The simple secret to finding fulfillment


Wee Bit Wiser

by Jordan Harbinger

Something wise(-ish)

It’s not accomplishment that makes life worth living.

It’s meaning.

It’s not external reward that gives us validation.

It’s fulfillment.

Ideally, we get to enjoy it all — accomplishing meaningful things, getting money and recognition for the work we find fulfilling.

But let’s not confuse these concepts.

If you want purpose, pursue meaning.

If you want to be rewarded, look for the things that are rewarding.

And if you want external success — which is a perfectly valid thing to want — look for relationships, challenges and situations that you find inherently worthwhile.

That’s the only reliable way to develop your skills, do your best work, and stick with something long enough to generate an income from it.

The key to self-actualization is actually very simple — which is why it’s so hard to grasp.

Chasing money for money’s sake won’t motivate you.

Seeking status for status’ sake won’t gratify you.

Plucking a purpose from a list of concepts won’t drive you to chase your goals.

These feelings are the products of meaningful choices — not the cause of them.

So if you’re struggling to find meaning in your life, try asking yourself a few questions:

What do I genuinely care about, money and status aside?

Which people and places give me joy, hope and energy, and which people and places deplete them?

Am I grasping at concepts and labels in my life, or am I seeking out experiences and feelings?

Answer those questions, and you’ll get much further in your pursuit of meaning and fulfillment.

Have you found this principle to be true in your world? Struggling to make use of it?

Hit reply and tell me about it. I’m all ears!

On the show this past week

1068: Yuval Noah Harari | Rewriting Human History in the Age of AI

1069: Can Doc’s Fault Be Denied in Friend’s Suicide? | Feedback Friday

1070: Squatters | Skeptical Sunday

Every successful business is built on smart decisions—protecting its network should be one of them. NordLayer, from the creators of NordVPN, delivers powerful security for companies of all sizes. From startups to enterprises, you’ll get enterprise-level protection with the flexibility to adapt to your needs.

Exclusive for Wee Bit Wiser readers: Use code NL-WEEBW-1024 to get an extra 10% OFF any 1-year plan. Don’t wait—secure your business now!

Want to share Wee Bit Wiser with family and friends? Visit jordanharbinger.com/news to explore all our posts.

1821 S Bascom Ave #174, Campbell, CA 95008
Unsubscribe · Update your email and other preferences

Wee Bit Wiser: Lessons from 1000+ podcasts

In Wee Bit Wiser, every Wednesday I'll deliver the most valuable insights from the most fascinating people in the world straight to your inbox and help you get slightly smarter every week.

Read more from Wee Bit Wiser: Lessons from 1000+ podcasts
doctor smoking

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise(-ish) Years ago, at a conference, I met a borderline obese doctor who smoked a pack a day. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. But there he was, hitting the buffet hard and puffing on Camels between talks. Since then, I’ve met unstable therapists, undisciplined coaches and uncreative copywriters. People who, in a variety of ways, didn’t live up to the substance or spirit of their professions. And it always bugs me. Whatever field you’re in,...

Melting clock

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise(-ish) Out of all the reasons people come up with to not pursue their goals, I think my favorite is “I’m too late.” I’m too late to go back to school. I’m too late to change careers. I’m too late to start exercising. I’m too late to build relationships. I’m too late to work on my marriage. And look — I get this line of thinking to some degree. Time is finite. We’re all getting older. History can be crushing. Also, in some cases, it really is too...

Blinders

Wee Bit Wiser by Jordan Harbinger Something wise(-ish) Whenever I catch myself saying, “Okay, this is how this situation needs to go,” I already know I’m in trouble. The mind loves to do this. It loves to imagine the ideal version of events to satisfy our desires, needs, fantasies. Or our fears. “As long as things go exactly the way I want, I’ll be satisfied.” And how often does that happen? I’ll speak for myself: never. That never happens for me. What always ends up happening is something...