Fulfilling and Meaningful Life

This article is more of a personal reflection and reminder for me. A decade from now, if I’m still around, I want to revisit this and see how much progress I’ve made. More than that, I hope it inspires others to look at life from a different perspective.

This is a broad topic, and everyone will have their own explanation, but I want to distill it to what I believe is essential and relevant to most people.

Do What You Love

One of the most common pieces of advice we hear is, “Do what you love.” But figuring out what that actually means is complicated. It takes time, experimentation, and trying many different things. If you feel like you’ve explored multiple paths but still haven’t found what truly excites you, try categorizing your tasks into two groups: the things you want to do and the things you have to do. Ask yourself, “Am I doing this because I genuinely want to, or because I feel obligated to?” Most of the time, the things we have to do feel like burdens, while the things we want to do are what bring us fulfillment. That’s why it’s essential to focus on what you truly want to do, rather than what you feel you have to do.

It’s also important to prioritize what’s important over what’s urgent. Important tasks contribute to your long-term goals and personal growth, while urgent tasks demand immediate attention but don’t necessarily help you achieve your bigger vision. If you spend too much time on tedious work, it can drain your energy and creativity. That’s why choosing something you genuinely love and are passionate about is not only meaningful but also worth it.

A simple way to test whether you truly love something is to ask yourself: “Would I still do this if I weren’t getting paid?” If the answer is yes, you’re likely on the right path. If not, you need to take a deeper look and ask whether it genuinely brings you joy or if you’re doing it for external validation.

It’s hard to become truly skilled at something you don’t find interesting, and it’s almost impossible to be great at something you’re not obsessed with. And if you’re stuck doing something you don’t enjoy, it becomes even harder to feel happy or fulfilled. That’s why trading long-term fulfillment for short-term gains is never worth it. Never try to win the moment at the expense of the decade.

Be Internally Driven

When you’re internally driven; when you’re competing with yourself and not with others; you don’t need someone else to motivate you. You’ll push through obstacles because you genuinely care about your goal. Because when you're competing with others, you will only compare, but when competing with yourself, you’ll improve.

It’s also important to remember that your worth isn’t defined by what you achieve or how much you own. It’s about who you become and how you contribute to others. Instead of measuring success by external standards; like comparing yourself to others; focus on internal growth. Transformation isn’t about becoming a totally different person. It’s about gaining the ability to see who you truly are and then live your life as that authentic you.

One of the worst habits we have is comparing ourselves to others. It’s never fair, because everyone’s journey is different. We are all unique, we have unique backgrounds, experiences, and challenges. So never compare yourself to others. The more comfortable you are with yourself, the less you need the approval of others.

People who are comfortable with themselves are never worrying about what others think or chasing prestige. Instead, they focus on the opinions of those whose judgment they truly respect; mentors, close friends, or people who share their values. They know that prestige is just the world’s opinion; it’s a powerful magnet that can pull you away from what you truly love, making you work on what you think you love, rather than what you truly love.

Ask yourself: “Would I be happy with this result if no one else saw it? If I didn’t compare it to anyone else’s success?” The happiest people aren’t the ones chasing the spotlight or popularity; they’re the ones quietly doing what they love, regardless of who’s watching.

Don’t Chase Money

Money can be tricky to talk about. While people debate whether it buys happiness, one thing is certain: it does buy freedom; and that matters. Not having enough money is stressful, so it’s important to earn enough to feel secure. But beyond that, true happiness doesn’t come from owning things; it comes from experiences, deep relationships, and doing meaningful work. And remember, the happiest people aren’t necessarily the richest; they’re the ones who enjoy what they do.

When you love your work, you naturally become more engaged, more productive, and, in turn, better at it. And when you get better, you create more value, which leads to more opportunities; including financial ones. The key is to focus on doing work you truly enjoy, rather than chasing money as an end goal. If you become exceptional at something you love, money will follow. But if you chase money first, you might find yourself stuck in something that drains you.

Another misconception is the idea that success is a zero-sum game; the idea that for one person to win, another must lose. But life doesn’t work that way. The world isn’t a fixed pie where someone else’s success takes away from yours. Opportunities expand when people create, innovate, and collaborate. A zero-sum mindset limits your thinking, making you see others as competitors instead of potential allies. Real growth happens when you understand that lifting others up doesn’t hold you back; it actually expands possibilities for everyone.

Living with Purpose

Life is short, and time is the most valuable resource you have. You can have anything you want, but not everything you want. That’s why it’s important to make time for things that truly matters to you. And most importantly, find your reason to stay alive. If you haven’t yet, keep searching. Find something meaningful and make it your guiding purpose. Don’t chase status; it’s empty without substance and won’t bring lasting fulfillment. Focus on what makes you truly happy, rather than what others expect from you. Prioritize contribution over validation.

Your values should be rooted in principles; the laws of nature; not fleeting trends. Stick to them, no matter what. Don’t fall into the FOMO trap; it’s one of the biggest distractions from personal growth. Chasing what’s popular often means abandoning what’s truly meaningful. Trends come and go, but principles endure. Skepticism is a useful filter here; just because something is viral doesn’t mean it’s valuable.

Also, set a long-term objectives and avoid short-term thinking. Long-term thinking is essential. Too many people get caught up in short-term pleasures or temporary wins, forgetting to build something that lasts. Set objectives that stretch over years, not just months. Short-term thinking leads to impulsive decisions, but long-term thinking builds a foundation for something truly worthwhile.

If you like challenges, pick a goal or dream that most people think is impossible to achieve; so long as it doesn’t violate the laws of physics. Don’t worry about whether you’ll succeed; the outcome isn’t in your control. What is in your control is the process; figuring out how to achieve it and make it happen. The greatest achievements in history were once considered unrealistic, but they became possible because someone was bold enough to try.

Don’t be an optimist or a pessimist; just get something done. If you fail, start over. Take risks, but make sure they’re calculated. There is a good heuristic for risk-taking: the greatest risk for a living organism is death; because after that, there are no more risks. So take risks; just not the ones that threaten your life.

When you feel discouraged, remember that in the grand scale of the universe, we are just a tiny fraction of an atom. Our egos, our worries, and our struggles seem enormous to us, but they are insignificant in the cosmic perspective. Sometimes, the best way to overcome stress or fear is to zoom out and see how small we really are.

When it comes to relationships, surround yourself with people who support your goals and dreams. Cut out negativity, whether from real life or social media. Negativity doesn’t just slow your progress; it poisons your mind. Life is too short to waste energy on people who drag you down. Instead, focus on those who uplift and challenge you in the right ways.

Also remember that life isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s simple, but not always smooth. The real problem is that we expect it to be easy; and that expectation complicates everything.

Lastly, here's one thing to keep remember:

there is only one true success—to be able to spend your life in your own way.