What is a meaningful life? How does one discover— and live—what is truly important? How do we manage to spend the time of our lives in a way that will finally seem worthwhile?

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Thoreau
William James
Einstein
Gandhi
Ken Wilber
Rumi
Nelson Mandela
Thomas Merton

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The Quest for Meaning

"What's Next for My Life?"

• If in your journey along life's way, a gentle longing, a vague uneasiness beckons you to search for something more

• If you have achieved some success in life, but aren't sure what comes next

• If you sometimes ask yourself: "What is the meaning of my life anyway?"

• If a recent failure or loss has led to questions about where your life is headed

• If you would like to explore the possibilities that lie beyond the normal, everyday activities that take up so much of life's energy

Consider joining:

The New Quest Workshop

We will meet for 10 Sunday evenings

beginning in Mid-March of 2010.

If you would like to be part of the Quest Workshop

Contact: David White

Phone - 865-546-7008
Email: davidwhite@ameaningfullife.org

Using the ancient story of The Odyssey as a jumping off place, we will consider the various ways one can choose to invest one's life energy. The ten-year journey of Odysseus to find his way "home" after his great victory at Troy will serve as a symbol for the journey every man and every woman can make in pursuit of a feeling of wholeness, of meaning, of purpose.

Workshop Leader: David V White

Author of the manuscript we will be using -

The Quest for Meaning: The Inner Journey of Odysseus

Experiences that have influenced the development of this workshop include: creating and presenting workshops and seminars for 20 years - attending retreats, conferences and workshops all over the world concerning psychology, philosophy, science and religion - finding the soul's voice in reading poetry as a young man - attending the National Storytelling Festival for many years - investing much time and energy in search of the wisdom contained in the world's spiritual and philosophical traditions - attending workshops with and studying the ideas of Joseph Campbell for 30 years - studying the psychology and philosophy of C. G. Jung for many years - attending several workshops and studying with Genpo Roshi, the creator of the Big Mind/Big Heart process - reading extensively in the works of Ken Wilber - having had the opportunity to travel extensively and to explore the incredible diversity of people and places this earth is home to - listening to, and occasionally taking the risk of offering suggestions to friends about their life journeys - serving as co-founder, Chairman, and President of 13-30 Corporation for 9 years - serving on the Tennessee Board of Regents for 18 years (and serving as Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee for several years) - serving at the White House on the National Security Council Staff - working in the successful campaigns of Senator Howard Baker, Governor Lamar Alexander and Governor Winfield Dunn (and having had the opportunity to work with each of them following their elections) - serving as Chairman of the Higher Education Committee for the Tennessee Comprehensive Education Study - managing an investment portfolio for 30 years - working as Assistant to the Dean of Students at the University of Tennessee for a year - living in New York and working at the United Nations during a General Assembly session - working as National Coordinator of Special Groups in Nelson Rockefeller's presidential campaign - co-founding and serving as Chief Executive Officer of a computer company for 7 years - attempting to help others by service in various philanthropic organizations, including several years as Chairman of the East Tennessee Foundation and as Chairman of the Wellness Community of Knoxville - serving on the National Committee for Community Foundations - designing and building a small residential enclave beside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - serving as an officer and/or board member of numerous state and local boards, including the Tennessee Technology Foundation, the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of Knoxville, the Dogwood Arts Festival, the Knoxville Symphony Society, United Way of Knoxville, the University of Tennessee Research Corporation, and Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Besides achievements, there have also been numerous failures along the way, and much reflection on their meaning for my life - as well as grappling for many years with the questions this workshop considers. If you have had a few failures on your life's journey, bring them along. Memories of defeats, as well as victories, can be valuable allies in this undertaking (and each defeat will be worth two points). Perhaps we will even come to consider whether Kipling was right in suggesting that when we "meet with triumph and disaster," we should "treat those two impostors just the same."

Cost: The workshop will be free - except for a committment to expend the time and energy necessary to attend regularly and participate.