I hope as you are reading this, you are coming off a refreshing and relaxing weekend, and you are well-rested and energized to take on the new week.

I am not.

This was one of those weekends that was more busy than most work weeks.

I had a long & late meeting Friday night, followed by a 9am-6pm men’s conference Saturday.  Then I got up early to work with my daughters at a church/charity pancake breakfast for more hours than I expected Sunday morning.  As I am writing this, I should be preparing a presentation for a dad’s group this evening (last evening, by the time you read this.)

Weekends were meant for relaxing – for comfort – weren’t they?

And as I was mid-whine in my mind, I was reminded of a powerful quote from this weekend’s conference:

“The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort.  You were made for greatness.”

Greatness is rarely comfortable – but it sure is meaningful.  Working side-by-side with my daughters as they cracked and mixed somewhere around 40 dozen eggs and I scrambled them; those hours were far more meaningful than any time on the couch.

Listening, learning, and discussing with like-minded men – trying to understand how we could be better fathers, husbands, brothers, neighbors, and friends – it was not comfortable, but the meaning will resonate with me, hopefully, for weeks to come.

Spending the past year writing and recording The Meaning Project, and then actually putting it out there for people to listen and read – no way was that comfortable, it still isn’t comfortable, but from the feedback we have received, it has given several people the opportunity to discover new meaning.

No, being comfortable doesn’t lead to greatness; but that is what the great marketing agencies of our times would tell us – you can spend your way to contentment and happiness; and if you run out of money, well we can give you a pill to make you feel better.

But the message I was reminded of yesterday – the message Frankl in his Logotherapy, the ancient Stoics, and countless other philosophers, psychologists, and leaders would have us know is this; meaning, greatness, contentment, even happiness – these things come through work, creativity, connection, and self-transcendence.  These goals in life are achieved through action.

So even if you aren’t well rested from the weekend, I hope you are ready to pour yourself into your week – to work hard to discover meaning while helping others, creating amazing works, and while transcending yourself.

Me, I probably should go get comfortable and take a nap.  But instead, I’m going to pour myself a very strong, very dark cup of coffee and write a little speech.

I hope you have a very uncomfortable and meaningful week.  – Dan