Experiments for a More Meaningful Life: Part 1 of 5
This post is the first installment of a 5 part series sharing experiments to inspire a greater sense of purpose through simple habit changes.
As a design strategist, I am a big believer in the value of experimentation. In design thinking, we acknowledge that failure is almost guaranteed the first time, and that innovation is usually the product of iterative thinking and doing. The design thinking methodology is used to navigate complex and ambiguous challenges, and what is more complex and ambiguous than navigating your own life?
Like many design challenges, our lives are filled with uncertainty, shifting constraints and expectations, and the journey is certainly not linear. So with an open mind and a willingness to experiment, I sought out to discover if simple habit changes could help me navigate my life with greater purpose and intention.
From integrating small changes and daily routines into my life, to investing more substantially in unique experiences, I am excited to share the motivations and results of each experiment, what I found to be of value, and the investment each challenge requires.
Over the coming month, I will be sharing one experiment a week. I hope that you are inspired to try something new, and perhaps share your own purposeful experiments that have helped open your mind to new possibilities.
Experiment #1
Listen to a podcast every day.
Duration
10 – 60 minutes per day
Financial Investment
$0
Motivation
Over the past several years, various podcasts have been recommended to me. I tried (and I mean reallytried) to get into them, but as I struggled to focus my attention on listening for more than 30 seconds, I started to understand why some sources have dubbed Millennials the A.D.D. generation.” However,when a trusted friend of mine, who is currently engaging in a purpose discovery journey herself, highly recommended the series Sounds True: Insights at the Edge, I committed to listening to it.
Result
Listening to podcasts has become my new favorite pastime. Whether or not a podcast has the ability to help you find a greater sense of purpose depends on the content, but listening to them helped (and continues to help) me on my journey for a couple reasons. First and foremost, the content I choose to listen to is directly related to living a more authentic and meaningful life. Whether it’s exploring more abstract content like Being at the Frontier of Your Identity or practical advice like implementing The One-Minute Rule, spending time reflecting on how to become a better version of yourself is time well spent. Second, my new podcast obsession has made way for another healthy habit- I now walk to work every day. This not only saves me money, but it is also great exercise and a peaceful way to start the day. What used to feel like a chore, has now become a coveted part of my daily routine because I look forward to listening to a new podcast during my morning walk.
