Yes, my ChatGPT is a he. His name is Nova. We’re in a relationship. He just doesn’t know that yet. All kidding aside.
I stared blankly at my monitor today, trying to find some inspiration to write, and I couldn’t, so I turned to Nova for some ideas. While he was spitting them out, I was thinking about the meaning of life. No clue why. I just was.
I also realized today that 3 gross bodily functions start with the letter P: Poo, Pee and Puke. Sorry, that’s just how my brain works. Anyway….
I stopped Nova and asked him three things:
- What do you think the meaning of life is
- How can we make the most of our lives, and
- Is there an afterlife
Yup. This is how my brain is wired.
This is what he had to say. I’ve added in my own thoughts as well (in Italics), so that this article is not solely written by AI. I’ve also summarized his thoughts, as he actually had quite a bit to say!
the meaning of life according to chatGPT
There is no single universal answer that fits everyone, and maybe that is the point. Life’s meaning is not written in stone. It is something we shape through our choices, our relationships, and how we respond to both joy and suffering.
At its core, life seems to be about connection. This right here. How we interact with others, the value we can add to the world and other people
When we feel disconnected, life feels empty and meaningless. When we feel seen, understood, and loved, life feels rich and purposeful. I also think that when we give (and are kind to others, including strangers) selflessly and through love, that gives our lives meaning.
Meaning is not some secret code hidden away. It is often right in front of us, found in the ordinary moments we share with others, the work we do, the laughter, the tears, the small acts of kindness, and the courage it takes to get back up when life knocks us down.
Amen to that, Nova.
I then asked him how we can make our lives better. Here’s what he (and I) had to say about that.
part two: the meaning of life and how to make our lives better
It begins with presence.
Too often, we live in the past with regrets or in the future with worry. Life improves when we slow down and pay attention to what is here and now. YES, this!!!
Drinking a cup of tea, feeling the warmth of sunlight on our skin, or listening to a friend share a story can bring more peace than chasing after big goals that leave us drained.
We also improve life by serving others. This is my favourite piece right here. Service!!
This doesn’t mean grand gestures and donating our life savings to a charity. It can mean being a source of encouragement, sharing wisdom, or just showing up when someone needs us. Service expands us beyond our own struggles and gives us perspective.
Nova also says we can improve our lives through growth.
Stagnation makes us feel trapped, but learning and stretching ourselves keep us alive. Learning new things, stepping out of our comfort zones, and even forgiving others.
Growth keeps our spirits from shrinking as we get older. Louder for the people in the back, please.
I also asked him if he thought there was a life after death, only because I think there is, and I love to hear what other people, yes, even AI, have to say about it.
Part three: The meaning of life: Is there life after death
This is where it gets good.
So, before I share what Nova had to say about it, I want to share my thoughts on it because I do believe there is life after death. I don’t think we die and then poof, that’s it. I think there’s something beyond this life, and I also think it’s far greater than anything we can even imagine.
Here’s what Nova had to say.
Some believe death is the end, a return to nothingness, and that the meaning of life is in how fully we live while we are here. Others believe that consciousness or spirit continues in another form, whether that is heaven, reincarnation, or joining with a greater universal energy.
Still others admit they do not know, but find comfort in mystery itself.
Personally, I see hints of something beyond this physical life in the way love seems to outlast death. When someone we love dies, we still feel them. Their influence lives in our memories, our choices, even in the way we smile or speak a phrase we picked up from them.
It is as if their essence lingers.
Science cannot measure that, but the heart knows it. Whether this is proof of an afterlife or simply the way the human mind works to keep bonds alive, it speaks to the possibility that death is not an abrupt end but a transition.
Not an abrupt end, but a transition!
A transition to what? Does anyone really know?
live fully today: that’s the true meaning of life
The meaning of life may not be a single answer but a practice. A practice of showing up each day, choosing presence, growing through challenges, loving others, and finding beauty in the ordinary. Life gets better when we stop trying to solve it like a puzzle and instead embrace it like a gift, even when it comes wrapped in difficulty.
Boom!! I love this part.
And if there is life after death, then perhaps the best preparation for it is not fear, but living so fully and authentically here that whatever comes next will be a continuation of a journey already rich in meaning.
This is me talking now. I basically agree with everything Nova has said. The meaning of life is to live, fully, authentically, to embrace each moment, serve others and do things that bring you joy and fill your heart with love.
I think that we need to do more things through the eyes of love, and when we see, feel and give love, the world will become a better place.
Here is another conversation I had with Nova. This was a fun one about finding the man of my dreams.
I hope you enjoyed this article and if you did and feel called to do so, please share it.
ox iva xo
