Stop Surviving. Start Feeling Alive.

How to create aliveness in your work, projects, and life.

I’m on the treadmill at my local gym, working up to my 12-3-30, listening to time expert Oliver Burkeman on Feel Better, Live More podcast. And then Burkeman says it. The word I’ve been searching for to describe the kind of energy and culture I try to build around people: aliveness.

He quotes Jungian analyst James Hollis, who says life moves toward growth, “something juicy, something alive.”

Then Burkeman adds: “I don’t even know what aliveness is, but it seems like it’s what we can navigate to.”

That line stopped me.

Because isn’t that what we’re all looking for? Work that energizes us.

Relationships that feel real. Moments when we’re fully present, not just going through the motions.

We talk about engagement, productivity, and balance. But what we really want is aliveness—feeling awake, connected, and energized by our days.

What Aliveness Looks Like

I felt it this past weekend on a hiking trip in New Hampshire with close friends.

We were in motion together. Supported. Heard. Seen. The conversations were real: great listening, great questions, even some conflict that pushed us to speak openly about what was bothering us. By the time we finished, I felt more energized than when we started.

That’s aliveness in action.

I’ve seen it in my work too. Recently, I brought a group of high-potential employees together to improve communication and collaboration. The energy was electric. Ideas flowed freely. People spoke honestly, no matter their title. By the end, the room had more energy than when we began.

Same feeling. Different context.

Author Brendon Burchard calls aliveness one of the four core human drives. He defines aliveness as the need for passion, consciousness, vibrancy, and presence. It’s not soft. It’s how we engage with each day, every day.

Alive vs. Just Going Through the Motions

You can feel the difference immediately.

When you’re alive, whether at work, with friends, or on your own, you’re curious. You solve problems. You share ideas honestly. You learn from mistakes. Energy flows. The question isn’t “Who’s right?” but “What’s true?”

When you’re just surviving, everything drains you. Gossip replaces real conversation. Rules and obligations replace curiosity. Time gets wasted. Your voice stays quiet. Momentum stops.

The difference isn’t about where you are or what you’re doing. It’s about the energy you bring and the energy around you.

Five Ways to Cultivate Aliveness

1. Show Up as Your Real Self

The energy you bring is contagious. People mirror what you put out. Lead your life authentically.

2. Make It Safe to Be Honest

Create space where you (and others) can share ideas, ask hard questions, and admit when something isn’t working.

3. Focus on What Matters, Not Just What’s Urgent

Measure your days by what energized you and what mattered, not just what you checked off. Trust yourself to manage your energy.

4. Address Energy Drains Quickly

When something or someone consistently depletes you, deal with it. Address conflict straight-on. Dead energy spreads faster than alive energy.

5. Learn From Everything

Turn setbacks into information. How you handle failure signals whether you’re living or just surviving.

What Authentic Living Looks Like

“Be authentic” is overused, but it matters. Authenticity isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s not about being loud, flashy, or positive all the time. It’s about being consistently you in a way that builds trust with yourself and others.

Brené Brown built her career on vulnerability research and lived it publicly. She talks openly about perfectionism, therapy, and her messy middle moments. Her authenticity is warm, emotional, and deeply human.

Tim Ferriss approaches it differently. Analytical and experimental, he shares his battles with depression and suicidal thoughts. His honesty is cerebral, systematic, and unflinchingly direct.

Different styles. Same result: aliveness.

Your Aliveness Action Plan

Whether you lead teams, manage projects, or simply design your own days, aliveness starts with you.

Ask yourself: What three actions could you take in the next month to bring more energy and connection into your life?

Here are some ideas:

• Schedule time with a person who energize you, not just obligation

• Track what matters to you and what drains you for one week—then make one change

• Celebrate what you learned from a recent setback or failure

• Create space to question one thing in your life you’ve been doing on autopilot

The details aren’t as important as the intention: building a life where you feel seen, energized, and inspired. When you feel alive, creativity flows, connections deepen, and everything else follows.

Let’s make a choice. Let’s build lives that hum with aliveness every day. Not because it’s trendy or will impress others. But because it’s human. It matters. It works.

Your work, your relationships, your life. They’re all ready. Are you?

Carolyn