped up by the meaning in life, rather we should refer it as a generally meaningful life?

or perhaps, we need some kind of ultimate meaningful thing as a distant goal to keep us going?

or, do a bunch of what i would consider meaningful things and see where it goes from there? and what precisely are those things?

meaning of life vs meaning in life

why do i exist vs what do i exist for?

a minor but not unimportant distinction.

the former, we'll generally never agree on and no particular theory or belief can be absolutely proved or disproved.

the latter, we can all generally agree that each of us has to find and tread our own specific path.

moral progress

a recent article in the economist remarked how material progress can and often is combined with spiritual decline. the problem is not trivial - modern science and technology can bring livelihoods to millions, and can also cause massive destruction.

if you care about mankind's survival on the planet, moral and spiritual progress is actually pretty important - just so we don't end up self-destructing. then again, even if we self destruct, we are but a tiny, tiny blip in the universe. sometimes the perspective and appropriate level of lenses through which that we should peer at life gives me problems.

perhaps, as Susan Neiman says, a sense of moral purpose is necessary to give life its dignity. We might not (and probably will not) get to some saintly ideal, but it is up to us whether we want to make progress.