Inspiring You to Uncover and Design a Meaningful Life
As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in the Dominican Republic with my husband. We’ve been here since the fifth, and it’s been so amazing that we’ve extended our stay an extra four days.
The weather is perfection.
It’s 80 degrees every day with a breeze that rustles the palm fronds and balances out the heat and moments of stillness. The Airbnb condo we’re staying at is modern and gorgeous, and located in a small town near La Romana on the Caribbean side of the Dominican Republic.Continue Reading
Growing old isn’t something that I generally have positive feelings about. Every year as my birthday rolls around, I cringe a little bit. It symbolizes the end of another year of being on this earth, and I feel compelled to think back on what I’ve accomplished.
I recently read a book that studied the sources of meaning according to 60 individuals between the ages of 70 to 97. While the book was more academically focused, it was illuminating. I teared up from reading some of the stories and perspectives shared, and reflected back on my own life.Continue Reading
I used to be really good at prioritizing other things before taking care of myself.
This was not only mentally—in terms of self-esteem, self-talk and other mental traps I fell into—but also physically.
I didn’t exercise regularly during college and the first few years of work. Although I never indulged in too many sweets due to my savory tooth, I didn’t eat well. Likely too much pizza and tator tots, as much as I’d like to believe otherwise. During the most hectic periods of work, I’d continue working without getting up for a glass of water or bathroom break until hours later. I’d purposefully ignore my body’s signs. And so at some point my body stopped sending signals, which wasn’t a good thing.
A recipe headed towards disaster.Continue Reading
2014 was the year of change. Within that year, I worked up the courage to quit my job and take a six-month sabbatical without a plan of what I was going to do afterwards.
Before my decision to quit, I was on a soul-crushing career path within corporate finance.
Six months before I turned in my notice, I debated for, and against, the leap over dozens of sleepless nights. Two years ago, the thought of quitting my job without a plan was a laughable joke—a ridiculous and irresponsible whim only fools would consider.
I’m buzzing with more energy these mornings, which would be unheard of in prior years.
I’ve never been a morning person. I’d rather stay up and work on a project until three in the morning than wake up at seven to work on the same project.
Since re-starting my morning routine a couple weeks ago, I’m up and moving (before 10—well, on most days) with a clarity of mind that I usually don’t attain until closer to noon. And much more excited. Excited about the possibilities and of the events to come. The gratitude, visualization and affirmation exercises definitely help with the excited part.
I’ve been wondering specifically about the clarity of mind. Everything is connected, so regularly exercising and eating more healthfully has probably helped the clarity. But I think a major part is due to a simple ingredient: water.Continue Reading
All was quiet in the morning, except for one thing.
Only the in and out of my breathing was audible. I opened my eyes briefly to see the sun shining in from the window and smiled. Today was going to be a great day—particularly because I was starting my day in this way.
I’ve known this to be important. Continue Reading
Each day is a gift, a new beginning, another opportunity to be fully embraced.
Yet many of us don’t make the most of each day. By packing it full of every possible to-do list item, meeting, commitment, email and phone notification, the hours fly by and we feel somewhat shortchanged as we turn in for the night.
Why? Because it’s easier said than done to make the most of each day. Especially when you feel like you’re behind on multiple projects with an overwhelming number of obligations, errands and tasks.
Life could be so simple, but we are masters in complicating our lives—to the point there are no moments savored, no progress made on what’s truly important and a deficit of what brings joy in your life. Sound familiar?Continue Reading
It happens to the best of us.
It’s why Sunday evenings and Monday mornings are mixed with remorse and the first day after a vacation seems to drag on in a funk.
We’re suckers for happy endings that stay that way. After all, the stories we prefer usually end with happily ever after.Continue Reading
Many of us have spent time stuck in the trickiest of the myths of happiness, focused internally but unable to gain a sense of meaningful progress.
Following my initial realization while I was in Prague, I realized something that led me down the less-traveled path I’m on today.Continue Reading
We live in a culture that is conditioned to look outside of ourselves.
It starts when we transition from children into adolescence, when we stop placing the emphasis on what’s true to us—what’s natural to us as children—and turn to external influences and opinions.
We learn that there is a certain look, feel and sound to what’s considered desirable and worthy. We see others looking up to these sources. We begin to tie our values and priorities to external influences.
Sometimes, we look everywhere else but internally for validation, confidence, happiness and the like—things that can only truly come from within. Hence, we have #5 of the myths of happiness:Continue Reading
