Authors Note: this is the first post written for the blog in 2011. It is being posted in 2018 now that I have the courage to post. Enjoy!
Shortly after graduation from college, I found myself feeling unfulfilled. Although I had been hired full-time where I was interning, finally graduated and had a life many desire, I had nothing inside of me. Of course I had my organs, blood, and stuff. But just like those are a given, so had been my life up until that point. It had been a given, I would go to college. It had been a given, I would some how find a good job. I knew how to do what people expected of me. Since I didn't have to think too much, I just found a way to do what was expected. But I did do it “on my own terms”. I chose my area of study, I chose what jobs I would take, I chose all the little details. The larger path was chosen for me as it is for nearly all of my peers- Go to college. Get a good job. Make lots of money.
Externally I had it all. Internally, something huge was missing. What was missing was Meaning. I had a degree, a job, a large network of friends, and a great family, but what did that mean? I couldn't put the logic to how those societal definitions of a “Good Life” (or dare I say the American Dream) meant a damn thing to me. The result was clinical depression.
Is this your story, too? Maybe you didn't suffer through a diagnosed depression, but I'm sure at some point, maybe even right now, you're missing something inside. Christian friends might say you're missing Jesus, Buddhist friends might say you're not following the 8-Fold Path, and other friends might say you're not self-actualizing. Boy, you have a diverse set of friends! Anyway, I think what it comes down to is assigning a meaning to life.
Once you assign meaning, you can begin living a Meaningful Life. Sure you can have a million dollars in the bank, but what does that mean? You could have no job, but does that mean you have nothing?
I am on the journey with you to assign meaning to my life. Through my experiences and those of my closest friends and colleagues, we explore how to assign meaning, live a meaningful life, and balance that with success and spirituality. You can live a successful, meaningful life!
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