Stop Chasing Happiness. Start Chasing Meaning.


A small observation that’s become a big mirror for me:
So many of us have lives filled with things that should make us happy—
and yet… something still feels off.

A psychologist put it bluntly:

“Your life changes only when you stop chasing happiness and start chasing meaning.” �

A psychologist insists your life improves only when you stop chasing happiness and start chasing meaning.pdf None

That line lands because it names a pattern many of us quietly live inside:

We hit a milestone → feel a brief high → return to baseline

We upgrade the goal → chase again → repeat
And then we start wondering: Is something wrong with me?

Maybe not.

Maybe the target is mis-specified.
Happiness is weather. Meaning is climate.
Happiness is real—and worth enjoying.
But it’s also fragile, variable, and hard to “hold.” �

Meaning behaves differently.
Meaning doesn’t promise constant positivity.
It gives your life a direction—even when your emotions are messy.

Viktor Frankl captured it sharply: happiness tends to ensue as a by-product of meaning, not as a prize you can seize directly. �

The “Meaning Audit” (simple, not dramatic)
Here’s an exercise I love because it’s grounded and doable:

For 7 days, each evening write 3 lines:
What gave me energy today?
What drained me?
What made me forget to check my phone for a moment? �



Then look for patterns.
Meaning often shows up quietly:
explaining something to someone
building, fixing, mentoring
caring for family
creating without applause
doing something useful that won’t go viral
A daily practice: one value, one action
Instead of asking, “What will make me happy today?”
try asking:
“What would make today meaningful?”
Pick one value for the week (kindness, courage, learning, creativity, service, truth…).
Then choose one small action per day that matches it. �

No fireworks required.
Just alignment.
At night, ask a better question:
“Did I move 1 cm toward my value today?”
Not: “Was I happy all day?” �
A psychologist insists your life improves only when you stop chasing happiness and start chasing meaning.pdf None
The quiet upgrade
When meaning becomes the driver, a few things shift:
Negative emotions stop feeling like “failure”
Effort starts to feel more worth it
Your story gains coherence

Happiness returns… but as a visitor, not the boss �

And that—oddly—can make life feel deeper, sturdier, and more yours.
TS Question (for you)
If you ran a 7-day Meaning Audit…
Where do you suspect your “meaning signals” would show up?
In learning? building? service? relationships? creating? healing?
Drop a word or a story in the comments. I’m genuinely curious.

Inspiration from a blog:

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