Being + Doing = Meaning: The Equation That Changed My Life (And Might Just Change Yours)

By John Monyjok Maluth

If you're anything like me—a thinker, a doer, a survivor of too many wars and not enough Wi-Fi—you’ve probably asked the big question at least once: What is the meaning of life?

Don’t worry, I’m not about to quote Socrates or dig up dusty old philosophers (unless they also blog). Instead, I want to share something simple that’s been growing inside me for years, like a stubborn seed in the dry soil of South Sudan. It’s a life equation I live by, and one I believe could help many in Africa and beyond. I call it:

M = {B, D²}
(Meaning = Being, multiplied by Doing squared)

No, it’s not quantum physics or rocket science. It’s more like soul science—an equation that reminds us that purpose doesn’t just fall from the sky (unless you're hit by a divine coconut). It’s born when who you are (Being) and what you do (Doing) come together, consistently and intentionally.

Chapter 1: The Day I Became a Philosopher by Accident

Let’s rewind a bit.

I wasn’t raised in the halls of Oxford or the libraries of ancient Greece. I was raised under acacia trees, with a pen in one hand and survival in the other. While others played, I observed. I watched people who waited for meaning to show up like a relief truck. And I saw others—usually the elders—who carried it like a torch they lit every morning.

The difference? They didn’t just exist, they acted. They farmed. They taught. They built. They walked ten miles to attend a community meeting. They were poor, but rich in meaning. That’s when I realized: Being is not enough, and Doing alone can burn you out. But put them together, and life begins to hum with purpose.

Chapter 2: What is "Being" Anyway?

Let’s demystify this.

Being is the foundation. It’s your values, identity, culture, and awareness. It’s knowing who you are when no one’s watching and having peace with that person. It’s your roots—the part of you that doesn’t change when your title does.

In Africa, we’ve sometimes been told to suppress our being to fit a mold—colonial, religious, or modern. Many of us were even told to change our names to sound more "proper." But here's the thing: your name, your culture, your faith, your being—that’s your compass.

You can’t build meaning without a compass. Otherwise, you’re just moving. And movement without direction is chaos (ask any chicken during market day).

Chapter 3: Doing – The Engine of Purpose

Now let’s talk Doing.

Doing is where many people either shine—or fall apart. Some of us do too little. Others do too much, without clarity. We confuse motion for progress. But Doing, in this equation, is not about being busy. It’s about intentional action.

It’s the consistent effort to create, help, serve, write, teach, build, farm, innovate—whatever it is that aligns with your Being.

Why do I square the Doing in this equation (D²)? Because Doing has compounding power. The more consistent and strategic your actions are, the more momentum and clarity you gain. One action leads to another. Write one book, and soon you’re on your hundredth (guilty). Plant one tree, and you’re creating shade for generations.

But doing without being? That’s just noise. Hustle with no heart. Work without soul. It leads to burnout and bitterness.

Chapter 4: Africa Needs a New Equation

Let’s be real. Many African youths are either stuck waiting (Being-only) or burning out chasing Western models of success (Doing-only). It’s time we introduce a middle ground: Purposeful Action grounded in authentic identity.

We don't need more imported dreams; we need rooted strategies. Imagine a continent where our youths know who they are (Being), what they’re good at (Skills), and how to use that in their communities (Doing). Now imagine that multiplied every day (D²). That’s what real development looks like—internal, intentional, and irresistible.

We talk a lot about "development partners" and "donor countries," but have we become partners with ourselves yet? Have we developed the inner economy—our minds, our talents, our will?

Being + Doing = Meaning isn’t just philosophy. It’s the missing piece in our development agenda.

Chapter 5: My Personal Equation in Motion

When I first began writing on donated papers during the war, I didn’t have a business plan. I had pain—and a pen. But the more I wrote, the more I healed. And the more I shared, the more people responded.

That’s when I knew I was walking my equation. I was being a survivor, a thinker, a storyteller. And I was doing the work—writing, publishing, sharing, failing, learning.

Now I’ve written 100 books, taught thousands, and spoken across borders. Not because I’m smarter, but because I stuck with the math. M = {B, D²}.

So, what does that mean for you?

Chapter 6: What’s Your Meaning?

Here’s how you can start using this philosophy today:

1. Know Your Being

  • Ask yourself: Who am I? What do I value? What do I believe in, even if no one agrees?

  • Reconnect with your culture, your story, your purpose. You don’t have to be loud, just clear.

2. Multiply Your Doing

  • What can you do today that aligns with who you are?

  • Don’t wait to be perfect—start where you are, with what you have. That’s how the Doing grows.

3. Measure Your Meaning

  • Reflect monthly or weekly: Am I growing in both Being and Doing?

  • Is my life producing Meaning—or just noise?

You’ll know the answer by the peace you feel and the impact you see.

Chapter 7: Critics, Coconuts, and Clarity

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking: “John, this all sounds poetic, but life is harder than a math equation.”

True. Life will throw coconuts at your head, whether you’ve solved your inner purpose or not.

But here's the difference: When you live with Meaning, you learn to duck faster and laugh louder. You gain the clarity to say "yes" to the right things and "no" to the distractions. You stop comparing yourself to the loudest voice in the room and start listening to the quiet whisper in your soul.

Also, you don’t have to do it alone.

I’ve created a mailing list where I share regular reflections on life, travels, growth, and how you can apply this equation in your own context—whether you're in Juba, Nairobi, or New York.

Conclusion: Add Meaning, Subtract Noise

If you’ve read this far, you’ve already started your journey. You’re thinking. That’s good. Now take the next step: act.

Don’t overthink it. Your purpose isn’t hiding in some secret cave or locked in a vault in Switzerland. It’s right where your Being and Doing meet.

So, what are you waiting for?

Join My Journey
If this philosophy speaks to you, don’t miss a single update. I’d love to stay connected and keep this conversation going—through travel stories, new book announcements, and reflections on life and meaning.

➡️ Sign up at www.johnshalom.com
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Contact Me
Email: maluthabiel@gmail.com
Phone (South Sudan): +211 927 145 394
Phone (Kenya): +254 110 424 822
Website: www.johnshalom.com

Let’s keep planting seeds of meaning—one blog post, one action, one life at a time.

Yours in Being, Doing, and Meaning,
John Monyjok Maluth

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