Constellation Thinking - by Michael Ventura (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

What if the key to living a meaningful life isn't about finding one true calling, but instead about connecting the unique constellation of experiences, relationships, and beliefs that make you who you are?

Many of us struggle with immense pressure to define ourselves through a single purpose or passion. We pursue this elusive calling, believing that once found, everything else will fall into place.

But you don't need a North Star.

True fulfillment rarely comes from doubling down on just one area of life. Instead, meaning emerges from the beautiful overlap of our relationships, work, creative pursuits, and personal growth. It's not about finding the one thing that lights you up--it's about weaving together all the things that matter to create a life that feels whole.

For years, Michael Ventura dedicated himself to building a company, wrapping his identity around a single mission. Then, after 17 years, it all changed. Three words flooded his mind: Who am I? This moment of crisis became the catalyst for developing a revolutionary approach to meaning--one that maps your unique constellation of values, experiences, and connections.

Constellation Thinking gives you practical tools to identify and connect the diverse elements that make you who you are. Through a blend of ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and targeted exercises, you'll map your own personal constellation--gaining profound clarity about what truly matters to you and how these elements work together. By the end of this journey, you'll have a visual map of your unique sources of meaning and purpose that you can actually use to navigate life's biggest decisions.

In Constellation Thinking, you'll discover:

How your past experiences, inherited values, and formative influences shape your pursuits Who you are at your core, using a blend of ancient wisdom like Sun, Moon, and Rising signs, and modern tools like Myers-Briggs and Enneagram Which pursuits energize you versus those that leave you feeling depleted How your surroundings and relationships influence your sense of purpose How to reconnect with spontaneity and inner child energy

Constellation Thinking will reshape the way you think about purpose, giving you the tools and insights you need to create a rich, meaningful life.

About the Author

Michael Ventura is an accomplished speaker, entrepreneur, author, and designer. In 2009, Michael founded Sub Rosa, an award-winning, strategy and design practice. Sub Rosa's clients include a variety of Fortune 500 companies (GE, Google, Marriott, Nike), well-respected institutions such as the United Nations and the Obama Administration, as well as some of the world's most progressive start-ups and founders (SoFi, Warby Parker, Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative).

Michael has served as a board member and advisor to a variety of organizations including Behance (An Adobe Company), The Burning Man Project, The Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Friends of +POOL, and the U.N. affiliated Tribal Link Foundation. A dynamic writer and presenter, Michael is frequently engaged as an advisor to entrepreneurs and leaders of some of the largest corporations across the globe. He is also a lecturer at The United States Military Academy at West Point and Princeton University where he teaches empathic design.

Outside of this work, Michael and his wife Caroline have co-founded the New York-based retail store Calliope, as well as its adjoining gallery And&And. In his personal time, Michael is an active practitioner of eastern and indigenous medicine, working in private practice and regularly leading workshops on how to bring these powerful traditions into a modern life and workplace. Applied Empathy is his first book.