As a life coach, I’ve witnessed many moments where professionals break through the limits of their current thinking. Today’s story (with industry details omitted for privacy) captures one such moment. Through what appeared to be a routine workplace conversation, a client embarked on a profound exploration of life’s meaning.
David, 31, works at a multinational company part-time. Outside of work, he dedicates his time to studying, career transition, and exploring entrepreneurial ventures.
On a Thursday afternoon, David was invited to a meeting with his manager. His manager presented him with three proposals: increased responsibilities, a potential overseas assignment, and extended workdays. Although the conversation seemed typical on the surface, it stirred up unexpected waves of anxiety within David.
25 minutes after the beginning of the session, David realized that the financial factors he had instinctively pointed to were not the real triggers. Nor was the desire for external validation of his work. So, what was the source of his anxiety?
As we dug deeper, I sensed an inconsistency in how David was defining his sense of life’s meaning. He had shared:
“I thought I had found my ideal lifestyle—calm, simple, and meaningful. I believed the meaning of life was ‘to experience happiness in ordinary moments.’”
But later, when discussing why he was pushing himself to study and start a business, he said:
“I think the meaning of life is to experience as many different aspects of life as possible.”
So I asked him, “What’s the relationship between these two definitions: ‘experiencing different aspects of life’ and ‘finding happiness in ordinary moments’?”
David paused and reflected: “Intuitively, they feel contradictory.”
In the dialogue that followed, we examined and contrasted these two definitions. Suddenly, David had a breakthrough: the two ideas weren’t in conflict at all. Experiencing different facets of life didn’t mean he couldn’t find happiness in the everyday. And finding joy in the mundane didn’t mean he had to stop exploring new experiences. The key was finding a new balance between the two.
With this fresh awareness, David revised his schedule. He reduced the weight he gave to “experiencing different aspects of life” and increased his focus on “finding happiness in ordinary moments” by making his schedule more flexible—both grounded and adaptable.
By the end of the session, David’s anxiety had all but disappeared. In its place was a renewed sense of motivation and energy.
In this single conversation, David’s definition of life’s meaning evolved:
- Version 1.0: “Experience different aspects of life” versus “Find happiness in ordinary moments” (in conflict)
- Version 2.0: “Experience different aspects of life while finding happiness in ordinary moments” (integrated)
🌿 David’s Ultimate Insight:
“Life is not a multiple-choice question where we must pick one or the other. It’s a symphony that needs constant tuning. True ease in life isn’t about clinging to a perfect state—it’s about learning to dance with change.”
What began as a seemingly ordinary workplace meeting unfolded into a philosophical reflection on the essence of existence. As David said at the end of our session:
“Anxiety isn’t the enemy—it’s a signal that our understanding needs an upgrade.”
