Meaning in Life: Exploring the Potential of Mythological Narratives in Contemporary Life

In this article, we address the potential of mythological narratives to contribute to understanding meaning in life. Drawing on contemporary theories concerning meaning in life including the existential psychotherapeutic approach, discrepancy-based model and hierarchical meaning-making model, we highlight key principles of the meaning-making process that are reflected also in world mythological narratives. These common principles include encountering a profoundly impactful event, dissatisfaction with the current state, meaning-making attempts, and providing a vision of the desired state. Consequently, by integrating insights from psychology and anthropology, we propose that myths not only continue to hold enduring relevance in contemporary life but also possess considerable potential as frameworks for enriching knowledge on what makes life meaningful and pathways that help individuals experience meaning in their lives.