40 Ducere Est Servire: THE LEADERSHIP JOURNAL OF DALLAS BAPTIST UNIVERSITY Modern studies on the topic of meaning in life also include generativity as a source of meaning. Research shows that “generativity takes on personal meaning.”43 De St. Aubin and McAdams surmised that generative action may contribute to one’s sense of meaningfulness. 44 They mentioned that additional research would be helpful to determine conclusively “whether or not generative action is associated with a sense of purpose or meaning in life.”45 Extending McAdams and de St. Aubin’ framework of generativity, the current study of Christian educational leaders discovered that generativity and personal meaning are related in an educational setting. The study results indicate that an educational leader’s acts of generativity have a connection with achieving meaning in life by passing on ideas, values, traditions, knowledge, and things through teaching, mentoring, coaching, altruism, discipleship and other areas.46 These acts may be characterized as generative expressions or generative acts. The research provided additional insight into connections with meaning in life and an educational leader’s generativity and legacy, in addition to one’s calling. Meaningful Moments and Meaning in Life Generative acts can lead to meaning with the giver or the receiver. Joseph Fabry said that meaning is seen in two dimensions or in “the ultimate meaning of life and the meaning of the moment.”47 Generative leaders may experience a momentary reward of meaning in their dayto-day acts, or they may experience a more macro level of meaning in their role or calling in life. Jacky van de Goor and others concurred that ultimate meaning and purpose already exist in the world, but must be personally discovered.48 The question regarding how people obtain a sense of meaning in life has seen much research. A recent study discussed four spheres of meaning that are predominant across various perspectives: coherence, purpose, significance, and self-transcendence.49 The study focused on how the recollection of meaningful moments was a means to connect to meaning in life in these four areas. Coherence is a cognitive element of meaning that refers to the comprehension of life. Purpose is the future-oriented motivational dimension of meaning and gives direction to
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