Meaning

Most of us know what we need to do to be healthier. And yet many of us don't follow through on what we know. Why the struggle?

In most cases, our level of dedication to taking care of ourselves is strongly related to the meaning we assign to our existence.

When we lack meaning, we lack incentive to make healthy choices.

Dr. Albert Brooks uses a two-question test to help determine if we are having a crisis of meaning in our lives:

1. Why are you here?

2. What would you be willing to die for today?

There are no wrong answers.

If we aren't clear on our answers, we have room for reflection and exploration to gain clarity on what matters to us.

For those who might be interested, my answers are as follows:

1. My primary reason for being here is to protect and provide for my family. My secondary reason is to make a meaningful positive difference to individuals who I can uniquely support, encourage, and empower.

2. I would be willing to die for my family this second.

Deep meaning is often found through suffering.

It's the darkness that comes with struggle that gives us an opportunity to discover what is most meaningful to us.