🧠 Weekly Mind Sweep #117 | Curated Conversation | Meaning
April 2024
*Week 117: Curated Conversation; Meaning
Week 118: Mind Your Business; Meaning
Week 119: Manage Your Mind; Meaning
Week 120: What’s On My Mind; Meaning
Week 121: Bonus Week; Meaning
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Let’s sweep the brain…
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Your meaning makes a difference.
Maybe I'm amidst a "mid-life crisis," or perhaps I'm a walking definition of an entrepreneur.
These feelings could be triggered by the fact that my boys are graduating from High School next month or that I've almost completed another trip around the sun.
It's also possible that as I'm preparing to visit my practically 87-year-old grandmother, that I expect to be reminded that there is still so much life to live.
Or, I'm delirious because of the cognitive load that sending twins to college entails.
Have you ever paused to question the meaning of life while filling out a FAFSA form?
Regardless of what it is, the reality [1] is that "meaning" has repeatedly shown up for me, so
Welcome to the Curated Conversation for April 2024.
As usual, let's begin with the dictionary definition. The book that defines the meaning of 470,000+ words [2]
Meaning
mean·ing
/ˈmēniNG/
noun
what is meant by a word, text, concept, or action?
adjective
intended to communicate something that is not directly expressed.
Um, ok, so we might be talking about this topic for years to come 🤯
We search for meaning in our lives, our work, our relationships, and often in other humans' behavior. We yearn to understand why. What is the purpose? We give meaning to shapes and call them letters, which create words that can turn into sentences and paragraphs within objects we call books.
These can shape the input our brain receives and spit it back out as meaning—for you.
We're all out here trying to figure out what it all means, right?
My intent this month isn't to have an answer for you but for you to take a pause from time to time and consider the meaning of what you are doing—as a friend, family member, or entrepreneur—while also not getting yourself so stuck in the "why" that you're hindering action and progress.
We don't need to spend our time, energy, and attention on which humans woke up one day and said, "Let's make the FAFSA better," and then did what they did.
It's more important we remember to feed and water ourselves.
Finding meaning in life comes with recognizing your ability to shape and redefine that meaning.
And to quote our dear friend and colleague Virginia L'Bassi [3],
"You have the power to change because you have the power to choose."
Let's unpack this thought around our topic of meaning and our knowledge that with 8.1 billion people on this planet, countless possible combinations can create a person's meaning.
But you have the power to change…yourself, your home, your work, your passion, your situation, your community, your state, and your country.
You also have the power to change its meaning for yourself and to inspire others.
This is why I'm an entrepreneur.
I thrive on meaning and purpose in my work. To make a difference in the lives of other entrepreneurs and the work they are motivated by. We collectively bring their purpose to life, their people, and the world.
Your meaning makes a difference.
I didn't set out to have twins, and in reflecting back on our journey, I'm not sure I expected to be sending them both to continue their education. (I want to thank the government for "improving" the FAFSA form and no longer considering that we are sending TWO kids to college simultaneously. [4])
*sarcasm
Finding meaning is an ongoing journey filled with unexpected twists and turns.
I'll leave you with a calendar page from Seth Godin's Page-A-Day [4.5], which was on one of the last days of our topic of Pride [5].
Another breathtaking moment crossing my eyes, mind, and heart led me to bring this topic of "meaning" to you.
Seth Godin - Ship It Page A Day Calendar
“Entrepreneurship is not a job. You don’t apply. You don’t get a salary. No one picks you. Bragging about what your valuation is or how much money you’ve raised is a form of job thinking. Entrepreneurship is a change to trade a solution to someone who has a problem that needs solving. Solve more problems, solve bigger problems, solve problems more widely, and you’re an entrepreneur. It’s tempting to industrialize this work, to make it something with rules and bosses and processes. But that’s not the heart of it. The work is to solve problems in a way that you’re proud of.”
How do you define meaning in your own life, and what factors contribute to shaping that definition?
MindSweep Mapping
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[1] Miss our month on "Reality?"
[2] How many words are in the current version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary?
[3] Virginia L'Bassi
[4] I genuinely appreciate all the work being done to streamline the FAFSA for parents in America. I wish they had done it last year for my benefit. ;)
[4.5] Seth Godin’s Ship It Calendar
MONDAY: 8 am - Curated Conversation - Zoom
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What I’m reading
Have you ever wondered why you have a brain? Let renowned neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett demystify that big gray blob between your ears. You’ll learn where brains came from, how they’re structured (and why it matters), and how yours works in tandem with other brains to create everything you experience. Along the way, you’ll also learn to dismiss popular myths such as the idea of a “lizard brain” and the alleged battle between thoughts and emotions—or between nature and nurture—to determine your behavior.
Collaborations!
MetroWest Chamber
Limited to 12 Spots
Friday, April 5th, 2024
9am-11am
For 2024, we'd like to make a focused effort to support you and your business. In March, we'll discuss:
Guest Speaker: Kim Dawson
Mastering Your Finances: Understanding Your Numbers to Drive Business Growth
Join Shannon Dalton Giordano of Serendipity Social Media and me of Chickbook Creative for this two-hour interactive business community experience.
We’ll discuss ways to cultivate business through Sales, Marketing, and Communication methods that support relationship building, showing up authentically, and connecting deeper with colleagues and the people you serve.
9-10 am - Gain a new perspective or tool to support you and your business
10-10:45 am - Open discussion, community support, brainstorming ideas
10:45 -11 am - Clear and actionable takeaways to start your month in forward momentum
Join us to meet business owners in our community. Leave with new tools in your toolbox to help you make connections and build your business!
Free to Attend; Registration is Required
Mindful Connections
Connecting like-hearted entrepreneurs to build relationships, offering support, understanding their passions, and sharing their names in rooms of opportunity.
Every Thursday, 12-1 pm
12:00 - Take 5—a guided meditation with Terri Hamilton of Apparent Connection to ground your week with peace and focus.
12:05-1 pm Round-table Share
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