Are You Wasting Your Life? 5 Signs to Reassess Your Purpose

Sigal Samuel, a senior reporter for Vox's Future Perfect, recently addressed the question of how individuals can determine if they are wasting their lives. According to Samuel, people often feel unfulfilled in their careers, despite being good at their jobs and contributing to the public discourse. This sentiment was expressed by a reader who worked in communications for a decade, helping to disseminate important ideas to the public, but felt that their efforts were not having a significant impact. Samuel suggested that individuals should reframe their thinking about their potential and the concept of making a grand impact on the world. She proposed that people have multiple values that are equally valid, but often conflict with each other. This idea is based on value pluralism, a concept that acknowledges the existence of various values and their potential contradictions. Samuel's advice column, "Your Mileage May Vary," provides a framework for individuals to navigate these moral dilemmas. The reader who submitted the question to Samuel's column was concerned that their friends, who had built their careers around making a significant positive impact, were more successful in achieving their goals. However, Samuel argued that success is not solely defined by the magnitude of one's impact. She emphasized that individuals should focus on their own values and what brings them a sense of fulfillment, rather than comparing themselves to others. Samuel's approach to this question is rooted in her understanding of the complexities of human values and the limitations of measuring success. She noted that people often have multiple values that are equally important, but may conflict with each other. For example, an individual may value both personal freedom and social responsibility, but these values may not always align. By acknowledging and working with these conflicting values, individuals can develop a more nuanced understanding of their own potential and what it means to make a positive impact. Samuel's advice is particularly relevant in today's society, where individuals are increasingly expected to make a significant impact on the world. The pressure to achieve grand goals can be overwhelming, leading some people to feel like they are wasting their lives if they do not meet these expectations. However, Samuel's approach encourages individuals to focus on their own values and what brings them a sense of fulfillment, rather than comparing themselves to others. In conclusion, Sigal Samuel's recent article on how to determine if one is wasting their life offers a thought-provoking perspective on the complexities of human values and the limitations of measuring success. By reframing our thinking about potential and impact, individuals can develop a more nuanced understanding of their own worth and what it means to make a positive contribution to the world.