Meaning Comes From Us

by Charlie on October 20, 2009

in Conversations

(If you’re reading this via RSS or email, you may have to click through to watch the video.)

Today’s one-take wonder is a response to a brief Twitter exchange I had with Ali Hale and incorporates a conversation I had with Sonia Simone at Blogworld.

Note the botched ending; I tried re-recording, but, as usual, it didn’t feel right – so I just uploaded it as is.

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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Charlotte October 20, 2009 at 6:47 pm

I hate to pimp my own stuff, but I made a similar realization over the weekend. Posted here:

http://www.inspir-it.com/rambletangents/entrepreneur-juice/

A lot of good things come from tying your daily actions into larger goals – among the best of which is motivation. I’ve noticed that a lot of my feelings of burnout or desire for procrastination come from losing sight of goals – which you’ve admirably pointed out here.

Awesome stuff, Charlie.
.-= Charlotte´s last blog ..The Last Days of the Polymath? (In which I compare the internet to a beehive.) =-.

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2 Kahnrad October 20, 2009 at 8:17 pm

Dude. Love the video posts, so awesome!

Nice topic today about meaning, and from where it comes… I think you’re likely to be my third mentor.

Nice work man. Good job.
.-= Kahnrad´s last blog ..100% Off – Discount for New Clients =-.

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3 Nick Laborde October 20, 2009 at 8:22 pm

Although I can’t directly relate to the puking and crappy diapers, this is a perfect analogy. I can, relate to the puking, but since this is a G rated comment I won’t get into that.

I know from personal experience that those menial tasks will soon be treasured memories.

Posting the original was a great move, that kind of authenticity is just priceless.

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4 Rachael
Twitter: caffeinatedelf
October 20, 2009 at 8:23 pm

Ahh. What a fantastic point. (And what botch? Nothing was botched! You giggled a bit and that was AWESOME. It’s great seeing your smile!)

When I realize that my own perspective and need gives my tasks meaning, it is so much easier to do what it is I actually *need* to do in any given moment.

For example, taking a few hours of time in the morning to be quiet and meditate and do things that are not ‘useful’ but are good for my self doesn’t seem very productive. But the fact that they are good for me, which inherently infuses them with real value for me, is what makes the difference. That’s what makes it a non-guilt-inducing couple of hours, where in the past I did feel guilty taking that much time for something that seemed on the surface to be counter-productive.

(Awkwardly worded sentences aside, I hope I made my point, lol.)
.-= Rachael´s last blog ..An Apology: A Letter To Myself =-.

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5 Sherrill Leverich-Fries October 21, 2009 at 12:26 pm

I second Rachel’s comment – the ending was GREAT! Very real!

I’ve been struggling for quite a while with this. I HATE cleaning the house, despite the fact that since I work from home part-time, a clean house brings me the harmony I require in order to create and be my best self. Somewhere I’m in conflict with myself (a buried belief or need?) that isn’t yet buying the idea that an hour spent vacuuming or cleaning the toilets and kitchen will have value. For some reason, I have an easier time dealing with the potty-training challenges of my toddler and keeping it in the context of value and meaning and the bigger picture – maybe it’s that I’m helping guide this little person’s development. Don’t know.

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6 Mike Stankavich October 21, 2009 at 3:36 pm

Hey Charlie, well said – it’s the context that can change the mundane to the magical. I journaled a similar thought today that I’d like to share. It’s true that success requires hard work. But that hard work doesn’t have to equate to painful drudgery. Exerting effort toward a key goal that you have chosen can and should be enjoyable and rewarding in and of itself.
.-= Mike Stankavich´s last blog ..Playing Dave Navarro’s Bigger Game Part 3: Income Streams That You Can Actually Create =-.

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7 Ali Hale
Twitter: alihale
October 22, 2009 at 4:18 pm

Woo, just going through my RSS reader and I’ve inspired a video post – how cool! :-D I’m flattered! Though whaddya mean, it wasn’t much of a conversation? ;-)

You’ve given me a bit of a lightbulb moment here. Part of me sees “meaning” as internally-driven, eg. writing fiction is meaningful to me even if no-one ever reads it. I think confusion comes because my key driver is “significance”, and I align that (too much) with “reaching/touching a lot of people”. I also have a bad habit of talking down my work and lifestyle because I feel slightly guilty about not having a 9-5 job like most of my peers. (My boyfriend, rightly, tells me that I shouldn’t say that I don’t have a “real job” — I make money, after all!)

I’m off on a weekend’s retreat soon, and will look within for some meaning there…

Like Mike, I particularly liked your point about turning the mundane to the magical: some tasks become a lot more meaningful when you see them in the wider context.
.-= Ali Hale´s last blog ..When Following Your Passion Will Leave You Broke =-.

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8 Fatibony{self help wellness} January 25, 2010 at 4:07 pm

Awesome message these are the reason(s) when we talk to or with people we ask, how do mean ?or what does that mean for you? ..Agree and love your concept..You sound like an existentialist.
.-= Fatibony{self help wellness}´s last blog ..62 More Personal Development Blogs – Watch List 2010 =-.

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