In some ways, this might be the most important chapter so far.  Of course it matters what we eat and how we move and breathe and think and have sex.  We can function physically in tip-top shape. We can master our body, our job, our relationships, our demeanor.  But if behind that facade of perfection there is no deeper purpose, there may be trouble ahead - or already right here! 
   Everyone assigns a level of meaning to most aspects of their lives.  We generally begin with the meanings we inherit from our culture, religion and family, but eventually we each must ask these big questions of ourselves.  "Who am I?  Why am I here?  What do I want?  What is true?  What does it all mean?"  Sometimes we can spend time reflecting on these questions at our leisure.  Other times they are thrust into the spotlight by some significant event in our lives.  A serious illness or accident, a divorce, retirement, empty-nesting or a natural disaster or other threat to our existence - these are examples of things that may force our attention to such questions. 
   Finding meaning in our lives is a very personal quest - no one else can do it for us.  It makes us look inward to see what answers are really true for us.  This can be hard - and sometimes frightening!  As a result, many times we avoid having this conversation with ourselves.  There are many diversionary tactics we might use in this avoidance.  Being overly busy and constantly occupied is one, high risk behavior (including addictions) is another.  Feelings of extreme sadness, uselessness and boredom may also be signs that these questions need some attention. 
   As this is such a personal task, there really are no right or wrong answers and there are no real rules about how to do it.  The Wellness Workbook does offer some guidelines, however, starting with learning to look within and trust the inner voice you find there.  Focus on what IS right now - not what was or what might be.  Learn to be honest with yourself and be who you are - not what you think you are supposed to be, or what someone else thinks you are supposed to be!  Lastly, make friends with loss, pain & death rather than running away from them.  They are a part of every life, but when avoided may create a fear that ends up with too much influence in your life. 
   As you explore this, remember that meanings are made up by us, and reinforced by our communities.  But these meanings can change based on events and moods and geography and time!  It is okay to have things become more or less meaningful to us.  In the world of our best wellbeing, we come to being able to let go of things that are no longer meaningful, so there is room for things that are.  These 'things' are not necessarily material things, by the way, or the trappings of our profession or life.  In fact, usually they are not when it comes to the Big Questions.  I enjoy the quote from Sophie Kinsella,  "We're on this planet for too short a time.  And at the end of the day, what's more important? Knowing that a few meaningless figures balanced-or knowing that you were the person you wanted to be?"  And in my years of working with hospice programs, it is always said that no one says on his/her deathbed that they wish they had worked more. 
   In fact, using our knowing of certain eventual death can be a useful tool in considering what is really meaningful to us.  If you knew you would die in 5 years, or you only had one year left to live - what would you change?  What things are on your "bucket list" - that list of what really matters to experience before you die?  And how much time are you dedicating to those important things?  Or instead, how much busywork and trivia clutter your days?  Having an appreciation of our limited life - and coming to grips with that - makes the life we have to live today all the sweeter and more meaningful.  It need never stop being meaningful if we attend to each moment with awareness and gratitude.