ANA Framework

ANA is a mental framework designed to evaluate meaning in a person's life.

The genesis of this concept is available in the video below:

The framework is made up of 3 distinct but inter-related parts known as pillars. Those pillars are:

• Aesthetics

• Narrative

• Authenticity

Aesthetics

Aesthetics speaks to any textual or textural experience that a person encounters or implants themselves within. This is not limited to purely sensory encounters (those experienced by sight, sound, smell, touch and taste), but is also influenced by textual stimuli that colours the lens that is interacting with the world.

Meaningful experiences require a direct link to the external world and it is through aesthetics that this is possible. Being-in the world is inextricably linked to human meaning which is why is makes Aesthetics are core component of ANA.

Narrative

The term Narrative describes a person's recount of identity in the form of a story, conforming to typical storytelling archetypes (those understood implicitly by any human). This recount is not limited to one's own self identity but, to a lesser extent, plays a large role in other's own narratives and vice versa.

As one interacts with the world, over time a theme, however nuanced and complex in nature, will emerge. It is difficult to find meaning in life when your story is being written while you are unconscious or lack the clarity on which direction you are heading. This pillar emerges to ensure your examined life returns to a path chosen with intent.

Simply put, if you were to play the role of the main character of a book, is "character development" present or does it lack any compelling event to propel it forward? The greatest stories are not linear and rarely have a utopian ending, which is important to understand as meaning when it comes to Narrative is not based on outcomes related to prosperity or 'winning', rather it is designed to review qualities like endurance in the face of adversity and growth.

Authenticity

To avoid inauthenticity is to remove oneself from the 'they': those who conform around accepted truths without applying individual rational thinking.

Authenticity is the product of being true to oneself and having the confidence to stand alone in the world for periods of time when broader social circles are congregating elsewhere. It is almost impossible to have meaning present when you are pursuing a herd, and achievements made in inauthentic pursuits are equally unfulfilling.

This rounds out the ANA framework and forms the final checkbox that is applied across the board to define real meaning in a person's lived experiences.

	Aesthetics	Narrative	Authenticity
Aesthetics	Tortured Artist	Someone else's shoes	No Direction
Narrative	//	NPC	Colour Blind
Authenticity	//	//	Blissfully Happy

Tortured Artist

When you operate solely within Aesthetics, you tend to be creating environments that you are a stranger within. You have a keen sense of design and an appreciation for what is objectively good but there is a sense that nothing you create contains your unique character or propels your identity forward.

NPC

When you operate solely within Narrative, you are typically feeling that there is direction for you but it is dull in its essence due to the lack of authorship from you and it's lack of having external, creative impact on the world. You are like a non-playable character in a video game who moves throughout the world, contains some sort of one-dimensional purpose but lacks any automation or worldly freedom.

No Direction

With an Aesthetic and Authentic mix, you get someone who has a key insight into the imprint they want to leave on the external world. What they lack is cohesion and operate typically from a meditative, nihilistic point of view given their lack of forward propulsion.

Colour Blind

You are striking your own path in the world with subjective determinism. While it feels good to be leading your own life, the external world seems to be mostly uninterrupted as you navigate through it. The impact on your authentic narrative is not translating to the world so you feel that your story of not being shared.

Blissfully Unaware

However unlikely, there is theoretically a chance that you could live an authentic life without narrative or aesthetics. In this mode, you are unconformist, opting to be something unique to you as an individual.

Someone Else's Shoes

The combination of Aesthetics and Narrative looks like a well-adjusted, meaningful existence from the outside. You are building creative structures around a cohesive story and it seems to observers that you are living a fulfilling life. In your point of view, there is a sense that the life you are driving has nothing to do with your own authorship but inherited from other's opinions or expectations. You feel like you are living in someone elses shoes.