Finding Meaning in What You Give to the World
Have you ever had a quiet inner voice whisper something true about who you’re meant to be—only to drown it out with doubt, busyness, or fear?
For years, I ignored mine. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I spent too long listening to the louder, negative voices in my head—the ones that insisted I wasn’t good enough. It took time (and a few wrong turns) to finally tune them out and start listening to that gentler, wiser voice that had been there all along. The one reminding me: writing is what I’m supposed to be doing.
And I’ll bet you have an inner voice too—one that knows your calling and has been patiently waiting for you to stop and listen. It knows what only you can give to the world.
The Antidote to Burnout: Meaning
In my book Beyond Burnout: The Overachiever’s Guide to Beating Burnout for Good, I talk a lot about how burnout isn’t simply a matter of being tired—it’s a signal. It’s your life tapping you on the shoulder to say, something isn’t working here.
One of the most powerful antidotes to burnout comes from the work of Dr. Viktor Frankl, the psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor who founded logotherapy—the art and science of healing through meaning. According to Frankl, there are three primary ways we find meaning in life:
In what we give to the world—by creating something, sharing our gifts, or contributing in a way only we can.
In what we experience—by being present in nature, art, or relationships that connect us to the beauty of life.
In how we respond—by choosing our attitude, even in difficult circumstances.
In this week’s Beyond Burnout podcast, I explored that first path—finding meaning in what we give to the world—and why it’s vital to our well-being.
Why We Stop Wanting Things
During my research for the book, I noticed a pattern. Many people—especially high-achievers who’ve been burned before—have quietly stopped wanting things. Maybe they once chased a dream that didn’t work out. Maybe they felt embarrassed for trying. Over time, they built emotional armor to protect themselves from disappointment.
But that armor comes at a cost.
When we stop wanting things, we stop creating. And when we stop creating, we lose touch with the very energy that makes life meaningful.
Here’s the hard truth: the risk of not wanting anything is far greater than the risk of failing. Failure teaches, refines, and grows us. But giving up on desire leaves us open to burnout—because when we don’t define what we want, other people’s agendas will fill the void.
The Power of “Noö-Dynamic Tension”
Frankl introduced a powerful concept called noö-dynamic tension—the healthy mental tension between where you are and where you want to be. It’s the force that keeps your story moving forward.
Think of your life as a movie. Every great story has a hero who wants something: Indiana Jones wants to find the treasure before the villains do. E.T. wants to go home. Without that desire, the story would fall flat. The same is true for you. Without something to strive toward—a goal, dream, or creative project—your life loses its plotline.
That gentle pull between your present and your potential isn’t stress; it’s purpose. It’s what keeps you growing, learning, and living with vitality.
Reclaiming Control of Your Story
Setting a goal or pursuing a dream also shifts what psychologists call your locus of control—your belief about what influences your life. People with an external locus believe life just happens to them. Those with an internal locus believe they have power to shape their outcomes.
Here’s the thing: you have more control than you think. You can’t control the weather or the traffic or the random curveballs life throws your way—but you can control how you respond. You can choose your goals, your focus, your next step. That choice alone moves you from feeling like a bystander to feeling like the main character again.
Your Plan of Action
If you’ve been in the burnout zone for a while, it can feel hard to even know where to start. Here are a few reflection prompts to help you reconnect with your sense of meaning:
What’s the plot of your movie?
If your life were a film, what would your main character be striving for? Write down one “scene” you’d love to see—publishing your book, starting a business, running a 5K, or painting in your studio.
What scares you (just a little)?
The best goals live just beyond your comfort zone. If it doesn’t scare you at all, it’s too small. But if it terrifies you, scale it back slightly. Aim for the sweet spot that stretches you toward growth.
Get specific.
Vague dreams don’t inspire action. “Get healthier” is too broad. “Run a 5K without walking” is clear and measurable. You don’t need the perfect goal—just pick something meaningful and start. Remember, action creates meaning.
The Meaning Is in the Doing
Burnout isn’t cured by rest alone. It’s healed through meaning.
When you take action toward something that matters—when you give your gifts to the world—you reclaim your sense of agency, creativity, and joy.
As Donald Miller writes in Hero on a Mission:
“Being too busy is easy enough to manage. It’s being too busy in the wrong direction that feels miserable.”
Let’s start moving in the right direction again.
Visit beatburnoutforgood.com/resources for free tools to help you reconnect with your purpose, including a daily planning sheet, burnout quiz, and mini-guide called Before You Burn It All Down.
