You probably don't say it out loud. But I imagine you feel it: you want more.
Not more things. More meaning.
And the moment that thought surfaces, something else arrives right behind it. Another inner voice that says, who are you to want more? Look at what you have. You should be grateful.
So you probably push it down. Get back to work. Focus on what's in front of you.
But it comes back. It always comes back.
As I see it, the desire for more meaning isn't a lack of gratitude. Nor is it weakness. It certainly isn't a midlife crisis or a sign that something is wrong with you.
I see it as this: simply wisdom.
At a certain stage of life and career, the hunger for something deeper isn't just a symptom to be managed. It's actually a signal which is worth listening to. You can call it a sign that you've outgrown something, rather than failing at it.
The leaders I work with who sit on this, almost without exception, are the ones with the most to give. They have the most depth. The most capacity for genuine impact. They've simply never been given or given themselves permission to want more.
You can be deeply grateful for what you've built and still feel the pull toward something that matters more. Those two things are definitely not in conflict.
Wanting a life that feels fully alive isn't shameful. To my mind, it's the most human thing there is.
From there, consider this. Take your time because the implications might be profound…
What’s the ‘more’ that you've been afraid to want and name?
Photo by Sylas Boesten on Unsplash