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Now to today’s piece 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

Like our ancestors' hundreds of years ago, we require something to live for. We require meaning.

Before social media, iPhones, and Keeping Up With the Kardashians, one's why to live was simpler and easier to feel. But in a world driven by materialism and an innovation-at-all-costs mindset, finding meaning is becoming increasingly difficult.

It appears as life has gotten more comfortable (better tech and a higher standard of living), our existential vacuum – or the void of meaning we feel – has increased in size.

But don't take my word for it; the data is pretty clear, too – we are more depressed, anxious, and empty than ever before (NAMI).

• 22.8% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2021 (57.8 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults.

• 5.5% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2021 (14.1 million people). This represents 1 in 20 adults.

• 16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people)

• 7.6% of U.S. adults experienced a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness in 2021 (19.4 million people)

These data, along with the deepening valley of despair felt in today's society, prove that every human needs meaning as much as food, water, or air to survive.

According to Dr. Viktor Frankl, we can discover meaning in life in three ways: "(1) by creating work or doing a deed; (2) by experiencing something or encountering someone; and (3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering."

If it's not obvious, a new handbag, fancy car, or more IG followers won't bring you happiness and fulfillment. These things are superficial; their allure is similar to craving a doughnut and being more hungry after eating it – the so-called "empty calorie" phenomenon.

This is good news, however. If all it took were new handbags, life would lose its lust.

Wrestling the void, finding meaning, and building a life where happiness and fulfillment ensue – instead of being pursued – requires discovering what life is asking of you.

Don't ask what the meaning of life is. Your answer will change all the time. Instead, respond to life by relentlessly fulfilling your responsibilities.

Ask yourself: (1) What am I responsible for? (2) To what am I responsible? And (3) to whom am I responsible?

Your answers will clarify your why and help you build mountains of meaning in your life.

See ya later this week 🫡

Keep crushing.

Cheers,

Noah Cracknell

P.S. Shoot me a reply to this email and let me know what you thought of today’s piece; I’d love to hear from you!

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