04 Dec The Gift of Deeper Meaning

For the last 8 months at Shakti,

our Leadership Team has been pressing ourselves and scrambling to figure out how best to serve our customers, our community, and our Team Members, all while doing so safely and operating at 50% capacity. We’ve been so busy redesigning our business and finding new ways to operate, I find myself shocked it’s December already.

This week I “hit the (proverbial) wall.” Through all the challenges over the last few months, somewhere I forgot to pay attention to the things I know support me in being my best self — the things that have a deeper meaning. No matter what is demanded of me to “meet the challenge,” being my best self is important to me.

And, for sure, there’s more to life than just going to work, eating dinner, maintaining your home, and watching TV. Even if you’re like me and are obsessed with your business or career, each of us can fall into feeling like our life is flat and lacks deeper meaning — missing the real point of living your best life.

And, I think it’s easy to forget to stay aware of and maintain what adds real meaning to our life.

Although I’m one of the lucky ones in finding true meaning from my work, most of us desire greater fulfillment outside of work. Below are a few tips to stay connected to what really matters as you go through your day-to-day.

8 ways to find deeper meaning in life:

1. Put your attention on others. It feels good to help other people, to make a difference in someone else’s life. In turn, your life will feel more meaningful as a result and you’ll feel better overall.
   
   
2. Live by your values. When you ignore your values, it’s easy for your life to get off track. You quickly find yourself living a life that doesn’t fulfill you. List your values and make your decisions based on those values and watch how things change.
   
   
3. Spend more time with others. It’s not that you can’t have a meaningful life without other people, but it’s less likely. We’re programmed to be part of a community. These day’s FaceTime and Zoom Meetings can help.  People add meaning to life.
   
   
4. Strip away the excess. It’s easy to get caught up in the little things that don’t matter. Go through your house, apartment or workspace and get rid of everything except the things you need or love. Do the same with your social circle and activities. If you don’t need it or love it, let it go.
   
   
5. What brings you joy? The more time you spend on things that bring you joy, the more meaningful your life will feel to you. Make a list of the things you enjoy and schedule more of those activities into your life. For many of us here at Shakti, what brings us joy is bringing beauty into people’s lives. What brings you joy?
   
   
6. Be part of something that is bigger than yourself. What do you think is important? The environment? Helping children or the homeless? Find a cause you find highly meaningful and give it your all. For example, Shakti loves Aveda’s commitment to wellness, healthy ingredients and recycling to protect the environment. We, then, get to be part of the solution as we make the world a little better.

7. Be grateful. Nothing feels quite like gratefulness. I find it calming. Spend a few minutes each day making a list of what you’re grateful for. Then try to identify at least one new thing each day. The Shakti Team is grateful for the opportunity we have to have you as a loyal customer. What are you grateful for?
   
   
8. Consider all the people that benefit by having you around. There are a lot of people that might depend on you.
   
   

These are just a few of the people that need you each day. Make a list or a mental note of all the people that depend on you.

Live Life On Purpose

Staying connected to the fact that your life has deeper meaning has real implications on your physical and mental health.

For those of us over 65, multiple studies have shown that those who stay aware that their life has meaning score better on mental and physical health questionnaires. And, they also show higher cognitive function.

As you age, it becomes increasingly important to your wellbeing that you live a life with purpose.

You don’t have to save the world to find deeper meaning in your life. Notice the contributions that you’re already making. Create a life you find meaningful. In doing so, it will also bring you added joy, happiness, and fulfillment.

As we head into the holidays and focus on the new year, begin with you. Find deeper meaning, create a moment of calm or revive your mind and soul. Tap here for some ideas.