The Paradox of Plenty: Why We Feel Empty in Comfortable Times

We live in really good times, most people have nothing to worry about when it comes to survival.

We are spoiled with things that constantly distract us through social media.

Most people can have education, medical help, and a roof above their head.

And still, the burnout rate goes through the roof.

People feel less happy.

People feel more and more lonely and are less fulfilled.

It sometimes can feel like we are the puppets of a play that is written before us or where the main character without friends in a luxurious hell.

I know what it can feel like when your thoughts keep on spinning and thinking of the higher meaning of life.

When you keep on hitting your head on why you keep on feeling empty.

What I experienced a couple of days ago was that I had a really good day.

I checked off everything on my to-do list and earned a good day's salary with my sales, but by the end of the day, I felt lonely and empty because I had no one to celebrate it with.

My friends did not pick up their phone, so it was just me.

It ended up making me feel empty on a really good day.

What we are going to talk about are a couple of key fundamentals for life.

Why?

Well, because we live in good times with a lack of meaning.

The topics we're going to talk about specifically are:

• Lack of depth and meaning

• Joy or fulfillment

• An act of service

After this article, you will have some new perspectives on how you may touch a deeper meaning of life.

Lack of Depth and Meaning

Small talk will keep you at the surface level.

It's the type of conversation that helps you mingle and navigate social situations, but it lacks depth.

You never really get to know someone through small talk.

Currently, we live in an era of small talk where people are hesitant to dig deeper, both into themselves and others.

We consume mindless content through TV, TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram.

Most things must be short and quick, and we no longer take the time for deeper engagement.

We struggle with communication, both with others and ourselves.

The best conversation you will have will be with someone who listens, someone who asks questions, someone who digs deeper.

Use the L.S.A model: Listening, Summarizing, Asking questions.

Someone who dares to ask 'why' multiple times and is genuinely interested.

That is depth.

That is how you create bonds.

That is how you search for meaning.

The worst life someone can live is one without meaning.

Meaning in itself does not exist.

Meaning is something that you create.

Meaning is something that you give.

Meaning is knowing the 'why'.

You get to know the 'why' by creating depth for yourself and others.

Joy or Fulfilment

One of the problems we face is that of too much joy.

When you have too much joy, you never feel fulfilled.

Joy always comes with a price, but you never pay it immediately.

When you drink a lot of alcohol, you feel awful the next day.

If you do it often, you have a high chance of all kinds of illnesses.

When you eat unhealthily, you enjoy eating it, but in the long run, you will have less energy.

When you work out consistently, you do not always want to go and do not always enjoy it, sometimes even endure pain.

But in the long run, you will be more fit, have more energy, and be healthier.

Those are just some examples.

The thing that makes it difficult is that the things that are not good for us but also give us joy are easily promoted and there to grab.

And the things that are fulfilling are more often harder to do, take longer, and are not always fun.

I go to the gym at least 3 times a week, and strive to go 6.

When I wake up, I do not always want to go, I often want to keep on lying in my comfy bed.

But I get out and go, not because I want to but because I know I will be fulfilled after I am done.

A friend of mine once said to me: "Now I go through pain, struggle, and show discipline as an act of self-love to be fulfilled later."

With all the mindless stuff around on TV, Tik Tok, YouTube, or Instagram, it is good to have this distinction of the difference between fulfilment and joy.

Definitely, when we live in times with a lack of depth and an overload of small talk.

An Act of Service

Now, let's come to the final and perhaps most important part to become more fulfilled, to feel more meaning, to live life in a more connected and uplifting way.

That is through the act of service.

People are social animals; the best and greatest things that are built or discovered are almost never done by only one person.

The secret of life is people.

People build, people create, and people work together.

The best things will come your way when you work hard for others, when you are in service.

The best way to solve your problem is to help someone else solve the same problem that you have.

An act of selflessly serving is the thing that will bring you the furthest.

To be committed to other people's greatness.

To have a giver's mentality.

When you are there to get, you will never be as valuable as the person that is there to give.

The thing that is most valuable to give is your full attention and time, to actually see a person, to listen to someone, to bond, to connect, to go through the pain to get to a point of fulfillment.

At the moment, I have three people in my life that I am committed to, that I want to give as much as possible, and that I would go through fire for.

Why?

Because they keep on giving to me and I will always keep on giving to them.

They are the people that I want to talk to when I have good days and bad days.

But the people that I serve and also want to keep on giving to is you.

That is what makes life enjoyable for me, to give and keep on giving.

Enjoy the Ride

Despite living in comfortable times, burnout, loneliness, and dissatisfaction are common.

Our era is dominated by small talk and shallow content, often avoiding depth.

Real connections come from truly listening and asking meaningful questions.

Joy may be fleeting and expensive, whereas fulfillment requires effort and discipline, providing lasting satisfaction.

It's important to recognize this difference to make satisfying choices.

Serving others brings fulfillment, and collaboration leads to our greatest achievements.

Selfless service enhances your purpose and fosters genuine connections.

Commit to others to create a meaningful life.

Seek deeper connections and lasting fulfillment through acts of service.

If you find this article valuable, share it with someone who might benefit.

If you're new here, subscribe for weekly insights, because this is one of my ways of serving you.

Enjoy the ride!

If you want more!!

• To connect with me for any type of questions or a quick chat, follow me on Instagram and send me a DM. Click here

• If you want to see more content and learn, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel. Click here

• Follow me on twitter/X if you want some daily knowledge to consume. Click here

• Same here for Tik-Tok. Click here

That's it for now.

I wish you a good day - Job Baltes.