Meaning of life

The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of human existence. The concept can be expressed through a variety of related questions, such as Why are we here?, What's life all about? and What is the meaning of it all?. It has been the subject of much philosophical, scientific, and theological speculation throughout history and there have been a large number of answers from many different cultural and ideological backgrounds.
The meaning of life is deeply mixed with the philosophical and religious conceptions of existence, consciousness, and happiness, and touches on many other issues, such as symbolic meaning, ontology, value, purpose, ethics, good and evil, free will, conceptions of God, the existence of God, the soul and the afterlife. Scientific contributions are more indirect; by describing the empirical facts about the universe, science provides some context and sets parameters for conversations on related topics. An alternative, human-centric, and not a cosmic/religious approach is the question "What is the meaning of my life?" The value of the question pertaining to the purpose of life may be considered to be coincidal with the achievement of ultimate reality, if that is believed by one to exist.
In general, these questions arise from dissatisfaction with life, some aspect of it: where people have difficulty understanding why particular things happen or why the world is the way it is, they seek broader understandings that might help them make meaning out of it. They may turn to philosophy or theology to provide broad, universal responses to these dissatisfactions. The emphasis of particular questions, and of the answers given to them, are heavily influenced by cultural and philosophical preconceptions, but usually fall into one or more of the following groups:
Attempts to find meaning in subjective sensory experience This may involve a focus on immediate experience and gratification, as in various forms of hedonism or carpe diem philosophies, or in long-term efforts at the creation of an aesthetically pleasing life, as with epicurianism. Attempts to understand, emulate, or instantiate ideal types or states In some cases this involves purification of the self or other objects, or renunciation of behaviors or objects considered to be imperfect, in order to 'make oneself worthy' of the solution. This often involves practices or rituals, as in Catholicism's practices of communion and confession or the ritual offerings offered in Hindu practice, but may be simple idealization, as in the ancient Greek notion of arete and modern self-help practices of visualizing positive outcomes. In some cases, this may entail imitation or emulation of divine figures: the repetition of Christ's torments in flagellation, or the presence of avatars in Hindu thought. Attempts to create a civic society Conceptions of brotherly love, universal tolerance, mutual respect, and similar constructs are often advanced as a way to structure a meaningful life for all. Similarly, moral codes and moral structures are often advanced by faiths as a way of maintaining peace and civility. Often these conceptions are connected with some notion of an afterlife where society is perfect and non-problematic; they are practiced in this life in order to ensure entry into the next. Freedom from innate restrictions or conditions This asserts that there is an 'authentic' or 'natural' way of life which obviates the dissatisfaction of normal (inauthentic or unnatural) existence. Sometimes this is envisioned as submission to a divie or natural order, as in Taoism's encouragement to follow the Tao or Christian references to God's plan. In other cases, it reflects complete liberation: freedom from all karmic influences in dharmic faiths, or the freedom from social constraints