Your words have a way of really speaking to me 🙏 When you talked about no longer feeling needed, that hit me 😔
I’ve said for a while that my life pillars are movement, connection, and stillness with an overarching lens of curiosity leading me on a daily basis. I can see how a lot of the daily DOing combined with what has felt like transactional relationships has contributed to me falling off course. But I am thankful for this experience and will find my way again.
Thanks for sharing these reflections, Cole. I’m so thrilled they resonated with you. Love to hear your pillars of movement, connection and stillness. That seems very well balanced! And for sure, we all lose our way sometimes. It’s so easy for the demands of life to turn us around, and sometimes it takes a moment to gain our bearings. When we come back home it always feels so good, like clicking back into place ♥️ thank you also for the kind words 😊
I think that is a beautiful thing. I keep having some lingering feelings and loose framing about mine, but you inspired me to get closer to them on paper!
This really helped me this morning put things in perspective. Thank you for all that you said. I feel like I’m on this path now where I’m constantly trying to find happiness in my ever moving goal post, which is always moving to another country. I do find happiness in many ways through this because I do thrive when I’m out of my comfort zone but at the end of the day … or end of the year when I’m ready to move…it’s true, the happiness has faded. And I’m searching again in my next flight. I am going to keep all these points in my mind and remember them when I’m feeling unsure of myself. 💓
It sounds like you live an amazing life! What is your favorite country you’ve been to? I used to move around a lot when I was younger (just to different states in the US), and miss it sometimes but learning to be grounded has been good for me, personally. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog! ♥️
Shoot, I’ve spent a day thinking about the answer to your question and I really can't choose. I feel like I’ve really taken something from each country. I feel like I chose to go to specific countries for different reasons. For example, if you want to have an amazing, affordable experience without any culture barriers (everyone and everywhere you go speaks English) with incredible beaches and delicious food…then I do have to say Thailand (even though I never want to admit it because I feel like it’s the stereotypical go-to answer that everyone says but honestly sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason and Thailand NAILS it in all the best ways). If you want to feel totally out of your element and gain some type of greater appreciation for your life, then Cuba and Myanmar would be my answer. Those two countries really made me sit back and ponder alot and still do to this day as I’m writing this. Thank you for the question and making me relive those moments.
For so long, I wondered why I felt nothing about my accomplishments. Last year, I finally found the answer. I had been going through life on autopilot, hoping that travel, money, and checking off todo lists would bring me happiness. But I was so wrong.
Discovering my purpose and moving with intention each day has given me what I craved for so long—a sense of belonging within myself. Thank you for sharing this post. I feel seen.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful reflections Akanksha. I love what you say about the power of a sense of belonging within ourselves. That is so true. I’m so glad this blog resonated with you. Thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts ♥️
You just kept me nodding away with each new paragraph in this post. Thank you so much.
I can relate so incredibly well with this chase for more. Change for more freedom. Always on to the next, but never deeply satisfied, whole and calm inside. The realisation that "running away in search to find where we belong" is not the solution. But we need to find our belonging by rooting our decisions and the lives we live around these values. I want to go deeper into getting a bit more clear on my own values since I am still struggling a bit with that.
Hi Fabienne, I'm so glad the blog resonated with you! I love what you say about finding our belonging as well through rooting down into our values. It's so true - easy to tell ourselves satisfaction lies somewhere else, after the next thing, only to feel more unsatisfied and confused than ever after realizing we're still not satisfied. Also love hearing you feel inspired to get clear on your values. It's life-changing! I gathered some great prompts for Journaling Club members if you feel called to check them out. Either way, thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it! ❤️
Suzanne, As I read this, I thought of the Buddha's first Noble Truth, sometimes translated as "suffering exists." But some say a better translation is "discontentment." It's an automatic pull to feel discontent even when we've reached a goal and even on a day-to-day basis. Thanks for your beautiful solution in the form of values-based living in the now.
Ohh I’ve never heard that translation of the first Truth. I really like that. Because even when we’re not suffering, there is that even more pervasive layer of discontent that blocks us from feeling peace in the present moment. Thanks for sharing that! ♥️
I have been driven by this kind of question all my life, before I was even aware of it. I was asking "is this all there is?" too. I liked reading this article and always am glad when I can connect with someone who might see some slice of life in a similar way. I mean this sincerely.
My subject is History and alienation has been coming a very long time, so it is actually a thing you can trace back if you so desire.
I’m so glad the blog resonated with you! Curious what you mean about alienation and being able to trace it back? Not sure I understand. That’s amazing you’re passionate about history. I always mean to read more and learn.
Thanks for writing it. There are so many reasons why there is that big empty hole inside where security, permanence, faith, identity, and authenticity once lived. It actually is a huge subject. More than anything you want to look at the Industrial Revolution of the latter 1800s that birthed a million changes, and began the process toward mass production, urban living, and wage labor. You would also look at the World Wars and the unbelievable carnage that modernity produced. Uncertainty and subjectivity are hallmarks of modern life. Everything is a commodity including nature and human beings. We do not have usable stories of our past anymore, not really--not the kind that are heroic and provide structures for meaning. We have torn down most of the heroes, and maybe that was the right thing to do--but it has a price. Know what I mean? Anyway, sorry for starting something but I was a History instructor for a long time.
That makes a lot of sense! I haven’t spent much time contemplating the spiritual implications of all these historical changes, at least not that far back. Do you have any book recommendations? I know what you mean about myth. Joseph Campbell talks a lot about that, how modern societies lack the heroic structures and symbolism, including coming of age, that grounded and bonded traditional societies. So many layers here to ponder and explore. Thanks for taking the time to write such an educational comment ♥️
You're welcome. It's cool you mention Campbell. As you probably know, he was influenced by Carl Jung. My favorite book from Jung is Modern Man in Search of A Soul. I think in U.S. History the whole statues controversy also is problematic in terms of building a story--I tend to call everything including myths a story. Anyway, I am glad I found someone who talks about topics that interest me.
Modern Man in Search of a Soul is sitting on my bookshelf! I need to read it :) I agree, the statues coming down is definitely problematic. America has a myth and a story, and erasing that is contributing to, or perhaps symbolizing, the tearing of the common fabric of shared myth and values that once held us together. thanks again for your insightful comments.
Your words have a way of really speaking to me 🙏 When you talked about no longer feeling needed, that hit me 😔
I’ve said for a while that my life pillars are movement, connection, and stillness with an overarching lens of curiosity leading me on a daily basis. I can see how a lot of the daily DOing combined with what has felt like transactional relationships has contributed to me falling off course. But I am thankful for this experience and will find my way again.
Thanks for sharing these reflections, Cole. I’m so thrilled they resonated with you. Love to hear your pillars of movement, connection and stillness. That seems very well balanced! And for sure, we all lose our way sometimes. It’s so easy for the demands of life to turn us around, and sometimes it takes a moment to gain our bearings. When we come back home it always feels so good, like clicking back into place ♥️ thank you also for the kind words 😊
Oh I love this idea of life pillars - yours sound genuine and aspiring!
Thank you Fabienne ☺️ These seem to be the words that come to me when I envision creating my life from day-to-day.
I think that is a beautiful thing. I keep having some lingering feelings and loose framing about mine, but you inspired me to get closer to them on paper!
This really helped me this morning put things in perspective. Thank you for all that you said. I feel like I’m on this path now where I’m constantly trying to find happiness in my ever moving goal post, which is always moving to another country. I do find happiness in many ways through this because I do thrive when I’m out of my comfort zone but at the end of the day … or end of the year when I’m ready to move…it’s true, the happiness has faded. And I’m searching again in my next flight. I am going to keep all these points in my mind and remember them when I’m feeling unsure of myself. 💓
It sounds like you live an amazing life! What is your favorite country you’ve been to? I used to move around a lot when I was younger (just to different states in the US), and miss it sometimes but learning to be grounded has been good for me, personally. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog! ♥️
Shoot, I’ve spent a day thinking about the answer to your question and I really can't choose. I feel like I’ve really taken something from each country. I feel like I chose to go to specific countries for different reasons. For example, if you want to have an amazing, affordable experience without any culture barriers (everyone and everywhere you go speaks English) with incredible beaches and delicious food…then I do have to say Thailand (even though I never want to admit it because I feel like it’s the stereotypical go-to answer that everyone says but honestly sometimes stereotypes exist for a reason and Thailand NAILS it in all the best ways). If you want to feel totally out of your element and gain some type of greater appreciation for your life, then Cuba and Myanmar would be my answer. Those two countries really made me sit back and ponder alot and still do to this day as I’m writing this. Thank you for the question and making me relive those moments.
I relate so much with your experiences.
For so long, I wondered why I felt nothing about my accomplishments. Last year, I finally found the answer. I had been going through life on autopilot, hoping that travel, money, and checking off todo lists would bring me happiness. But I was so wrong.
Discovering my purpose and moving with intention each day has given me what I craved for so long—a sense of belonging within myself. Thank you for sharing this post. I feel seen.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful reflections Akanksha. I love what you say about the power of a sense of belonging within ourselves. That is so true. I’m so glad this blog resonated with you. Thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts ♥️
Hi Suzanne,
You just kept me nodding away with each new paragraph in this post. Thank you so much.
I can relate so incredibly well with this chase for more. Change for more freedom. Always on to the next, but never deeply satisfied, whole and calm inside. The realisation that "running away in search to find where we belong" is not the solution. But we need to find our belonging by rooting our decisions and the lives we live around these values. I want to go deeper into getting a bit more clear on my own values since I am still struggling a bit with that.
Hi Fabienne, I'm so glad the blog resonated with you! I love what you say about finding our belonging as well through rooting down into our values. It's so true - easy to tell ourselves satisfaction lies somewhere else, after the next thing, only to feel more unsatisfied and confused than ever after realizing we're still not satisfied. Also love hearing you feel inspired to get clear on your values. It's life-changing! I gathered some great prompts for Journaling Club members if you feel called to check them out. Either way, thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it! ❤️
Suzanne, As I read this, I thought of the Buddha's first Noble Truth, sometimes translated as "suffering exists." But some say a better translation is "discontentment." It's an automatic pull to feel discontent even when we've reached a goal and even on a day-to-day basis. Thanks for your beautiful solution in the form of values-based living in the now.
Ohh I’ve never heard that translation of the first Truth. I really like that. Because even when we’re not suffering, there is that even more pervasive layer of discontent that blocks us from feeling peace in the present moment. Thanks for sharing that! ♥️
I have been driven by this kind of question all my life, before I was even aware of it. I was asking "is this all there is?" too. I liked reading this article and always am glad when I can connect with someone who might see some slice of life in a similar way. I mean this sincerely.
My subject is History and alienation has been coming a very long time, so it is actually a thing you can trace back if you so desire.
I’m so glad the blog resonated with you! Curious what you mean about alienation and being able to trace it back? Not sure I understand. That’s amazing you’re passionate about history. I always mean to read more and learn.
Thanks for writing it. There are so many reasons why there is that big empty hole inside where security, permanence, faith, identity, and authenticity once lived. It actually is a huge subject. More than anything you want to look at the Industrial Revolution of the latter 1800s that birthed a million changes, and began the process toward mass production, urban living, and wage labor. You would also look at the World Wars and the unbelievable carnage that modernity produced. Uncertainty and subjectivity are hallmarks of modern life. Everything is a commodity including nature and human beings. We do not have usable stories of our past anymore, not really--not the kind that are heroic and provide structures for meaning. We have torn down most of the heroes, and maybe that was the right thing to do--but it has a price. Know what I mean? Anyway, sorry for starting something but I was a History instructor for a long time.
That makes a lot of sense! I haven’t spent much time contemplating the spiritual implications of all these historical changes, at least not that far back. Do you have any book recommendations? I know what you mean about myth. Joseph Campbell talks a lot about that, how modern societies lack the heroic structures and symbolism, including coming of age, that grounded and bonded traditional societies. So many layers here to ponder and explore. Thanks for taking the time to write such an educational comment ♥️
You're welcome. It's cool you mention Campbell. As you probably know, he was influenced by Carl Jung. My favorite book from Jung is Modern Man in Search of A Soul. I think in U.S. History the whole statues controversy also is problematic in terms of building a story--I tend to call everything including myths a story. Anyway, I am glad I found someone who talks about topics that interest me.
Modern Man in Search of a Soul is sitting on my bookshelf! I need to read it :) I agree, the statues coming down is definitely problematic. America has a myth and a story, and erasing that is contributing to, or perhaps symbolizing, the tearing of the common fabric of shared myth and values that once held us together. thanks again for your insightful comments.