Uncoveries

Inspiring You to Uncover and Design a Meaningful Life

Build: Forging the Path

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The destination is a marvelous sight to behold.

When we’ve set sight on a direction of growth and genuine excitement, it’s time to build, forging the path to our goal. Whether it’s trying out a new fitness regimen, changing careers, or embarking on a new relationship—building a new part of our life is when enthusiasm gradually gives way to muscle, mindset, patience and perseverance.

Moving from Explore to the Build phase is the beginning of a trek that can last from months to many years. This is where you hone intent, lay out a plan and execute the steps. It’s the practical, hardworking and laborious part of the journey. Build generally starts off with high energy and optimism with a dash of necessary foolishness. In new territory, we’re bound to be naïve in certain areas as we research, learn and figure things out as we go along.Continue Reading

Explore: Growing into the New

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Signs of growth eventually emerge from the space we’ve erased.

After a pause that’s almost always longer than we’d like, we find ourselves squinting in the brightness of possibility. We’ve had to grieve and erase a part of us that was no longer fitting, and the heaviness has slowly subsided. Through erasing, we’ve created space for the exploration to come.

Where we saw ending and loss, we now see hope for the new. Continue Reading

Erase: Clearing Space for Change

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It doesn’t get any easier once the awareness sets in. We often know deep down what’s next—but very few of us like to erase.

The muddled sense of restlessness, the shock from an unexpected event, the suffocating heaviness of stagnancy—these are sorted through in reassessment. After embracing the discomfiting pause in the Reassess stage, we’re faced with a grim decision.Continue Reading

Embracing A Life of Experience and Freedom

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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

The Truth About Struggle and Meaningful Progress

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“There is scarcely any passion without struggle.” 

– Albert Camus

Struggle has a bad rap. If asked, most of us would likely opt against struggle, preferring to avoid it if we can.

Yet, at the same time, we can’t seem to escape it. Struggle is everywhere. Unavoidable.

Many of us are familiar with struggle as a part of our lives. We understand that anything worth having requires a level of hard work and consistency. Much more, it’s reinforced through our parents, authority figures and general society.

We’re told to work hard and put our nose to the grindstone. 52% of us are dissatisfied with our jobs yet we still stay in them. When something takes longer or more work than we expect, we’re told it’s part of the game and that dues need to be paid.

But for what? Is it worth it? Continue Reading

Uncovering Meaningful Progress In Your Life

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“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

– George Bernard Shaw

I’m not a big fan of change, but I’ve made many over the past year and a half.

Being blessed with a well-paying job, comfortable home and loving husband wasn’t enough. I was grateful for what I had, but an inner part of me needed more.

I needed a sense of progress.Continue Reading

7 Surprising Takeaways From People In Late Life

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“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.”

– Gabriel Garcia Marquez

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

7 Ways to Supercharge Your Morning Routine

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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.

Why did I stop doing this?

I’ve known this to be important. Continue Reading

Why You’re Not Happy: 7 Myths of Happiness

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Even for the simple things, everyone benefits from a reminder every once in a while.

I’ve found I need to remind myself of certain concepts around happiness, simplicity and mindfulness when I start to feel unbalanced.

This happens when something unexpected throws me off guard. When receiving some bad news. Or perhaps when there’s been a long string of hectic days or weeks.

Sometimes you just feel down. Tired. Frustrated. Or perhaps just plain unmotivated to do anything.

Whatever it is you’re feeling, don’t try to suppress it. It will only make it worse. It’s much more productive to let yourself feel with intention—without any apology, explanations or guilt.

There are too many people who believe if certain things don’t fit this or that, then something is wrong with them and their lives.Continue Reading