The MeaningSphere Blog

Practical tips and thought-provoking ideas for navigating the world of work with more humanity. Don’t miss a post–sign up for our newsletter!

Categories

Here’s where you find the complete archive of articles from the MeaningSphere Blog, all in one place. Read, share, and enjoy.

Developed by Dr. Marjolein Lips-Wiersma, the Map of Meaning is the foundational framework of MeaningSphere’s flagship offering. Comprising four pathways and three tensions, the Map is a research-backed tool for understanding how we experience meaning—and therefore, what makes work meaningful rather than meaningless. Here, you’ll find articles that will empower you to understand and apply this powerful framework in your own worklife. 

This is where we share the heart behind what we do. Here you’ll find the ideas, insights, and stories that shape our offerings—and why we believe meaning at work matters. Think of it as a starting point for understanding who we are, what drives us, and how we can make a difference in your worklife. 

Your worklife is the ongoing conversation between your work and your sense of self. Here you’ll find fresh perspectives, practical tips, and gentle questions to help you explore what matters most to you, so you can build the worklife that fits you best. From shifting workplace trends to new data on wellbeing, we’ll connect the bigger picture to your everyday experience. 

Should you worry about living up to your potential?

‘Expressing Full Potential’ offers a calmer way to think about how we put our unique abilities to work Within the Map of Meaning framework, you don’t “reach,” “achieve,” or “unlock” your full potential—you express it. This subtle mindset shift can

The benefits of serving others at work

“Service to Others” is good for your company, your colleagues, and yourself. From glowing biographies of ruthless CEOs to the often-gladiatorial hiring process, work culture has encouraged us to think of ourselves first. The problem? No one actually benefits from

Can we be work friends?

Here’s how “Unity with Others” can make or break our experience in the workplace. Since the pandemic, quality relationships in the workplace have been growing scarcer—and increasingly more important to us. With one in five employees saying they feel lonely

In the workplace, “Integrity with Self” is as important as ever

From the “bring your whole self to work” movement of the 2010s to this year’s massive rollback of DEI initiatives, we’ve been given conflicting messages about the merits of workplace authenticity. What does it even mean to be “yourself” at

Unpacking tensions: How to thrive in the space between “Inspiration” and “Reality”

An ongoing tug-of-war between our realities and our dreams is central to any meaningful worklife. In this piece, we unpack this key tension using the Map of Meaning framework—and explore how connecting the two can enable us to thrive at

The nuts and bolts of meaningful work: How to read the Map of Meaning

In Part 1 of our conversation with Dr. Marjolein Lips-Wiersma, creator of the Map of Meaning, we talked about how her fascinating doctoral research led to the discovery of this impactful framework. Now, in Part 2 of that conversation, she

When self-improvement advice fails, it’s time to build a reflection practice instead

If self-improvement advice often seems to fail us, it may be because we tend to jump to solutions before doing the hard work of reflecting on what we really need. With these helpful mindsets and learning models, you’ll be empowered

The making of the Map of Meaning®: A conversation with Dr. Marjolein Lips-Wiersma

The Map of Meaning® framework was developed through Dr. Marjolein Lips-Wiersma’s groundbreaking doctoral research. In this interview, she recounts that fascinating journey and what it taught her about how humans find meaning at work and beyond. The Map of Meaning

What can Black History Month teach us about work?

February is Black History Month in the US, and this year’s theme is especially relevant to the world of work. Here are some ways to recognize it (and why it matters)! February is Black History Month in the United States,