Hemingway Meets Einstein: A Cosmic Conversation About Life's Meaning
Part 1: Hemingway Meets Einstein – Finding Meaning in Chaos
It was one of those sticky Florida evenings in Key West. Hemingway sat on the old wooden porch looking across the ocean.
He nursed a cup of coffee. He was waiting for someone who might answer the question that haunted him:
What’s the point of all of this?
Life, chaos, war, heartbreak, death—it all felt random. So, who better to ask than the man who unlocked the mysteries of the universe?
Einstein arrived quietly, looking out at the calm ocean. Hemingway poured him a mug. They sat silently. Minds a million miles apart but somehow tangled in the same question.
Hemingway finally broke the silence. “You spend all your time digging into the universe's secrets, right? Trying to find order in all this insanity. But why? I mean, is there any point to all of this?”
Einstein sipped his coffee. He looked at the waves, the relentless ebb and flow that ignored both men’s deep thoughts. “You’re asking if there’s meaning,” he said slowly.
He’d been asked this a thousand times before.
“Yeah,” Hemingway said, scoffing. “We live, we die, and in between, we get beat up, betrayed, and buried in a bunch of crap we can’t control. So, what’s the point of all the ‘order’ you spend your life studying?
Men are out there fighting wars, losing everything. There’s no poetry or meaning in that.”
Einstein’s gaze didn’t waver. “You only see the chaos, Hemingway. The blood, the bones, the failures. But there’s something underneath it all. You can’t see it or touch it, but it’s there. Order doesn’t mean that life is fair or easy. It just means everything has a place—even the chaos.”
Hemingway frowned, his mug still warm in his hand. “Order in chaos,” he muttered. “Sounds nice, but it’s just words. What good is ‘order’ when someone’s suffering, losing everything?”
Einstein turned, finally meeting Hemingway’s gaze.
“Suffering, loss, war—they’re all part of it. But so is beauty, love, persistence. You’re looking for a clear purpose, a tidy answer. But meaning isn’t something you discover; it’s something you create.
It’s found in the daily choices you make. In your ability to rise after you fall and in how you choose to engage with the world. It’s in how you keep going, even when life falls apart. In the choice to live fully, to keep fighting.”
Hemingway took a long breath, reflecting on the broken men he’d known and the lives he’d written about. People who lived and died in ways they never understood. Fighting against the weight of something bigger than them.
“So… you’re saying we’re here just to experience the mess? To live through it and keep going, even if we never get the answers?”
Einstein smiled faintly. “Exactly. Life doesn’t owe you an answer. It only asks you to live—and to make something of it. And the mystery? It’s part of the beauty.”
Hemingway looked out at the waves rolling in, endless and unapologetic. Maybe Einstein was right—maybe it wasn’t about figuring everything out.
Maybe the “point” was in the struggle itself, in showing up each day and making some sense of things in your own way.
“Wisdom,” Hemingway muttered. “That’s something we all crave.”
Einstein replied. “True wisdom can’t be found in books or learned from a lecture,” he said. “It comes from experience, from mistakes, from living with purpose.”
They sat in silence as the sky turned darker, a golden blend of shadows and fading light.
Finally, Hemingway asked, “So, what’s the meaning of it all?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked down, twisting his pocket watch as if measuring some private hour.
“In the end, the only certainty is that there is no certainty. But that’s where meaning lives—in the work we choose, in the lives we live without guarantees. Purpose isn’t handed to us. We create it, line by line, hour by hour, even if we never see the full story.”
He stopped, his voice dropping low, almost a whisper.
“We live for the questions, Hemingway. And if we’re lucky, we live long enough to answer a few of them.”
In that moment, Hemingway realized he didn’t need Einstein’s science or even his wisdom.
He needed the courage to live with no guarantees, to find meaning in the questions that could never be answered.
The two men sat in silence. The sun dipped below the horizon. Both were oddly resigned and at peace with the unknown.
Part 2: Finding Meaning When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
Let’s face it, life doesn’t come with an organized set of answers.
Most of us feel like Hemingway did, overwhelmed by all the noise and chaos, wondering, What’s the point?
The endless cycle of work and bills, broken relationships. That vague emptiness that creeps in when you’re alone.
At some point, we all ask, Why am I here?
Distractions scream for our attention: careers, likes, followers, deadlines, the daily grind.
Beneath the chaos, though, we crave something real.
Something meaningful. We want a reason to keep going, a purpose that feels like more than just surviving.
The thing is, there’s no magical answer in a fortune cookie or in a late-night epiphany.
If you’re waiting for someone else to hand you your purpose on a silver platter, you’ll be waiting forever.
Why Belief Isn’t as Simple as It Seems
Think about it.
Every day, we chase goals that seem out of reach: money, success, admiration, and acceptance. That will be the thing that finally gives our lives meaning.
But the truth is that satisfaction rarely lasts once we achieve them. It’s like pouring water into a leaky bucket.
You work harder and harder, hoping that maybe if you fill the bucket fast enough, it’ll start to hold.
But it doesn’t. It never does.
And that leaves us feeling like crap. Because if we can’t find lasting meaning in our achievements or possessions, then what’s left?
Are we doomed to search for something we’ll never grasp?
Here’s the hard part. Most of us are looking for meaning in all the wrong places. We’re chasing things that, by their nature, don't make sense the way we want.
The good news: you can build meaning. You can find a purpose that doesn’t rely on the unstable foundation of “more.”
Instead of trying to hack the universe’s secrets, you can shape your own reality. A way that feels right, authentic, and fulfilling.
This might not give you an answer to why you’re here, but it can give you a way to make the time you have worthwhile.
Einstein told Hemingway something important: meaning is created, not discovered.
You don’t find it on a mountaintop or stumble across it in a self-help book.
You build it, piece by piece, action by action.
Here’s how:
Define Your Values
Meaning starts with knowing what matters to you. And I mean you. Not your parents, society, or the version of you that chases external validation.
Strip all that away, and ask: What do you care about? What principles do you want to live by? These values will be the foundation of the meaning you create.
Here’s a quick exercise: List the top five values you want to guide your life. (Hint: things like “money” and “success” aren’t values—they’re outcomes. Real values are things like honesty, growth, kindness, resilience, etc.)
Choose Your Battles
Life is a series of problems. Stop hoping for a problem-free existence. Figure out which problems are worth fighting for. If you’re going to find meaning, you have to choose battles that align with your values.
This isn’t about taking the easy road. It’s about taking the one that makes sense for you. You’ll still face obstacles. But they’ll feel less like pointless frustrations. And more like necessary steps in a meaningful journey.
Here’s a practical way to do this: Think about the areas in your life that cause stress. Ask yourself, are these struggles worth it? Are they leading you somewhere that aligns with your values?
If not, it might be time to reevaluate where you’re putting your energy.
Embrace Uncertainty
One of the hardest things about finding meaning is accepting that you won’t have all the answers. Einstein hinted at this with Hemingway—sometimes, there’s beauty in not knowing.
Instead of demanding clarity at every turn, learn to embrace the unknown. Understand that you can't figure it all out, and that’s okay. Meaning is not about certainty; it’s about presence.
Here’s a way to practice this. When you feel anxious about an uncertain future, focus on the present moment. (Mindfulness right?)
Look at what’s right in front of you. Deal with the immediate, and let the distant, hypothetical problems wait their turn.
Make Growth Your Goal
Meaning isn’t a destination; it’s a process. You don’t just “arrive” at it one day and call it a life. Real, lasting meaning comes from continuous growth.
Instead of aiming for some grand finale, commit to learning, evolving, and improving. It doesn’t matter where you’re starting from or where you end up. What matters is that you’re moving forward.
Try this: Choose one area of your life where you feel unfulfilled. Commit to a daily practice of growth in that area. It could be a new book each month, learning a skill, or even having tough conversations you’ve been avoiding.
Every step you take will add another layer to the meaning you’re creating.
Build Relationships that Matter
Relationships add a layer of meaning that’s hard to replicate with anything else. Whether it’s family, friends, or a community, the people in your life help anchor you.
You don’t need a massive social circle to feel fulfilled. You need real, genuine connections that align with your values and who you want to be.
Practical tip: Take inventory of your relationships. Are the people you spend the most time with bringing you closer to your values or further away from them? Focus on nurturing connections that support your growth and purpose.
How Belief Changes Everything
Look around, and you’ll see people who have lived this. The ones who don’t let chaos derail them.
The ones who build lives they’re proud of, who find ways to stay grounded when everything else is a mess.
They’re the ones who have stopped chasing fleeting things. They choose to build a life based on things that matter to them.
I’ve seen this work in my own life. The moments I’ve felt the most fulfilled were never about money, fame, or success.
They were the moments when I re-aligned with my values. I faced the big stuff. The scary stuff.
But I knew it was worth my time.
Sometimes it hurt. But pain is the ultimate motivator, right?
I grew in ways that made me a better person. I surrounded myself with people who inspired and supported me.
And on the flip side, I got rid of those who didn't.
We are not Einstein (at least most of us)
So here’s the deal: you don’t need to know why the universe exists. Or what grand scheme it’s all a part of.
You don’t even need to know where you’re headed five years from now.
"All you need to know is what you care about, what you’re willing to fight for, and who you want by your side."
Build your life around these things, and you’ll find that meaning shows up on its own.
But Where is the Meaning?
Meaning doesn’t just show up.
It’s not handed to you. It’s built, over time, by living in alignment with what actually matters to you.
The chaos doesn’t disappear, but it stops feeling so overwhelming.
It will never be about having all the answers. Or achieving nirvana, where you’re always happy and fulfilled.
Instead, it’s about honing in on the few things that genuinely matter to you. Then, focusing on them over the noise.
The reality is life is life. Even with purpose, you’ll still face challenges. There will always be moments of doubt, fear, and frustration.
But by aligning your life with your values, you give yourself a compass. Something to guide you through the mess.
"In the midst of chaos, your values are your anchor."
When you know what you stand for, every decision becomes clearer.
It doesn’t necessarily become easier. But you realize each choice has meaning because it’s connected to the person you’re trying to become.
Let’s Talk Practical Action Steps for Finding Meaning
Audit Your Time and Energy
Look at how you’re spending your time. Are your daily actions reflecting your values? Or are they just reactive responses to life’s demands?
This isn’t about packing every moment with productivity; it’s about intention. Realign your schedule to prioritize the things that matter to you. Even if that means cutting out things that don’t add value.
A simple method for this is to list activities that energize you versus those that drain you. Start saying “no” to the energy vampires. Prioritize activities that align with your goals. Even if it’s just tiny, consistent actions each day.
Reframe Setbacks as Part of the Journey
Instead of seeing setbacks as failures, see them as essential parts of your story. Each struggle you face is building resilience. It is teaching you something valuable, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment.
Try this mental trick: When a problem arises, ask yourself, How will I feel about this in 6 Months? This simple shift in perspective can turn obstacles into stepping stones.
Commit to a “Growth Habit”
Pick one small habit that supports your growth, and commit to it daily. This isn’t about making huge leaps. It’s about creating small, consistent practices that compound over time.
Set a simple habit tracker, where you tick off each day you follow through on your commitment. Seeing those small wins add up reinforces that growth is happening, even when it feels slow.
Find Your Community
Having the right people around you is crucial. Meaning thrives in connection. Share your values, dreams, and challenges with others who understand and support you.
This doesn’t mean you need dozens of friends or followers. Start with one or two people who “get” you and want to see you succeed.
If you don’t have that right now, consider finding spaces where people share your values. This could be online communities, local groups, or even mentors who inspire you.
Building a community takes time, but the payoff is worth it. I invite you to join my Rugged Human Facebook Community. You’ll find like-minded people all focused on positive growth and sharing the same struggles we all face.
Design Your Life with Purpose, Not Perfection
We’re all drawn to the idea of the “perfect life”. Where everything is exactly how we envision it.
But perfectionism is a trap. Instead, think of purpose as a fluid process—something that evolves as you evolve.
You will change, and so will your understanding of what’s meaningful. Accept that your life doesn’t need to look flawless to be full of purpose.
Here’s a question to ponder regularly:
Is this life I’m living, even with its messiness, aligned with who I want to be?
If the answer is mostly yes, you’re on the right track.
And if not, adjust—don’t wait for some ideal time to start living your values.
No One Has It Figured Out
You don’t have to have it all figured out. Life is complex, chaotic, and often frustrating, but the beauty lies in the journey. Building meaning doesn’t require certainty.
It requires courage and commitment to stay true to your values, even when things get tough. This journey is lifelong, and that’s what makes it rich.
When you focus on what really matters to you, the chaos doesn’t magically disappear, but it transforms.
It becomes something you can navigate. Something that gives you strength rather than drains you.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, this is your life.
You get to choose what you make of it, and you get to decide what’s worth your energy and focus.
You’re not going to find purpose just lying around waiting for you.
You’ll build it through intentional choices. Through daily actions, and a commitment to aligning with your values.
So, here’s the takeaway: stop waiting for clarity or meaning to come from outside.
It’s not going to show up like that. Instead, take what you’ve got, work with it, build on it. Over time, you’ll start to notice the threads of purpose weaving through your life. They bring clarity to what once felt like chaos.
Meaning isn’t something we find. It’s something we create. Now, go create yours.
Until next time,
Jerod
P.S. I struggled with all of this stuff.
I created systems to help me get out of the overwhelm.
Particularly a habit system. This "system" really kicked my personal growth into overdrive. I call it the Life Track Method. It is a custom-built system that easily breaks bad habits and helps build good ones.
That was the first step to turning my life around. It's unique because it tracks all aspects of life, not only mind and body but your spiritual side, too. Very helpful when you're struggling. You can read more about it here: The Rugged Human Life Track System.
Then I took it even further.
As mentioned in this letter, I created a system to re-align my values and purpose. This system is the "full monty," if you will. The naked truth.
I call it the Prosperity Path. This system breaks it down into two parts: 1) Remaking yourself from the inside. 2) Honing your efficiency and productivity to maximize your life. It works in tandem with the Life Tracker System (which is included if you join)
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