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Look For Meaning
“Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product of a life well lived.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
THIS!! For the last couple of weeks you have heard me talk about a few different ways that you can feel a bit more “in control” during this blatantly “out of control” time:
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Make the conscious and deliberate choice to not get sucked in by the negativity floating around, use the time to go inward or to do something else that you’ve been wanting to do
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Put some thought to your core values and shed light on what is alive inside you…what really makes you who you are, and when and where does that manifest the most in your current life
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Use those tools to start building your personal resilience and get some clarity and strength around what your future can look like
Today, I was given the gift of stumbling across this article. So pertinent to what’s going on and how many of us are feeling. I wanted to share with you, and I will continue to share anything I come across in my personal and coaching networks that I believe could be helpful to anyone.
It discusses how dealing with our emotions – specifically now, but honestly the message is relevant for any time we are challenged – can be discussed in an oversimplified manner. Feeling anxious? Do something that brings you joy. The article states “When people search for meaning…they often do not feel happy. The things that make our life meaningful…are stressful and require effort. But months later, the meaning seekers not only reported fewer negative moods but also felt ‘enriched’, ‘inspired’ and ‘part of something greater than myself’.” I’m here to propose again, that if you take a few minutes a day to discover yourself while you might have a few extra, unaccounted for, minutes on your plate…you might do yourself more good finding meaning in your life than just chasing happiness.
Lastly, the article mentions Viktor Frankl. Viktor was a Psychologist and also a Holocaust survivor and wrote of his experience in Man’s Search for Meaning. As you can imagine, it is an emotional memoir, but it is a quick read if you are looking for something deeper on this topic. He was my first introduction to the idea that pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. To this day one of the most powerful ideas I hold to my heart.
I hope you all enjoy the article and find it helpful.
Much Love,
Lauren