John R. Miles

and let meaning settle in without forcing it through words. You can join us at theignitedlife.net. Now, quick break for our sponsors. Thank you for supporting those who support the show.

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Kiitos kun katsoit videon!

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You're listening to PassionStruck on the PassionStruck Network. Now, back to our conversation. Stories like Carolyn's show up in ordinary life all the time. There's a classic one about three bricklayers working on the same wall. Someone asks the first guy what he's doing, and he says, I'm laying bricks to earn a paycheck and put food on the table. For him, it's just a job, something to get through. The second worker says, I'm building a wall. It's good work, but it's getting me ahead. She sees it as a career step.

Mutta kolmas työntekijä katsoi ja sanoi, että minä rakennan kathedraalin. Tämä paikka on olemassa vuosikymmeniä, antaa ihmisille turvaa ja toivoa, kauan kun olen lähtenyt. Sama rikki, sama puoli, sama päiväkohde. Mutta kolmannella rikkaläjällä tarkoitus on täysin erilaista. He näkevät työskentelyn osana jotain paljon isommasta. Jotain, joka kestää heitä. Ei tarvitse antaa heille puheenvuoron tai antaa heille missioitusten.

The shift happens outside them. They just felt the work in a new light, and suddenly it felt connected to something lasting. That's so close to what Carolyn was doing in those last days. She was talking about the things that she cared about the most.

and loved long after she was gone. She didn't need to explain why it mattered. She lived it. A care came through her voice, her look, the way we walked together. She was building something that would last, even if she wouldn't be there to see it. The meaning settled in quietly, the way it did for that third bricklayer. We see this in small ways every day. A mom changing diapers might feel tired, but somewhere inside she knows she's helping raise someone who'll make a difference.

A nurse cleaning a room knows she's making space for healing. A quick smile or nod in the hallway can remind someone they're seen. These moments don't need big explanation. They just happen, and something inside them registers this matters.

Tärkeintä on se, että tarkoitus ei tule itse asiasta, vaan siitä, miten näemme asiaa. Kun saamme itseämme tuntea yhteyttä jotain suurempaan, kuitenkaan perheellisen huoltoa tai vain auttavan yhden henkilön tunteeksi vähemmän yksin, koko asia muuttuu, ääni kääntyy, kanava alkaa aloittaa ja tarkoitus alkaa tunnistaa uudestaan.

So how do we make that shift more often? That's where the simple, everyday practice comes in. That's where the real power lies. In letting meaning find us instead of always trying to chase it with words. The good news is you can practice this. You don't need big changes or complicated routines.

Just a few small, repeatable things that quiet the noise and open the door to what's already there. One simple place to start is what I call a presence pause. Take two or three minutes a day. Just stop. Put your phone down. Notice what's around you. The feel of your chair. The sound of your breath. The light coming through the window. Don't try to think about anything. Just be there. Let your mind settle. Caroline and I did this without knowing it on the walk.

Moving step by step, letting the lake and the path hold the moment. Those pauses help you notice what's already present. They cut the chatter so the quiet signals of connection and care come through. Another easy step is one small act of connection each day. It doesn't have to be big. Hold the door for someone and really look at them. Give a quick smile or nod to a co-worker. Touch a loved one's arm when they say hello. These moments send a signal. You matter to me. They're like the brushing of Carolyn's hand against mine.

Pienet eivät kuuluvat, mutta ne kestävät oloa. Kun teet tätä yleensä, elämä alkaa kirjoittaa sen todellisena. Ympärillinen kanava pysyy avoimena ja tarkoitukset kasvavat huonosti. Lopulta päivänä käsittele yhden minuutin, jotta muistat jotain, mikä tuntui merkittävältä, vaikka se olisi pieni. Ehkä se olisi se, mitä kertoisit.

A kind word you heard, or just the way the light looked at sunset. Write it down or say it to yourself. Don't judge it, just notice it. This is what reflection does. It helps the brain hold on to the good signals instead of letting them slide away. Over time, these little deposits strengthen the sense that life matters. The same way Carolyn's care for my nephew left a lasting mark, even though she's gone.

These steps aren't about forcing meaning. They're about clearing space so it can settle in naturally. The more you practice, the less the mental noise runs the show. The more the quiet parts, the presence, the connections, the small reflections get to do their work. That's how meaning grows without words. It starts in moments like the walk with Caroline. Ordinary, human, deeply real. And it keeps growing, say that again. And it keeps going every time we slow down, show up, let the silence speak.

I'll wrap up with a few final thoughts and a way to carry this forward in your life. We began today with a quiet walk by Lake Austin. One of the last with Carolyn were words about legacy and care flowed, but the real meaning settled in the silence between them. The footsteps, the brushing hand, the lake holding the sky. That day wasn't about declarations or perfect sentences. It was about showing up, walking side by side,