Bedrock Magazine: finding greater meaning and purpose in a modern and complex world
Have you ever felt that it can sometimes be difficult to reach a certain depth with those you interact with day-to-day? You’re not alone. I’ve often experienced that conversations with colleagues or friends have failed to get past the level of discussing last weekend’s drab 0-0 football result or the latest twist in yet another mundane soap opera, even when opportunities to delve a bit deeper arise.
To me, these surface-level exchanges seem emblematic of a broader issue in today’s society: that over time there has been a gradual, collective turning away at a societal level from many of the principles and cultural traditions that have been sources of happiness and personal fulfilment for much of human history. Things like the importance of the family unit, seeking to foster deep relationships within a flourishing community, the worth and dignity of human life, cultivating a love for the humanities and great art, and more, are becoming increasingly devalued. At the same time, many of these perennial traditions and practices, which are both intrinsic to human nature and interwoven into the fabric of our culture, are being replaced by practices and ideals that direct us to find meaning in things that can only offer fleeting pleasures.
It often seems that what is espoused in the modern age as the ‘ideal lifestyle’ or ‘blueprint for happiness’ consists of nothing more than glamorous leisure activities, an enviable social media following, high-paying jobs and other superficial – yet attractive – markers of societal success. And the reality is that even those who appreciate the importance of the core values necessary to societal and personal flourishing can find themselves distracted by the allurements of modern life, losing sight of paths to fulfilment that have been tried and tested over the course of human history.
We must consider that these changes at a societal and cultural level can have a significant impact on the individual’s sense of purpose and fulfilment. The superficiality of the ‘ideal’ contemporary lifestyle, combined with the busyness and complexity of modern life, means it can be harder for people to think deeply about important issues – ways of living which have been valued and defended throughout the ages. Instead of seeking greater purpose outside ourselves, many of us turn inward, occupying ourselves with aimless distractions and habits that rarely nourish the soul.
All the things I’ve mentioned above could be a few of the reasons why people today sometimes struggle to find happiness. Of course, modern life isn’t all doom and gloom. We live longer, healthier and wealthier lives than our ancestors ever did, and progress has been made in countless areas of human life. Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that the consumerist and individualist ethos of the modern age, and the turning away from many of the enduring traditions and practices celebrated throughout human history, frequently leaves many people feeling isolated and unsure where to find deeper purpose and meaning in their lives.
If many of our peers lack depth and understanding, it’s hardly surprising. When exposed primarily to activities and lifestyles that only promote shallow and short-term pleasures, how can we expect them to think deeply about critical issues or recognise the value of passing on the rich traditions and practices we’ve inherited from the past?
What is Bedrock Magazine?
One of the reasons why we started Bedrock Magazine is that we believe modern society has forgotten much of what earlier generations knew about living meaningful and purposeful lives. The ‘ideal’ lifestyle espoused by the Modern Age leads people to prioritise self-focussed ambition and personal gratification, seeking happiness in practices and activities that can only provide short-term pleasures.
Our mission is to guide people towards more fulfilled lives by encouraging them to think more deeply about life’s important questions. We aim to do this by both providing fresh modern insights that encourage our readers to think deeper about one’s own life and wider societal issues, and by rediscovering the best of what has been thought and said in a variety of disciplines – the arts, history, science, literature, music, philosophy and more – to share insights into how the lessons from the past can inform how to live well in the present.
At Bedrock Magazine we don’t claim to be experts, nor do we believe we know all the answers to life’s most challenging issues. We simply see ourselves as fellow travellers, eager to share our thoughts and the insights of our contributors, while also recognising that many of the answers to life’s perennial challenges have already been addressed by the great thinkers and doers throughout history. In each issue we will share different perspectives on ways we can all aim for better and happier lives, whatever our own circumstances – career, family situation and so on.
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We’re also always on the lookout for new voices. If you’d like to contribute, take a look at our Writer’s Guidelines and send us your pitch.