Why do so many people feel stuck — even after they’ve done everything right?
For decades, Bill Burnett and I have been teaching design thinking and life design at Stanford and beyond. When we published Designing Your Life nine years ago, over a million readers joined the movement and began designing better lives.
We’ve heard it all — stories of struggles, small improvements, and big successes.
But no matter the outcome, one thing keeps coming up:
“I still don’t feel fulfilled.”
That’s the problem. People everywhere are stuck on the question of meaning. It’s one of the most common prompts typed into AI: “Help me find my purpose.” Clearly, this question is alive and urgent.
And yet, the way we’ve been framing it may be keeping us stuck. “What is the meaning of life?” is a huge, timeless question — but right now, it’s leaving people frustrated.
As designers, we think it’s time to reframe. The better question is:
How can I design more meaning in my life, right now?
Over the next week, Bill and I will share what we’ve learned — and what’s next.
What about you? Have you ever felt that gap — even after hitting your goals, something was still missing?
