How Do We Make Our Own Meaning?

In class today, well yesterday, Dr. Thomas posed the question: "What conditions are necessary to make a meaningful life?" And I've come to the conclusion that there are at least two conditions that are necessary: First, we as individuals, must be rational or clear-thinking individuals and second, we must not only possess knowledge about ourselves, but nature and the external world itself. So, the ability to think and the ability to have understanding are necessary to make our own meaning of life.