“Your Daily Dose” is a quick two minute read packed with bite-sized wisdom from all the great teachers. But you could also choose to turn it into something more… a powerful daily practice for personal growth. Give it a try!
A message from today’s meditation:
It’s Monday! Welcome to the new week!
Our teacher this week is Carl Jung who made a lasting impact on the science of the mind as the father of “analytical psychology” during the first half of the 20th century. He understood though that in the pursuit of creating a clear science of human consciousness, it would be impossible to exclude spirituality as he described:
“The decisive question for man is: Is he related to something infinite or not? That is the telling question of his life. Only if we know that the thing which truly matters is the infinite, can we avoid fixing our interests upon futilities. The more a man lays stress on false possessions, and the less sensitivity he has for what is essential, the less satisfying is his life. He feels limited because he has limited aims, and the result is envy and jealousy. If we understand and feel that here in this life we already have a link with the infinite, then our desires and attitudes change.” – Carl Jung, “Memories, Dreams, Reflections”
Jung could see clearly that even reaching the greatest heights of material success didn’t manifest in a happy life if it was devoid of deeper meaning, and lacked an understanding of how we are connected to what is bigger than ourselves.
So as always on a Monday we’ll take a moment to become clear about what our goals are for this week. What is it that we want to create this week? What are the boxes that we want to have checked off by the end of the week? But also this week we take the opportunity to pause on this question:
“What is it that gives my life meaning?”
“The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without meaning.” – Carl Jung
“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.” – Carl Jung
Spend a bit of time with the following questions this week. Maybe come back to them daily for the next few days and see if your answers to them become clearer:
- What moves you?
- What moves your heart and your soul?
- What moves your emotions?
- What thoughts and ideas make you feel like you must DO something about it?
- What thoughts and ideas move you into taking action?
The goal isn’t to discover one permanent answer that defines you forever. Rather, it’s to cultivate a regular habit of reflection. Meaning isn’t static – it evolves as we grow and change. What moved us five years ago may differ from what moves us today, and that’s perfectly natural.
As you plan your week ahead, checking off tasks and pursuing goals, add one more practice: keep asking yourself the question, “what moves me?” But now, perform an honest energy audit… pay attention to all the energy you spend on activities that don’t move you at all… the music you listen to… the series you binge watch… the social media you scroll through… the time thiefs, the distractions, the consumption that doesn’t feed your spirit!
Make it your mission this week to ask: “How do I spend more of my time being involved in the things that move me, and how do I waste less of my energy on the things that just don’t.”
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Jumpstart the week.
Today’s LIVE meditation
https://youtu.be/KMwigmP0-o4 2025
https://youtu.be/YK9OThpvDy8 2023
https://youtu.be/tzAWrwRC7BA 2022
Practice the “Daily Dose”
Let’s put it into practice! Choose what works for you – daily, once a week or whenever inspiration strikes. Putting pen to paper wires the neural pathways that will create your new habits.
1 – Affirmation
In stead of affirmations, come back to these questions a few more times this week, and let the answers become a guidance to where you spend your energy.
- What moves you?
- What moves your heart and your soul?
- What moves your emotions?
- What thoughts and ideas make you feel like you must DO something about it?
- What thoughts and ideas move you into taking action?
2 – A moment of reflection
Use today’s question as a journal prompt. If you don’t have the time to sit down and write, just take a moment to reflect on your response.
What Moves You Into Action? The article asks: “What thoughts and ideas move you into taking action?” Reflect on the last time you felt compelled to do something—not because you had to, but because you couldn’t not do it. What was the driving force? Was it compassion, curiosity, injustice, beauty, creativity, or something else? Trace this impulse back to its roots. What does it reveal about your core values and the meaning you’re creating in your life? How might you honor this impulse more consistently?
3 – Quotes to share
Send a quote to someone who needs it, or share them all on social media to spread the good vibes!
4 – Q&A for deeper learning
Read through the questions and answers and write down at least one “aha moment” that clicked for you.
Q1: What did Carl Jung mean by “false possessions”?
False possessions refer to the material achievements, status symbols, and external validations that we pursue believing they’ll bring happiness and fulfillment, but ultimately leave us feeling empty. These might include impressive job titles, luxury items, social media followers, or any achievement pursued primarily for external recognition rather than genuine meaning. Jung observed that overemphasizing these leads to dissatisfaction, limited perspective, envy, and jealousy because they don’t address our deeper need for purpose and connection.
Q2: Does connecting to “the infinite” require religious belief?
Not necessarily. While Jung’s concept can certainly include religious or spiritual beliefs, “the infinite” can also refer to nature, humanity, the cosmos, creativity, love, or any sense of being part of something larger and more enduring than our individual existence. The key is recognizing that you’re connected to something beyond your immediate self-interest and temporary concerns. For some, this might be God or a higher power; for others, it might be the interconnected web of life, the continuity of human knowledge and culture, or the vast mystery of existence itself.
Q3: Why does the article emphasize that we shouldn’t seek “one final answer” about what gives life meaning?
Meaning is dynamic and evolves as we grow, experience new things, and change throughout our lives. What profoundly moved you at twenty may differ from what moves you at forty or sixty. Rather than pressuring yourself to identify one permanent purpose, the goal is to develop a regular practice of reflection and inquiry. This ongoing dialogue with yourself allows your understanding of meaning to deepen, shift, and adapt authentically rather than forcing yourself into a rigid definition that may no longer fit who you’re becoming.
Q4: How can I balance pursuing practical goals with seeking deeper meaning?
Jung’s wisdom doesn’t require abandoning practical goals or material pursuits—it’s about ensuring these pursuits are rooted in genuine meaning rather than becoming ends in themselves. Start by examining your motivation: Are you pursuing this goal because it aligns with your values and contributes to something meaningful, or primarily for external validation? You can set your weekly goals as usual, but add the practice of regularly checking whether these goals serve what truly matters to you. Often, the same goals remain, but your relationship to them—and the satisfaction they bring—transforms.
Q5: What are some practical ways to remind myself daily to pay attention to meaning?
Create simple rituals that prompt reflection: a morning question during coffee (“What matters most to me today?”), an evening gratitude practice noting meaningful moments, a weekly review session, or even setting a phone reminder with a meaningful quote or question. Some people keep a “meaning journal” specifically for these reflections. Others incorporate the question into existing practices like meditation, walks in nature, or conversations with trusted friends. The key is consistency and genuine curiosity rather than treating it as another checkbox on your to-do list.
Q6: What if I don’t know what moves me or gives my life meaning?
Not knowing is actually a valuable starting point—it means you’re being honest rather than grasping at superficial answers. Begin with observation rather than judgment. Notice throughout your week what captures your attention, what makes time feel different (either expansive or focused), when you feel most energized or most drained, what injustices bother you, what beauty stops you in your tracks, and what you find yourself thinking about in quiet moments. These observations are clues. Meaning often reveals itself through attention and reflection rather than through forced introspection. Be patient with the process and trust that the practice of asking these questions regularly will gradually bring clarity.