Motivation: Finding Meaning

I recently read a profile of Jennifer Aniston in Vogue in which she talked about the roles she has played in movies. Specifically, her role in the new movie He’s Just Not That Into You. In the article, she says:

“I don’t know. I don’t…like…girls…whining…and complaining…about…wanting a man! I never liked Sex and the City, the kind of thing where women only feel empowered once they find the Man. It is just not up my alley. I don’t believe in it.” [Source]

She also talks about being extraordinarily lucky in love, even though the media does not usually portray her love life in a positive manner.  I have always been fascinated by her personality because she seems to bounce back from what we see as setbacks.  I think her point is that you do not need a man to feel fulfilled and at peace.  You should be able to find that feeling outside of a relationship.  Taking that even further, finding fulfillment requires finding meaning in your everyday activities.

Feminism, about which I know very little, has shown women that there are no boundaries to what you can do with a little ambition.  However, it failed to teach us that while women can do anything, you will only be able to do few things.  Even the most accomplished life still falls short of all the possibilities in this universe.  Those very few things that you are able to do, must be meaningful.

Lately, I’ve been pondering how short my life will be.  I began my 30th year in October, and my life by current standards is almost halfway through.  I woke up on my birthday, craving meaning in my life.  I want to know why I work at this job, why I write this blog, why I wear these clothes.

To discover the meaning in my life, I’ve been asking myself these questions:

1. Do I really want to do [insert activity]?
2. If I do not, what are the reasons why I am still doing it?
3. When contemplating the benefits of [insert activity], does my desire to do this thing increase?
4. If there are no benefits, why am I afraid of stopping this thing?

It’s actually revealed a lot in my life. On the trivial side, I absolutely detest ironing.  There are NO benefits that I can see.  If you come to our home, you will see a lot of t-shirts and jeans and wrinkled pillowcases.  And I will no longer feel guilty about that. On the not so trivial side, I have learned that I actually love my job.  I enjoy what I do. I may not be here for the rest of my life, but in this moment, in this office, I will no longer complain because I have found meaning.

Regarding the things that I don’t enjoy but have benefits I cannot ignore: I choose to enjoy them. I choose to let my heart soar while I perform these tasks.

A.