The Reality of Meaning
Meaning lives in sweat.
Meaningful effort makes life fulfilling. The danger of prosperity and ease is boredom.
The Connection of Effort and Meaning
Meaning stands on effort. But not all sweat matters. Effort becomes meaningful when one of three things is true.
- It expresses your values.
- It develops your capacities.
- It moves you toward the person you aspire to become.
The 4 Powers of Effort
#1. Effort turns values into fulfillment.
Pour energy into values-based effort.
Don’t say you believe in personal development when you tolerate mediocrity.
Focus on relationships when you believe family matters. Create things if you value creativity.
Meaning emerges when values drive effort.
#2. Struggle leads to fulfillment.
Life is shallow apart from struggle.
The enemy of meaning is ease. Ease is boring.
- Confront internal barriers.
- Challenge dependencies.
- Act courageously.
- Take responsibility.
Confronting a difficult conversation is more meaningful than completing ten effortless tasks.
#3. Effort gives ownership.
Don’t blindly respond to expectations. Conscious investment produces ownership.
Unfocused effort squanders energy.
Choose effort that expresses who you are.
#4. Effort without meaning leads to exhaustion.
More effort doesn’t necessarily mean more meaning.
People stay busy to feel important. They work harder to avoid confronting uncomfortable questions.
Don’t confuse movement with progress.
People don’t need easy work. They need work worth doing.
What makes your hard work worth doing?
4 Surprising Realities That Infuse Meaning into Leadership – Leadership Freak
Read: Meaningful Work by Wes Adams and Tamara Myles
