ABSTRACT
The first chapter determines the focus of the book as referring to personal meaning in life, not to an objective meaning of life. Many people experience their life as meaningful without resorting to a universal meaning of life. Others believe they know the meaning of life and thereby gain fulfilment. Some “simply live” and find the question of meaning rather superfluous. In critical moments, however, the question of meaning arises for almost everyone. It goes hand in hand with doubts about fundamental beliefs. A search for meaning can thus be difficult and can have far-reaching consequences – which might be necessary to live an authentic life.
