I led the worship service at a local Unitarian Universalist church a couple of weeks ago. The topic was meaning and after the service a few people told me that the wading pool metaphor really resonated for them. So, I thought I’d explore it a little further here:
Sometimes we talk about our lives as a journey to find meaning. And sometimes, that word MEANING can trip us up. Maybe because we associate it with the phrase “the meaning of life” - implying that that we need to get it right, that there’s one right answer.
Being on a search for meaning is problematic. Studies have shown that the more people are on a search for meaning, the less happiness and satisfaction they experience in their lives. So, the more we look for meaning, the more it evades us.
But what if instead of searching for meaning, we were discovering meaning?
I believe meaning flows in like water when we remove the obstacles and create the container.
Like when my kids want to create a wading pool at the beach. They don’t set out looking for water or hole that’s already been made. They dig a pool (a container); they move rocks and seaweed so that water can flow in. They create an angled channel that encourages gravity to help. They have a sense of their pool as part of something larger - impacted by the landscape of the beach and the rhythm of the tides.
I believe that each of us can be a container for meaning. We just need to create spaciousness inside of ourselves. We need to slow down and be intentional about what we are choosing, removing barriers or obstacles. We need to be present to our lives and connect to that sense of being part of something larger.
Viktor Frankl said our job is to answer the questions that life is asking of us.
What’s important to me?
What do I stand for?
What do I want to create?
Answering these questions opens the door to our aliveness, allowing meaning to flow in.
What does it look like to be present to your life? How do you experience your aliveness?
Sometimes we talk about our lives as a journey to find meaning. And sometimes, that word MEANING can trip us up. Maybe because we associate it with the phrase “the meaning of life” - implying that that we need to get it right, that there’s one right answer.
Being on a search for meaning is problematic. Studies have shown that the more people are on a search for meaning, the less happiness and satisfaction they experience in their lives. So, the more we look for meaning, the more it evades us.
But what if instead of searching for meaning, we were discovering meaning?
I believe meaning flows in like water when we remove the obstacles and create the container.
Like when my kids want to create a wading pool at the beach. They don’t set out looking for water or hole that’s already been made. They dig a pool (a container); they move rocks and seaweed so that water can flow in. They create an angled channel that encourages gravity to help. They have a sense of their pool as part of something larger - impacted by the landscape of the beach and the rhythm of the tides.
I believe that each of us can be a container for meaning. We just need to create spaciousness inside of ourselves. We need to slow down and be intentional about what we are choosing, removing barriers or obstacles. We need to be present to our lives and connect to that sense of being part of something larger.
Viktor Frankl said our job is to answer the questions that life is asking of us.
What’s important to me?
What do I stand for?
What do I want to create?
Answering these questions opens the door to our aliveness, allowing meaning to flow in.
What does it look like to be present to your life? How do you experience your aliveness?
 | Jessica Curtis is a professional coach who helps people cultivate intention and live from a place of meaning and authenticity. If you think you could benefit from working with Jessica or want to invite her to work with your group, reach out to start a conversation. |
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