Meaning

The Truth About Struggle and Meaningful Progress

March 3, 2016 By Uncoveries

“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?

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7 Surprising Takeaways From People In Late Life

January 27, 2016 By Uncoveries

“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.

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Why You’re Not Happy: 7 Myths of Happiness

August 26, 2015 By Uncoveries

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.

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The 7 Myths of Happiness, Part 6

July 20, 2015 By Uncoveries

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.

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The 7 Myths of Happiness, Part 3

June 29, 2015 By Uncoveries

Warm sunshine. Bountiful smiles. Open laughter.

The popularized idea of happiness is free-spirited and effortless; it is less often associated with concentration, hard work or sacrifice. In addition to believing the myth of happiness is a must, we also have this idea that happiness is easy. There is often an odd sense of entitlement and lackadaisicalness that’s assumed with happiness. Many of us have an underlying belief that happiness is something that should exist without any effort on our part.

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