Buzz
As graduation approaches, people start asking the inevitable question (“So, what’s next?”), and along with it comes a flood of advice—often outdated and unrealistic career tips.
Filled with quotes from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” and the popular “find a job that makes you happy,” these clichés push the notion that happiness should be our ultimate life goal.
While this advice comes from a good place, it reinforces the false belief that happiness equals success, and anything less is failure. Instead of chasing happiness endlessly, experts suggest we would be better off aiming for fulfillment. Here’s why it matters.
Why Chasing Happiness Can Lead to Disappointment
Many people are conditioned to believe that “happiness” is the result of accomplishing certain goals—such as landing your “dream job”—or achieving major life milestones like buying a house or getting married.
“If you think happiness only comes with a specific job, for instance, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment, because that job could be gone in an instant,” human behavior expert Patrick Wanis, PhD, shared with Psycom in a recent interview. “The continuous chase for ‘happiness’ simply implies it’s something you don’t have.”
Why Aim for Fulfillment Instead of Happiness
In contrast, fulfillment isn’t tied to a particular goal but is rather “the experience of living a meaningful life,” as stated by clinical psychologist Jennifer Barbera, PhD.
In practice, this involves dedicating yourself to activities that ignite your passion and are meaningful to you—whether it's having the time and resources to travel or engage in a specific hobby, supporting a cause you believe in, or having the emotional and mental space to nurture relationships and build friendships.
This focus makes fulfillment more achievable and long-lasting compared to the constant chase for happiness.
“Fulfillment may help a person better navigate emotions like disappointment, sadness, loss, and anger,” Barbera explained in the same interview with Psycom. “It involves embracing a full spectrum of emotions, from joy and excitement to boredom, disappointment, sadness, fear, anxiety, and even embarrassment or shame.”
