What Gives You Meaning?

By Co-Founder, Monica Smith

At age 4, I decided I wanted to become a professional ballerina. So having sacrificed traditional childhood activities and schooling in pursuit of my goal, I have a complex relationship with goal-setting. And I have to admit that when I achieved the goal, it felt pretty empty. I had tied my self-worth and identity into one big goal and when I got it--well, it was just more of the same hard work without the anticipation of reaching a goal. Yes, the cycle can continue with new goals and new achievements... but it's a dangerous game if self-worth is tied to achievements when goals aren't met.

Until a few years ago, I created long lists of New Year's resolutions--trying to conjure the discipline of the young ballerina I used to be--only to end up feeling like a big loser as the goals fell to the wayside. Through enough disappointment, I have come to appreciate that identifying purposeful intentions that help guide my actions, are self-supportive--rather than a success/fail or all-or-nothing attitude that can be very destructive.

Setting intentions can help bring your beliefs, emotions, and actions into alignment to live by your values and what matters most to you. To set intentions, It's important to identify what matters most to you--and what makes you happy--or brings meaning to your life. When we live with clear purpose of what makes us happy or brings meaning, we can chart a course to do the things that fulfill that purpose.

Through our new program, RevelReset: Ignite your Intentions, we'll be hearing from experts to help explore our own values while identifying what matters most to each of us, and how to align those to live an intentional and purposeful life. We hope you'll join us!

-Monica