How to Live a Meaningful Life | Brian S. Lowery | TED

譯者: 麗玲 辛 審譯者: Shelley Tsang 曾雯海

Life is amazing. Life is incredible.

生命很奇妙，不可思議。

The experiences we have, the possibilities of personal achievement.

我們有各種經歷，個人成就的機會。

You could summit Everest.

也許你會登上珠穆朗瑪峰，

You could create a huge, successful business.

成功創辦大企業。

You could give a TED Talk.

你可能在 TED 演講。

And when you're successful, it feels incredible.

當你成功的時候，感覺十分美妙。

Success, the flush of excitement, the celebration.

成功帶來的興奮剌激、慶祝。

And you should celebrate.

你應該慶祝的。

The congratulations, the posting on Instagram

那些發布在 IG 或其他平台上的祝賀內容，

or wherever you put your stuff up.

It all feels great.

確實讓人很開心。

But when that fades, when that starts to fade,

但當那種感覺逐漸消退，

sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once,

有時是慢慢的，有時是一下子就不見，

a question comes up: "Is this it? Is this all there is?"

一個問題浮上心頭： 「就這樣？這一切就這樣而已？」

And so I'm going to tell you a little story about myself,

我想分享自己的一個小故事，

to give you a sense of this.

說明一下這種感覺。

For those of you who don't know, I'm a professor at Stanford.

如果你不認識我， 我是史丹福大學的教授。

When I got my job, I was elated, elated,

當我得到這份教職，我欣喜若狂，

and a little bit terrified.

也有點害怕。

And I was terrified because when you get a job like that,

我害怕的原因是，

當你拿到這樣一份工作， 你知道大約七年後會有一次審查。

you know you’re going to be reviewed in about seven years.

And either you’re going to get tenure, more or less a job for life,

要麼你獲得終身教職， 基本上是一輩子的工作保障，

or you're going to get fired.

不然就是被解僱。

(Laughs)

（笑聲）

It's a little bit like that movie "Glengarry Glen Ross,"

這有點像電影《大亨遊戲》中

the scene where Alec Baldwin's character goes in to give the motivational speech,

亞歷·鮑德溫飾演的角色 所說的一段勵志的話，

and he says, "It's going to be a competition.

他說：「這是一場競賽。

First prize, Cadillac Eldorado.

第一名獎品，凱迪拉克車，

Second prize, set of steak knives.

第二名得到一套牛排刀組，

Third prize, you're fired."

第三名，被解雇。」

It's a little bit like that, except there's no second prize.

有點像這樣，只是沒有第二名。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And it turns out, as you might imagine, that has a way of focusing your mind.

正如你能想像的， 這樣的壓力會讓人非常專注，

Right? So I was really, really focused on doing good research,

對吧？所以我十分專注地做好研究，

getting my papers published, doing well in the classroom

發表論文，認真教學，

and all the other little things you need to do to get tenure.

以及所有爭取終身教職 需要做的各種小事。

And seven years later, I made it.

七年後，我做到了。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

And it was a huge relief, and I was so excited.

我如釋重負，也感到非常開心。

I was so excited.

But that question came up, is this it?

但那個問題又浮現，

就這樣嗎？真的如此而已？

Is this is this really all? All there is?

And I reflected back,

回顧過去，

and I thought about the time I spent in undergrad ...

我想起大學時光……

five years in grad school, the tears.

五年研究所，

真的很多辛酸淚水。

And there were a lot of tears.

The seven years of trying to get tenure.

七年的奮鬥，就為了爭取終身教職。

And I had expected, I had hoped

我以為當我成功跨過這個門檻，

that when I made it past that, when I succeeded,

when I went through that threshold, life would feel different.

我的生活會改觀。

I would feel fulfilled.

我會感到滿足，

It would feel meaningful to me.

我會覺得我的人生充滿意義。

My life would feel meaningful.

But it turns out that wasn't what happened.

可是事實並非如此。

Now when psychologists talk about meaningfulness in life,

當心理學家談論人生意義時，

what they're talking about is a sense that our lives matter,

他們談的是我們覺得 自己的生命有價值，

that the world makes sense,

這個世界有意義，

that we are more than the sum of our minutes,

我們不僅僅是存在世上的 日子、年歲數字的加總。

days and years on this planet.

The research on meaningfulness in life

研究顯示，人生的意義 與三個主要概念有關。

suggests there are three big ideas associated with meaningfulness in life.

The first big idea is coherence.

第一個概念是連貫性。

The world needs to feel coherent.

世界需要有連貫性。

After winter comes spring.

冬天過後是春天，

After spring comes summer.

春天過後是夏天。

You get up in the morning,

你早上起來，

brush your teeth, have breakfast,

刷牙，吃早餐， 送孩子上學，然後去上班。

get the kids off to school, go to work.

Those little routines make the world feel knowable,

這些日常慣例讓世界顯得可理解、

predictable, coherent.

可預測、有連貫性。

Now when you think about personal achievement,

談到個人成就時，

it does create, sometimes, this experience of coherence,

這確實有時會帶來這種連貫的感覺，

because we achieve within a framework.

因為我們是在一個框架內達成成就的。

I understood what they expected of me for tenure.

我明白學校期望我去爭取終身教職。

I understood that if I got my papers published,

我知道如果我發表足夠的論文，

I did well in the classroom,

在教學上表現良好，

talked to the right people, did all the networking,

與對的人交流，進行必要的社交，

there was a good chance I'd get tenure.

有很大機會會得到終身教職。

If you're trying to lose weight, you understand

如果你想減重，你知道

if you change your diet, you exercise, the weight will come off.

如果改變飲食，加上運動， 體重就會下降，

Or at least we hope so.

或至少我們希望如此。

(Laughs)

（笑聲）

Now those things,

這些框架讓世界有了連貫性。

that framework gives the world a sense of coherence.

Second big idea associated with meaningfulness in life:

人生意義的第二個重要概念是

purpose.

目的。

Now, sometimes, people use the term purpose as a synonym

有時候，人們會把「目的」 當作「人生意義」的同義詞。

for meaning in life.

And that's not how I mean it here.

但我這裡說的目的並不是如此，

Purpose is a way of thinking about what your life can be and should be

目的讓你思考未來可能的、 該有的生活樣貌。

in the future.

It's a way of directing your actions.

它指引你的行動，

It gives you goals.

為你設定目標。

When you get up in the morning, you know what you need to do.

早上醒來時，你知道該去做什麼。

Here's where the drive for personal achievement is strongest.

這也是追求個人成就 最明確、最強烈的驅動力。

It's clearest.

When I was worried about tenure,

當我為終身教職煩惱時，

我知道早上起來應該去做什麼。

I knew exactly what I needed to do when I got up in the morning.

當你有個目標，或者想做好某件事，

When you have a goal, when you're trying to achieve something,

你很清楚該怎麼做、如何進行。

you have a clarity about what you should do, how to direct your behavior.

So that's the second big idea, it's purpose.

這就是第二個重要概念：目的。

Now the third big idea,

第三個也是許多人認為最重要的概念：

by many considered to be the most important,

is significance.

意義感。

And the way I like to think about significance

對我來說，

is the sense that you can transcend yourself,

意義感的定義是超越自我，

that you are more than what you are right now,

知道你不僅僅是現在的自己，

that you will continue to matter into the future,

未來，你仍然有價值，

超越當下的這一刻。

beyond this moment.

This is where I think personal achievement falls short.

在這一點，我認為個人成就有所不足。

By definition, personal achievement focuses on you, to focus on the self.

個人成就，顧名思義，專注於自己。

And if that's all there is, it's difficult to have significance.

若只是如此，很難感受到意義。

OK.

接下來，我想討論人生意義，

So now I want to think about meaningfulness in life

and significance in particular.

特別是意義感。

It brings to mind a quote attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.

我想起一句達文西的名言。

Some of you might know it.

有些人可能聽過，

So Leonardo da Vinci was purported to have said, on his deathbed ...

據說達文西在臨終時說過：

"I have offended God and mankind,

「我對不起上帝和人類，

because my work did not achieve the quality it should have."

因為我的作品未能達到應有的水準。」

Now I wasn’t there, so I don’t know if he said that exactly in that way.

我不在場，所以我不確定 他是否真的這樣說。

But here’s the thing:

但你可以想像一下這句話的意思。

you can imagine it, you understand it.

You understand what it means to have even the most glorious achievements

即便是最輝煌的成就，

and still ask, is this enough?

仍然會讓人自問：「這就夠了嗎？

Is this it? Is this all I add up to?

就是這樣嗎？我只能貢獻這些嗎？」

When I look back and think about my time early on in my career,

回顧我的早期職涯，

I think about when did it feel meaningful.

我會想起那些讓我感到有意義的時刻。

What gave me a sense of meaning?

那些事讓我覺得有意義？

What I think about were my PhD students.

我想到我的博班生。

So one of the things that faculty do is train the next generation of faculty.

教授的一項重要職責是 培養下一代的學者。

And so you have PhD students for a significant amount of time,

通常你會和博士生共事五、六年， 很長的一段時間，

often could be five to six years.

And the relationships are pretty intense.

彼此的關係是非常密切的。

So let me tell you about my first student, Miguel Unzueta.

我要分享我的第一個博生 米格爾·安祖埃塔的故事。

So Miguel was born in El Paso, Texas, in a relatively low-income area.

米格爾出生在德州艾爾帕索， 一個相對貧困的地區。

Really smart kid. Does well in school,

他非常聰明，課業表現優異，

ends up at the University of Texas at Austin,

後來進入德州大學奧斯汀分校，

which is a great university.

一所很棒的大學。

Does well there, eventually ends up in the PhD program at Stanford.

他在那裡表現出色， 最終進了史丹福的博士班。

So Miguel gets there the year before I do.

米格爾比我早一年進入史丹福。

And by his own account, he's having a tough time.

據他自己所說，那段時間 對他來說有點艱難，

It's a little rough,

in part because he doesn't have the cultural capital

部分原因是他不像許多史丹福的學生 擁有那些文化資本，

that many people that go places like Stanford have.

He doesn't understand how the place works, so he's struggling a little bit.

他不了解這地方的運作方式， 所以他有點辛苦。

Now when I arrive, I’m really impressed, because he’s so smart, he’s ambitious,

我來到史丹福，對他印象深刻， 因為他非常聰明，有野心，

and he's asking questions and interested in things that I'm interested in.

並且問的問題和我感興趣的領域一致。

So I'm really excited to work with him.

所以我很高興能和他一起工作。

And so we started to work together and again, it's really intense.

我們開始合作，

密切合作的四年。

I'm working with him for four years.

我們幾乎每天都見面，

We see each other almost every day for those four years.

And some days, we're working together 10 to 12 hours a day.

有時每天一起工作 10 到 12 個小時。

So it's a very intense experience.

這是強烈的體驗。

And what I remember about that time

回想起來，

was that I was really worried about doing enough

我當時非常擔心自己是否盡力，

確保他成功。

to make sure he would be successful.

我擔心我這個指導教授是否稱職， 給他應有的幫助？

I was concerned, "Am I being a good advisor?

Am I giving him what he needs?

Am I helping him in his story?"

在他的人生中，我有幫上忙嗎？

Now keep in mind I want to get tenure.

要知道，那時候我自己 也在為終身教職而努力，

I still think I'm going to get fired.

我覺得我會被解僱，

So even with that fear,

即便內心恐懼。

I'm worried about what do I need to do

我依然在意自己如何盡責，

to make sure Miguel can continue in his story and his journey.

幫助米格爾走向他自己的道路。

And by the way, he did. He's been great. He got a job.

結果他做到了。

他非常優秀，現在已經在加州大學 洛杉磯分校當教授超過 15 年，

He's been a professor now for over 15 years at UCLA.

He's had serious leadership roles at his university,

並且擔任了大學內部的重要領導職務。

and I'm incredibly proud that I got a chance to be a little part of that.

我很自豪能夠成為他人生的一小部分。

What do I take from that?

從這段經歷中我學到的是，

I take from that is that relationships are what provide us meaning.

人際關係為我們帶來了意義。

And my guess is you already knew that.

我猜想，你早就知道這一點。

I'm saying something a little bit more than that.

我想說的不僅僅是 人際關係帶來了意義，

Not just that relationships provide meaning,

but that being a part of a story that is not your own provides meaning.

而是參與一個不屬於自己的故事， 能夠帶來意義。

Being a part of a story that is not your own provides meaning.

參與一個不屬於自己的故事， 能夠帶來意義。

So where does this leave us?

那麼，這意味著什麼呢？

One, I think personal achievement is great.

首先，我認為個人成就是很棒。

Like, I love my personal achievements.

我熱愛我的個人成就，

我很滿意自己的人生，一切都很好。

I'm really happy with my life. I think it's turned out OK.

I wish incredible personal achievements for all of you.

我也希望你們都能取得 令人驚嘆的成就。

我認為個人成就是非常美好。

So I think that personal achievement is fantastic.

However, sometimes ...

然而，有時

we replace the deep human need for meaning

我們會把人類對意義的深層需求，

with chasing of personal achievement,

與追求個人成就混為一談，

and it's a problem when we confuse those two things.

當這兩者混淆，會產成問題。

And the reason they get confused,

它們之所以容易被混淆，

the reason it's easy to confuse them

is because personal achievement is easy to quantify.

是因為個人成就容易量化。

You know if you got that job, if you bought that home,

你知道自己拿到那份工作， 買到那個房子，

you know what your salary is.

你知道自己的薪水多少。

It's easy to see and it feels comfortable to chase things you understand

這些東西容易理解， 追求這樣的東西很自在，

and you can achieve.

而且你也做得到。

That's one reason.

這是第一個原因。

The other reason is that personal achievement feels good.

第二個原因是個人成就讓人感覺良好。

個人成就讓人感覺良好。

Personal achievement feels good.

We think what we want is happiness,

我們以為自己追求的是幸福，

and personal achievement provides a hit of happiness.

而個人成就提供了瞬間的快樂。

It feels fantastic when you make that achievement.

當你達成成就時，感覺非常美妙。

Getting meaning doesn't necessarily feel that way.

然而，獲得意義 未必會帶來同樣的感受。

For example, studies find that parents

舉個例子，研究發現，

who spend more time parenting their children

花更多時間照顧孩子的父母說， 他們的人生意義感較高，

report more meaningfulness in life,

but not necessarily more happiness.

但幸福感未必增加。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So these things are not the same.

所以這兩者並不相同。

So if you want more meaning in life, what is there to do?

如果你想要更多的意義，該怎麼做呢？

One, look for opportunities to participate in others' stories.

第一，尋找機會參與他人的故事。

And it's funny I'm saying this

有趣的是，我竟然 在這個舞台上說這些話，

as I'm standing on this stage in the circle,

but there's a lot of main character energy,

在這個場地，我敢說 「主角能量」超高。

I would argue, in this room right now.

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

It's fantastic, I love it.

這很棒，我愛這種氛圍。

However, you might try a little supporting actor energy,

但如果你想要更多的意義， 可以試著釋放一些「配角能量」。

if you want meaning.

Play a supporting role in other people’s lives.

在別人的生活中扮演配角，

That's number one.

這是第一步。

Two, accept that the pursuit of meaning

第二步，接受這樣的事實：

追求意義未必會帶來幸福。

may not generate happiness.

The pursuit of meaning might not generate happiness.

追求意義未必會帶來幸福。

In fact, it might be uncomfortable.

事實上，這可能會讓人感到不安。

It turns out that meaning is more associated

研究發現，意義常牽涉到為他人付出，

with the self providing for others than providing for you, for yourself.

而不是為自己，

And that's sometimes a hard thing to do.

這有時候很難做到。

Expending effort, emotional energy

為了某些不會回報你幸福的事情，

on behalf of something that is not going to return happiness

投入努力和情感，

is not something that we tend to think of as a good use of our time.

通常不是我們認為 值得花時間去做的事。

But it turns out it does produce meaning.

但事實證明，這會帶來意義。

So let me let me say just a couple more things

容我再多說一些。

One ...

首先，

I think the human need and pursuit of meaning

我認為人類對意義的需要和追求

is both beautiful and profound,

既美麗又深刻。

because when you have meaning in your life,

當你的人生有意義時，

that means that someone else gave you the opportunity

意味著有人給了你機會，

to participate in a story that is not your own.

讓你參與了一個不屬於自己的故事。

And for the meaning you have in your life, you should feel a deep gratitude

就生命中的意義而言，

你應該對那些讓你參與 他生命的人深懷感激。

for the people who have allowed you to participate in the story

that it was not your own.

On the other side,

另一方面，

when you allow people to participate in your life,

當你允許別人參與你的生命時，

you're giving them the opportunity to generate meaning.

你也給他們一個機會， 讓他們在你的故事中找到意義。

And so in that way, the deep, deep human need for meaning connects us in a circle,

因此，我認為 人類對意義的深層需求

將我們連接成

I think a beautiful and profound circle of generosity and gratitude.

一個美麗而深刻的圓圈， 充滿慷慨與感激。

And so right now here, I'm deeply grateful that you all have let me

此時此刻，我非常感激

你們讓我參與到你們的故事中。

participate in your stories.

And that's deeply meaningful for me.

這對我來說意義重大。

謝謝你們。

Thank you for that.

(Applause)

（掌聲）

The theme of this conference is "The Brave and the Brilliant."

這次會議的主題是「勇敢與卓越」。

I think that one way that we can experience or be brave

我認為，體現勇敢的方式之一

is by accepting the fact that our personal achievements, what we're capable of,

是接受這樣的事實：

我們的個人成就、能力、 我們所做的一切，

the things that we've done,

pale in comparison to the effect we have on other people

都遠遠不及

我們對他人的影響， 以及對世界所產生的作用。

and what that does in the world.

(Applause)

（掌聲）

And that is, you go through the world with all of your brilliance,

當你行走人間， 以你的閃耀光芒照亮世界時，

and I mean that in terms of light,

as you go through the world, lighting the world,

當你行走人間，照亮世界，

when you interact with other people and you illuminate them

與他人互動，讓他們的光芒更明亮時，

and help them shine more brightly,

that's how the world gets illuminated.

這世界就被點亮了。

That's how we bring up the lights.

我們就是這樣將光明帶到這個世界上。

And the world, obviously, desperately needs that.

這個世界，顯然非常需要這樣的光芒。

And in return, what you get is meaning,

你將獲得意義，作為回報。

because when we're gone,

當我們離開人世，

all of the accomplishments will mean nothing.

所有的成就將不再重要。

The only thing that will be left of you when you're gone --

每個人最終都會逝去，唯一會留下的，

and we all will be gone eventually --

the only thing will be left of you

是你在別人故事中所扮演的角色，

is the role you played in other people's stories,

what you leave with other people,

你留給他們的，隨時間不斷迴盪。

how that reverberates through time.

And that is a beautiful thing,

這是一件美麗的事情，

and I wish all of that for you.

我希望你們都能擁有。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Cheers and applause)

（歡呼與掌聲）