No matter how many people like you, how successful you are, or how perfect your life looks on paper, you might still feel like a deeper sense of meaning is missing. That’s because research shows that humans consistently find deep, lasting meaning in four places⁠—and none of them have anything to do with achieving, earning, getting others’ approval, or doing what you were told you “should.” 

In this article, we’ll unpack each of those four sources; explore how modern culture seduces us away from them; and demystify how we can meaningfully reconnect with them⁠—particularly during times of transition⁠—to find the North Star we didn’t realize we were missing.