Read time: 2 min.

If you’re obsessed with self-improvement, you’re like me.

I’ve read countless self-help books.

Trying to understand how to live a happy and fulfilling life.

But each book has a different perspective on it.

What does it actually take to be happy and fulfilled?

More money, titles, and status won’t help.

Most people think that to be fulfilled, they need to achieve something they currently lack.

But when they obtain it, they don’t feel much different.

In their mind, salvation surely lies in the next goal.

• ”I’ll be happy when I get that job promotion.”

• ”My life’s complete when I have a girlfriend.”

• ”I'm satisfied when I earn a million dollars.”

They keep pursuing, adding, and obtaining in a quest to fill the emptiness inside.

It's a dreadful pull into a miserable life.

Luckily, I got out of this trap.

In one of my latest newsletters, I explained how spirituality helped me escape it.

Living in the present moment for a whole year made me as happy as ever.

But something was missing.

Life lacked meaning

I sat in the garden, and this question kept gnawing at me.

’’What is the meaning of life?’’

I didn't just want to 'be happy' and dissolve into a puddle of goo.

It felt selfish and failed to fulfill my soul.

Instead, I wanted to create stuff.

That's when it clicked in my mind.

Life has no meaning.

You create it.

Literally.

Pursue your excitement

3 months later, I graduated from college.

But the work field of my study didn't interest me enough, so I made a promise to only work on things I find meaningful.

That’s when I created @connectwithgrowth.

Now, almost 3 years later, I can say this is one of the best decisions I've ever made.

• I go to bed every night, knowing that when I wake up, I can work on things that excite me.

• I am living a life true to myself—not just following societal expectations.

• @connectwithgrowth has earned me thousands of dollars.

The next chapter of building meaningful stuff is my personal brand.

You can truly go a long way if you listen to your excitement and have the guts to act on it.

Final Words

The pursuit of a goal gives life its meaning.

But don’t be fooled.

It’s the ’working towards’ that creates meaning.

The achievement of the goal doesn’t.

This just gives you a temporary burst of feel-good hormones.

Happiness peaks are nice, but they won't fulfill you.

It's who you become in pursuit of your goals that brings lasting fulfillment.

That's it for this week.

Talk soon,

— Martijn