Some people expect the job to be the meaning. But sometimes meaning comes from how you work, not where you work. It comes from mentoring someone new, from solving a tricky problem, from knowing your work made someone else’s easier.
A job can be a source of purpose, but it’s not the only one and neither should it be. And when you stop expecting it to fill every need, you give yourself permission to build a career that includes, but not limited to your role. Meaning can come from side projects, community, family, creativity. A good job gives you the space and stability to build those, too.