Hey Unbreakables!
I’ve been getting plenty of questions on what “meaning structures” are, and while I was planning on keeping these up my sleeve for my book release, I can’t resist indulging your curiosity!
In Unified Meaning Theory (UMT), meaning structures are at the very core - they are the hidden scaffolds of meaning we build our entire lives around, yet we often don’t know they are holding us together.
These scaffolds explain why we wake up in the morning, how we make decisions, and help us lead fulfilling lives.
Most of us have been weaving these structures since childhood.
We inherit some from family and culture, stumble into others by accident, and choose a few consciously along the way.
Over time, we build them into an interlocking, living and (hopefully) evolving construct; our personal meaning system.
Some of these structures last a lifetime. Some collapse the moment life kicks us in the ass. And when a core structure falls away, we often feel like the floor has vanished beneath us.
UMT calls these meaning structures; the hidden frameworks that give life coherence, purpose, and direction.
They are the difference between a life that feels rich with purpose and one that feels hollow, even if everything looks “successful” from the outside.
There are 28 meaning structures that we all draw on to construct our lives.
Some of us rely on just a few, risking a fragile meaning system. Others weave together many structures, building complexity and resilience into our identity.
Knowing these will help you understand what gives your life meaning, where you might be at risk, and where you can build on or strengthen your meaning system to create a resilient identity!
Here are the 28 Meaning Structures, split into their major categories:
1. Relationships & Social Bonds
Family (parenthood, siblings, raising children)
Friendships (trust, shared experiences, support)
Romantic Relationships (love, intimacy, shared life)
Community & Social Groups (clubs, religious communities, online groups)
2. Work & Contribution
Career & Professional Identity (mastery, expertise, growth)
Helping Others (teaching, caregiving, mentoring)
Building Something (entrepreneurs, creators, inventors)
3. Personal Growth & Mastery
Education & Learning
Skill Development (arts, sports, problem-solving)
Health & Fitness (physical and mental peak)
4. Beliefs & Philosophical Frameworks
Religious Faith
Philosophy & Personal Ethics
Spirituality
5. Narrative & Storytelling
Personal Identity & Self-Perception
Cultural & National Identity
Myth & Fiction
6. Legacy & Impact
Raising Children
Art, Writing, & Creation
Social Movements & Activism
7. Rituals & Traditions
Religious or Spiritual Rituals
Cultural Practices
Personal Rituals
8. Struggle & Adversity
Overcoming Hardships
Redemption & Transformation
Helping Others Overcome Adversity
9. Nature & the Cosmos
Connection and Admiration of Nature
Existential Exploration (space, science, the universe)
Mindfulness & Presence
10. Play & Enjoyment
Hobbies & Recreation
Sports & Physical Challenge
Humor & Comedy
11. Exploration & Adventure
Travel & Cultural Immersion
Discovery & Experimentation
Risk & Thrill-Seeking
12. Justice & Morality
Fighting for Justice
Living by Personal Morals
Legal & Ethical Systems Participation
13. Rituals of Self-Expression
Fashion & Style
Tattoos & Body Modification
Music & Dance
14. Solitude & Reflection
Meditation & Mindfulness
Journaling & Self-Reflection
Being Alone in Nature
15. Chaos & Rebellion
Challenging Authority
Breaking the Rules
Embracing Uncertainty
16. Healing & Recovery
Surviving Trauma
Addiction Recovery
Therapy & Mental Health Work
17. Connection to the Past
Ancestry & Heritage
Tradition & Customs
Restoring the Old
18. Time & Mortality
Accepting Impermanence
Creating Timelessness
Reflecting on Death
19. Parenthood & Teaching
Raising Children
Mentorship & Guidance
Sharing Knowledge
20. The Search for Transcendence
Pursuing the Divine
Seeking Higher States of Consciousness
Embracing and Merging with the Infinite
21. Systems & Structures
Political Ideology
Institutional Belonging
Order & Discipline
22. The Absurd & Nihilism
Embracing the Absurd
Dark Humor & Irony
Creating Your Own Meaning
23. Technology & The Digital World
Virtual Worlds & Online Communities
AI & Futurism
Social Media Influence
24. Economics & Wealth
Financial Success
Luxury & Status
Simplicity & Anti-Materialism
25. The Body as Meaning
Biohacking & Longevity
Martial Arts & Discipline
Pain & Endurance
26. Unfinished Business & Redemption
Correcting the Past
Continuing a Family Legacy
Personal Evolution
27. Chaos, Uncertainty & Improvisation
Going With the Flow
Nomadic Living
Improvisational Art & Thought
28. The Pursuit of Beauty
Aesthetic Perfection
Romanticism & Nostalgia
Euphoria & Peak Experiences
Here’s the thing: these structures run our lives whether we know it or not.
They determine how resilient we feel, how much suffering we can bear, and whether our life feels rich with purpose, or quietly hollow.
The real power begins when we see them.
When we know which ones we’ve inherited, which ones we’ve outgrown, and which ones we want to cultivate, life stops happening to us.
We can start building it with intention.
Unbreakables, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me by reading and engaging with my Substack content, which has and always will be free.
That being said, I began this with the hope of bringing good into the world. I know first-hand the importance of our childhood years and the role education plays in that, so I have enabled a 100% optional paid tier for those with a few dollars who would like to help a child get an all-important education.
You can support the cause by upgrading here:
All proceeds will go toward tuition, textbooks, and other educational expenses.
If not, that’s okay too; my content will remain 100% free.
Yours in Strength,
Danny