209 - What is the Meaning of Life? – Aligning Your Life with What Matters Most
Barb Knows Best
Michelle Maros & Barb Schmidt
4.9 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 10 June 2025
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
✨We’re on YouTube✨⟶ Watch our episodes here: @lifehappensthepodcast
Redefine how you view life’s purpose with this eye opening episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle. In a world that glorifies big achievements, Barb and Michelle offer a refreshing perspective: that true fulfillment often lives in the small, everyday moments. Join us as we explore how letting go of society’s pressure to do more can open the door to a more authentic, purpose-driven life—rooted in presence, connection, and values that truly matter. ⬇️
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Purpose isn’t about fitting into a box or meeting society’s predefined notions of success. It’s not limited to titles or grand milestones. Instead, purpose is about trusting your unique path—showing up as your most authentic self and living from a place of alignment and intention.
In today’s episode of Life Happens with Barb and Michelle, we have a candid conversation about discovering purpose and meaning in life. With so much pressure to define success through external accomplishments, it’s easy to feel like purpose has to be something extraordinary or dramatic. But what if the most meaningful life is built through small, intentional choices rooted in your values?
Barb shares her wisdom on living with purpose, even amid uncertainty and societal expectations. Michelle opens up about her own journey of struggling to find meaning—and how she ultimately found clarity and alignment by embracing her truth.
From their unique mother-daughter perspective, Barb and Michelle explore how their understanding of purpose has shifted over time—moving away from hustle and pressure and toward ease, presence, and self-compassion.
Purpose isn’t a fixed destination—it’s fluid, evolving as we grow. This episode is an invitation to stay curious, stay open, and trust what’s calling you in each moment.
Here's what we’re exploring in this episode:
✨ Follow the Breadcrumbs of Life
Start noticing the small actions or interactions that spark curiosity, light you up, or leave you feeling inspired. These seemingly simple moments are breadcrumbs—clues that can lead you toward a more purposeful, aligned life.
✨ Find Your Teachers
There's a deep purpose in growth. Stay open to the wisdom and lessons that come your way—whether through books, conversations, experiences, or people who speak to your soul.
✨ Be Open to the Unexpected
Let go of the rigid idea of how your life should look. When you release expectations, you create space for your true path to reveal itself—one that’s uniquely yours.
✨ Your Purpose Doesn’t Have to Be Grandiose
You don’t need a single, defining achievement to live a meaningful life. Purpose is woven through small, everyday moments. Whether it’s holding the door for someone or contributing your gifts at work, these acts matter. You are already enough—just as you are.
💗 A Gentle Reminder:
Purpose often reveals itself in the quiet, ordinary moments. The key is learning to notice and honor them.
We’re so grateful you’re here with us! As a mother-daughter duo, we’re passionate about sharing the real-life lessons that have shaped us—so you can feel empowered to build confidence, prioritize self-care, manage our mental health and navigate life’s challenges with emotional strength and resilience.
This month, we dive deep into building confidence and advocating for yourself. Every episode this June is devoted to helping you connect with your purpose and trust your inner voice—with powerful practices, heartfelt reminders, and real talk to support you every step of the way.
Join us next Tuesday for another heartfelt and healing episode of Life Happens with Barb Michelle! 💕
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Transcript
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| 1:24.4 | Hi, I'm Tara Schmidt, a registered dietitian and host of On Nutrition, a podcast for Mayo Clinic, where we dig into the latest nutrition trends and research to help you understand what's health and what's hype. There's a lot of wild stuff out there, so we'll be keeping it science-based, research-informed, and practical. |
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| 1:53.6 | So, Mom, you and I have talked about purpose a ton in our personal lives. |
| 2:00.5 | I think since probably as far as I can remember, the concept of |
| 2:04.6 | purpose, the idea of purpose, and how we, the two of us personally and within our family, |
| 2:12.6 | how we've identified and defined purpose has been a really big role in our lives. |
| 2:19.3 | And just like with everything else, I think over time it's evolved for us. |
| 2:24.1 | And I'm really excited to chat about where we, how we view purpose in this era of our lives. |
... |
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