FINDING MEANING
“learn. be useful. general direction. mating filter. try it.”
The Lesson
Meaning comes from connection: to growth, to others, to biology. Checklist: (1) Always be learning. Growth feels like getting stronger. (2) Be useful. To family, coworkers, society. Usefulness earns attention and belonging. (3) Have a general direction. Not rigid goals, but a sense of trajectory. (4) Apply the mating filter. Dating, parenting, sex, partnership. Most big decisions tie back to this biological drive. Anything in that realm feels meaningful. (5) Don't believe it. Try it. See what's missing from your life, add it, check if it feels different. Meaning is testable.
Real-World Example
A founder feels empty despite success. Check the list: Learning? No. They've plateaued. Useful? Only to shareholders. Direction? Unclear post-exit. Mating filter? Neglected relationship. They start learning a new skill, mentor two founders (useful), set a direction (angel investing), and prioritize their partner. Six months later, same wealth, totally different sense of meaning.
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