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On Mondays, we’ll lock in together: See below for a motivational tidbit to start your week, perspective on movement I’m focusing on, and music I’m enjoying I’d like to share with you 🙂
Note: A quick reminder that as I soak up the final moments of wedding planning, I'll be keeping our newsletters a bit shorter over the next few weeks. I appreciate your patience and can't wait to share more aspects of the day with you all soon!
Motivation
“To achieve personal meaning, he says, one must transcend subjective pleasures by doing something that "points, and is directed, to something, or someone, other than oneself... by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to loved.".”
I’ve reread Man’s Search for Meaning every year for the past three years, and each time, something new lands differently. This time, it was Viktor Frankl’s line: “to achieve personal meaning one must transcend subjective pleasures by doing something that points and is directed to something, or someone, other than oneself.”
It’s a powerful idea, but I found myself pausing at the “or.” Because I don’t think it’s always an either/or. In fact, I believe the most sustaining kind of meaning comes from the “and.” A cause and a person. A purpose and a relationship.
That person doesn’t have to be a life partner, it could be a sibling, a friend, a parent, someone you’re showing up for in a quiet but consistent way. And the cause doesn’t have to be grand, it could be the work you do, the community you support, the values you live by. What matters is that both exist outside of yourself. When meaning is rooted only in the self, it starts to feel fragile. Progress becomes harder to measure, and fulfillment can slip into comparison or doubt.
When we orient ourselves toward something greater and someone we care about, we tap into a steadier kind of motivation. One that doesn’t rely on constant achievement or validation. It’s not about being selfless, it’s about being connected. The beauty of meaning is that it doesn’t have to be invented from scratch. It’s often already there, waiting to be remembered. Especially in the moments when we feel stuck, frustrated, or unsure of what’s next.
So if this week feels slow or uncertain, try not to chase meaning as if it’s missing. Instead, return to what’s already true: the cause you care about and the people you love. Let them remind you that your life holds meaning, not because of what you accomplish alone, but because of what you’re part of.
Intention for the Week: Lean into the “and.” Reconnect with the person and the purpose that remind you who you are and why you’re here. Let them guide your energy this week.
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