You make your life meaningful by applying meaning to it.

Sheila Heti is known for her introspective and experimental storytelling, especially in works such as “Motherhood,” the critically acclaimed, semi-autobiographical novel that explores her decision on whether or not to have children. This quote echoes her writing’s broader themes of self-exploration and purpose. Taken from an interview with author Natasha Lunn in Lunn’s book “Conversations on Love,” Heti suggests the fabled “meaning of life” to be a nuanced concept — as she puts it, “[Life is] not just inevitably meaningful as a result of the choices you’ve made.” Much like her books challenge traditional narratives, Heti’s quote upends the idea that meaning is inherent — we must instead each create it for ourselves.