Purpose & Meaning
Periods of change often lead us to reconsider what matters, what gives our lives direction, and how we understand the experiences we have lived through. Exploring purpose and meaning can help us see change within a larger context, recognize what continues to matter, and consider how we want to move forward as our lives evolve.
Related Transitions
Related Insights
A Therapist’s Epiphany: A Psychological Construct
A therapist’s epiphany can emerge when a familiar psychological idea suddenly becomes personally meaningful. This reflection explores how psychological constructs move from abstract concepts to lived understanding, and how that shift can deepen perspective on ourselves and the experiences we are trying to make sense of.
The Stories We Tell Part 2
The stories we share near the end of life can become an intimate form of legacy. When families create space for those stories to emerge, they can discover experiences, emotions, and meaning that deepen how they know—and remember—the people they love.
The Stories We Tell Part 1
As life nears its end, telling our stories can preserve identity, meaning, and a sense of legacy. When those stories are heard and witnessed by the people we love, they affirm the life that was lived and what will remain.
The Last Conversations: How Terminal Illness Became Our Greatest Teacher
Terminal illness can transform ordinary conversations into opportunities for honesty, connection, and understanding. When time becomes uncertain, the things left unsaid can take on new importance, creating space to express love, resolve unfinished feelings, and discover meaning within the experience of loss.
The Gifts Hidden in Caregiving: What Illness Can Teach Us About Love
Caring for someone through serious illness can bring grief, uncertainty, and hardship, but it can also reveal unexpected expressions of love. Through presence, connection, and shared vulnerability, caregiving can deepen relationships and create moments of meaning even during profoundly difficult times.
Psychologist | Author | Expert on Life's Transitions
Exploring how we understand, navigate, and integrate the changes and challenges that shape our lives.
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© 2026 Deborah Wagner, Ph.D. All rights reserved.