First, I can’t believe I didn’t send out a new Mental Health and Meaning update last week!  I’m so sorry!  After promising to continue with this newsletter each week, I failed.  I can claim that it was the hoopla around my 50th birthday, but that’s really no excuse.  It just is.  So, again, sorry if I let you down.  I’ll make sure these newsletters keep coming every morning – at least until we decide what to do with The Meaning Project Podcast.

So, let’s talk about summer.  It’s almost over.  Even though we are only a few weeks past “the official” start of summer on June 21st – the longest day of the year, most of us start feeling a change after the July 4th holiday  – especially if you have kids of school age.  Right about now, if you do have children in school, you will start receiving updates on school events, the first day of school, and things of that nature.  Or, if you are fortunate, maybe you are looking to one last bit of travel for the summer, or a long weekend away with family.

So then, the big question, in my mind, is where have you discovered MEANING this summer?  Or, just as important, where WILL you discover MEANING this summer?  Meaning – the search and discovery of it in our day to day lives and in the big events of life – meaning is what keeps us happy, healthy, and well.  The absence of meaning, or the inability or unwillingness to search for it – that leads to the Existential vacuum of anxiety, depression, and what “the kids” these days are calling, “MEH”.

Where do you discover MEANING?

In your Experiences.  We can discover MEANING in what we “take” from life – what we DO.  An enjoyable vacation to somewhere new.  Or a return to someplace familiar.  A weekend with friends and family.  Perhaps new exploration of exotic places.  A drive to see mountains or the ocean or something we haven’t seen before.  We can discover MEANING in experience.

In your Creativity.  We can discover MEANING in what we “give” to life – what we create.  We can find it in the creativity of our work, our vocation, or perhaps in volunteering.  We can discover meaning in creating art like painting or drawing.  We can find meaning in creating music – or maybe in designing and building landscape around our houses.  We can find MEANING in creating – in giving to the world.

In your Attitude.  We discover MEANING in how we approach life, especially in how we approach difficulties and suffering.  Of course, we hope that we don’t have to suffer – especially during the summer.  But that is the nature of human existence – we will suffer, we will experience adversity, we will struggle.  How we approach that, how we engage those struggles – whether with and attitude of despair and self-pity, or with an attitude of growth and challenge.  We can discover MEANING in how we approach life and it’s struggles.

So, how have YOU discovered MEANING this summer?  How will you continue to discover meaning through these warm months, and on into the changes seasons?  My hope for you is that you enjoy amazing experiences and decide to create something amazing.  But, we also know that you may struggle – and I hope for you that you approach it triumphantly, and grow from it.

Take care,

Dan