Human Flourishing PDF

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Human Flourishing PSYCH 108

Samia Ali – Sali303

The Life of a Directioner: A Sense of Meaning and Belonging.

Roughly 11 years ago, One Direction, a boyband, was created on the famous TV show XFactor. Being a part of this fandom with over 1 billion fans has given me a sense of belonging and meaning. Throughout the time the band was still together before their ’18-month hiatus’ in 2016, I have met some fantastic people and have made life-long friendships. Over time, I realized how much they have helped me and many other teenagers learn their worth and potentially save lives. Each member has their own set of characteristics that draw us to them. We have Harry, Liam, Louis, Niall, and Zayn. Each member gave us a sense of belonging with their unique personalities and how they interact with people. Each of them is special and important to the band. (although Zayn ended up leaving the band in March 2015.)

According to Steger (2018), meaning is present in our everyday lives. Without it, our lives would be pretty dull. Our lives would only move forward when reactions, instincts are triggered genetically or environmentally. Without meaning, we wouldn’t have fantastical and imaginary interests like Harry Potter, The Simpsons. Without meaning, we wouldn’t have realistic narratives such as Law and Order or Crime and Punishment. The spiritual aspects such as the Bible and the Bhagavad Gita would no longer be present. Without meaning, we are basically living a meaningless life. Meaning is a fundamental part of our lives.

According to Gable and Maisel (2021), close relationships play a significant part in our sense of belonging and “social ties.” This is because our social ties can be linked to our health and morality. Without solid and social relations, we can fall into severe depression due to loneliness and having no one to talk to at the end of the day. It has been shown that having

Human Flourishing PSYCH 108

Samia Ali – Sali303

strong social ties are linked to overall happiness and life satisfaction. This has been demonstrated in multiple studies.

According to Steger (2018), meaning provides us with the ability to shape different intricate and hypothetical symbolic representations and relationships. One Direction has done precisely that by being a band that brings everyone together and giving us hope. They have written about heartbreak, love, losing someone special, etc. One song that mainly gives me a sense of meaning is “Diana.” This song was written about a teenage girl. She wrote a letter to Niall explaining how her life isn’t unique and how she felt she had no meaning in life. A short period after she wrote this letter, she ended up committing suicide. Once the letter had been received and read, the band decided to write her a song to tell her and many other young people that they are loved, and life would never be the same without them. When this song came out, it gave many young people a new outlook on life, basically saying that even though they feel they aren’t enough, they mean everything to the boys. This song helped me get through a period where I didn’t feel like I was worth anything. Although I had so much left in life, I felt as if I had nothing motivating me. This song really helped me find myself, and I’m sure it has helped many other people. Being a part of this fandom has given millions of people new friends and has brought people together. Although the band hasn’t been together for around 6 years, they have managed to keep us together. This has given me meaning in life and made me feel like I belong in a community.

According to Boardman (2020), not having a sense of belonging can be associated with stress, illnesses that can later decrease our well-being and lead to depression. This is primarily caused when we lose our sense of belonging as a child. For many fans of One Direction, being in the fandom has given us a sense of belonging. Personally, I became a fan

Human Flourishing PSYCH 108

Samia Ali – Sali303

when I was 7 years old. Being a directioner per se, I have developed a sense of belonging because I know if I don’t feel like I belong anywhere, I always have the fandom to fall back on. The feeling of belonging in a community has been with all humans for as long as we know. This was a part of our evolutionary process, which led to an increased level of survival. According to Maslow, he felt as If it was more important than our physiological and safety needs. Over time, the things we belong to have changed from families, tribes, countries, and religions to broader groups. Being a part of this fandom is like being a part of a family. Feeling like you belong somewhere when things can get challenging is a fantastic feeling. Many people were looked down upon for liking a ‘silly boyband’ but many people secretly like them. While the band was still together, many people didn’t want to be known as someone who listened to One Direction because they believed it would take away their ‘cool’ persona. This led to many people becoming a directioner when the band went on their ’18month hiatus’; now, this is not a bad thing, but it leaves them confused about certain inside jokes. According to Gable and Maisel (2021), having close relationships can benefit our health and well-being. Our close connection to each member of One Direction has given us our own little boosts of happiness and serotine.

Each band member has taught us different things and ultimately given us all a sense of belonging and meaning. Harry Styles has taught us to do what we love even if people disagreed with us. Louis Tomlinson taught us to be ourselves and live life to the fullest. Niall Horan taught us to be unique in our own ways and laugh at almost anything life throws at us. Zayn Malik taught us to face our fears and not let them overrule us. Liam Payne taught us to never give up on our dreams because they can and will come true. They may seem like a stupid band to you, but these men taught me to live my life to the fullest and enjoy every moment I have. Because of them, I am who I am today.

Human Flourishing PSYCH 108

Samia Ali – Sali303 References

Boardman, S. (2020, February 4). The Importance of Developing a Sense of Belonging. Www.lifeskillsgroup.com.au. https://www.lifeskillsgroup.com.au/blog/belonging Gable, S. L., & Maisel, N. C. (2019). Positive Processes in Close Relationships. The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, 3rd Edition, 3rd(). https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199396511.013.35 Steger, M. F. (2018). Meaning in Life. The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, 3rd Edition, 3rd. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199396511.013.56...