22 June 2026

Making meaning ⭐️

They say everything happens for a reason. And I’ve always struggled with that idea. Maybe it’s the academic in me... but when life unfolds in unexpected ways, I tend to lean towards logic rather than magic. This week, though, I’ve found myself noticing a strange series of events that seem to be nudging me in a particular direction. Nothing dramatic. Just one of those weeks where things appear to be lining up in ways that feel almost too neat to ignore. Logical? Not particularly. But it doesn’t take away from the feeling that things might be unfolding exactly as they should. I’m sure you’ve experienced periods like this. The payment that arrives just in time. The flight that happens to have one remaining seat. The meeting that gets cancelled so you can finally focus on the thing that needed your attention all along. Life is rarely straightforward, which is why these moments feel so noticeable when they arrive. They remind us that relief often appears unexpectedly, and that gratitude is sometimes easiest to access after we’ve spent a little too long carrying something heavy.

Maybe it’s just confirmation bias. But maybe it’s meaning-making. And perhaps meaning-making is one of the most human things we can do.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to believe that things might be happening for a reason? And how would your mindset shift if you did? Sometimes, we just need to make meaning. Well, these are the musings that have been circling my mind this week, written as I pack my bags and head to Sydney for the Australian HR Institute State Conference. Should be some great connections and conversations ahead. Hope your week’s off to a good start, and I’ll touch base again soon.

Keep feeling,
Nathan