Navigate Your Own Purpose
And remember where you come from
Dear Big Selfer,
It’s lonely out in space, or so I hear. But inspiration hits in unexpected ways. Two of our writers this week found a relationship to the self through the great vast unknown of space. Two others want us to take ownership of our choices and take personal responsibility to find fulfillment and meaning. And still another pair want us to remember relationships and connection are where the mysterious sources of fulfillment emerge.
Maria Milojković leads us off with, You Can’t Live a Happy Life like Danes and Keep Toxic Individualism.
No, we can’t all be like the Danes, nor would we necessarily want to. But their resilient culture, based on community, has a lot to teach our western culture.
Among other things, the Danes possess “the ability to notice both the good and the bad in an unpleasant situation. This skill makes things less dramatic. You don’t sink when life gives you a blow.”
They also teach family time, enjoying being “average,” and being good team players even in unexpected places like the entrepreneurial community.
Check out her full article here: You Can’t Live a Happy Life like Danes and Keep Toxic Individualism.
Michael Rauscher draws some imaginative and yet surprisingly practical connections in 7 Unexpected Lessons We Can Learn From Space Exploration.
“The problems and limitations of space exploration are often similar to the challenges we face in our lives, even if just metaphorically,” he writes. “Space travel can act as a powerful personal growth booster once we apply the lessons learned in our lives.”
Check out his full article here: 7 Unexpected Lessons We Can Learn From Space Exploration.
Danny Schleien reminds us of the late great Carl Sagan’s sage advice in How An Astronomer Can Help You Put Your Worries In Perspective.
On February 14, 1990, the Voyager 1 spacecraft looked back at our solar system. A well-positioned camera onboard the spacecraft took a photo that stands the test of time.
In the middle of the orange beam of light towards the edge of the photo. You’ll see a pale blue dot. That’s us. That’s where everything we know about has happened. Let’s take care of it, and get a little perspective.
Check out his full article here: How An Astronomer Can Help You Put Your Worries In Perspective
In Why We’re Hard-Wired to Remember Bad Experiences, Evan Wildstein asks:
“Why can’t life be as simple as fruit? Why can’t we toss the losses, but keep the lessons we have learned?”
If anyone would know, it would be a Houstonian emerging from a once-in-a-century ice storm (layered on top of a pandemic). How many articles have you read that deep dive on the subject of “rumination”? Well, you’ve found your guy.
Check out his full article here: Why We’re Hard-Wired to Remember Bad Experiences
Jon Hawkins gives us a philosophic overview in the spirit of Seneca by examining an age-old question through a new lens in his piece, Without Your Life Purpose, What Are You?
What constitutes “a good life?” What would need to happen for you to believe that your life was worthwhile? Jon considers the importance of self-direction.
Check out his full article here: Without Your Life Purpose, What Are You?
Jessica Donahue hits us with impact with her power-packed 3 Actionable Ways to Demonstrate Ownership Over Your Career Growth. She writes:
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — no one will ever care as much about your career as you will. Not your boss, not your partner, not even your parents. As such, we must own both the circumstances we find ourselves in and the impact that changing those circumstances may have on our careers.”
Take ownership of where you want to go, don’t blame others. While this is easier said than done, Jessica hits just the right tone to motivate you and challenge you at the same time.
Check out her full article here: 3 Actionable Ways to Demonstrate Ownership Over Your Career Growth
May the ideas and research of our writers give you comfort and insight in your own orbits this week,
Chad
