Finding purpose in an age of emptiness
A new book helps you find the meaning in your life
What’s that you say?
A book that helps me find the meaning in my life?
Sure! Serve it up Chef.
This one got my attention based on the Author’s bio alone.
Arthur Brooks teaches happiness and leadership at Harvard.
He helps people cultivate meaning, depth, and value in their lives, telling The Telegraph that it’s “outside of what the world has rewarded them for - to find intrinsic satisfaction… where it was all extrinsic previously”.
His new book: ‘The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness’ talks about a simple way to start the exploration.
Take a long walk.
Arthur says “it requires you to take a long, physical journey while contemplating something that’s troubling you.”
He adds that research suggests “the mundane physicality of the experience actually open’s up one’s right hemisphere - the side of the brain responsible for love, mystery, meaning - in ways you can’t do in, say, your living room.”
So I hit the footpath and begin my own journey towards meaning.
I’m certainly guilty of looking for extrinsic reward. That experience started early for me.
To ease away the pain of what was a somewhat turbulent childhood, my maternal Grandmother would pick us up on a Friday after she finished work and whisked us to whichever Fast Food restaurant we wanted. If I wanted KFC and one sister wanted McDonald’s and the other sister fish and chips - then all three stops she would make.
I’m not saying it’s a good strategy, but I certainly was conditioned on the value of extrinsic reward. As such, I really can’t do deprivation at all. I’d spend my last dollar making myself and others happy.
For me it’s not money wasted, it’s money lived. It doesn’t buy happiness but it let’s you borrow it for a while.
Now as I approach a milestone birthday (and for other reasons I’ll share with you another time) my mind is turning more on how to gain intrinsic satisfaction. Being grateful for what I already have and being present for who I’m with.
The walking helps the thinking, and the thinking helps the walking.
This week I wonder if you’d join me? Taking the exploration seriously and reporting back your thinking via the comments or a message.
Why walk?
Arthur Brooks’ advice in one sentence…
“Walk and be found’.
