Giving Meaning

What bothers us always carries meaning. Not because the thing itself demands it, but because we assign it. A situation, a comment, or even a look might slide off another person unnoticed, yet for me it may land heavy. Why? Because of the meaning I’ve given it.

Through meaning, we navigate life: we make choices, form judgments, and take action. If something disturbs me, chances are I’ve stamped it with the label “wrong.” From there, I react as though I’m right and the world is off course. But my “wrong” may be another’s “right.”The truth is that meaning is not fixed — it’s malleable. What I call betrayal today may become “a turning point” tomorrow. What I call loss may later be seen as freedom. Our minds are meaning-making machines, and yet the labels we assign are not permanent.

The deeper question becomes: How do we catch ourselves in the act of assigning meaning too quickly? Can I sit with an event without rushing to judge it? Can I notice the pause between stimulus and interpretation?

The Benefits of Pausing Before Meaning

• Clarity — I can see more of the whole picture rather than just my first impression.

• Peace — Without attaching “wrong” or “bad,” my nervous system can relax.

• Choice — In the space of neutrality, more responses are available to me.

• Compassion — I may realize that another person’s meaning is simply different, not better or worse.

Meaning will always come. But if I can hold it lightly, I discover freedom. What bothers me doesn’t have to rule me. I can choose again, re-frame, or even let go.