Member-only story
Why You Are So Unhappy
The path to the bliss you seek
The only thing you want to do with your life is to feel like you are a part of something bigger than you. You want to optimally put your talent and capabilities to use, in a way that feels like you are contributing towards a greater good. You want to feel good about yourself.
We’ve seen people leave highly coveted jobs in search of ‘meaning’.
People want to feel useful. People want to feel like they’re doing meaningful ‘work’.
Nobody wants to feel like a cog in the wheel. Nobody wants to waste their talent or use it in ways that feel like they are wasting their lives. All the money in the world cannot make up for the emptiness that leaves behind.
I know why you’re unhappy. You want to be free to contribute in ways that feel congruent with you. This is the ultimate dream.
Or perhaps, you are unhappy because you want recognition for your contribution. As though contributing is not enough reward in itself. You want the Nobel prize. You want the Pulitzer awards. You want a Grammy. You want an Oscar.
The opportunity to contribute is in itself a privilege. If you can draw happiness from that, for its own sake, then you’re doing a good job for your mental health and wellbeing.
