Do you hear the name all day long, on every terrace, every street corner? Does it follow you in your professional and personal life, even send you "push" notifications on your social networks? Worse, does it manage to invite the thought into your sleep? There is no longer any doubt. You are in the sights of the worst predator of modern times, the one who torments the mind… MAKING SENSE!
WARNING: existential crisis is coming
You might be tempted to tell your friends to hide under their desks at work, never to face reality again. But hey, that's not exactly helpful.
The truth is, this "predator" is pretty hard to define. But here's the challenge: whoever can best capture its essence in a robot portrait (bonus points if you get the reference!) wins! Let's get down to business!
Relax (take it easy) 🙂
Meaning is personal, not a one-size-fits-all deal. Your job's purpose won't be the same as someone else's. And honestly, the whole 'meaning' thing is kinda debatable – it's not some universal truth. We're overthinking it a bit. The point is, your definition of 'meaningful' might not match your neighbor on the train. That's okay! But with all these career switches and podcasts about finding purpose by saving the planet, it's easy to feel guilty about your own ambitions, even if they're totally valid! Moreover, Karim Duval illustrates it perfectly in his video “Chinese briefs”, if your meaning is making bank, don't beat yourself up like Dobby – you might just be making the most comfortable disposable briefs ever!
And to add a little complexity to all that, you are perhaps one of those who hammer their brains all day long with the famous question "what meaning do I want to give to my professional life?" Finding meaning is a journey, sometimes a long one. It's about discovering your driving force, the mission that gets you going. And it doesn't matter what that mission is – saving the bees or keeping elevators running smoothly (seriously, check out the awesome Generation XX podcast for proof!). It's all about finding your "why." Why you get up in the morning? What energizes you?
Don't panic, we're here for you!
👉 A little advice on how to find your “why” and therefore your meaning (do you follow us?!) Look at what makes you angry and revolt, it will give you precious clues!
Pro Tip #2: Take a break! Obsessing over finding meaning can actually backfire. It's like love – the harder you look, the less likely you are to find it. Relax a bit! Wise words, right? If you keep overthinking without taking a breather, you might just end up having nightmares about becoming a job counselor! Nobody wants that kind of stress sweat in the morning.
One meaning, many directions
Alright! So you've explored your frustrations, dug deep for your "why," examined your desires, and noticed your moments of joy and disconnection. You're there... "YES! I FOUND MY PURPOSE!" Hold on a minute! This might be your purpose right now, but it could change. We evolve, and so do our desires and what gives our lives meaning.
Finding your meaning (and your dream job along the way) isn't a straight path. It's about understanding your place in the world, no matter how big or small. We've definitely used "meaning" a lot, so let's wrap it up here.
Go make a difference!
Photo by Ethan Sykes, Unsplash.