Do you ever wake up in the morning with a heaviness in your stomach, heading to work and wondering: 

“Who am I?” 

“Am I truly happy with what I do?” 

Maybe deep down, you already know the answer, but you push it aside because expectations and obligations often speak louder than your desires.

Fourteen years ago, in my first book about the growth and coming-of-age of a thirteen-year-old adolescent, I wrote: 

“In life, you should do what you love because that’s the only way to truly be happy.” 

I’ve shared this message countless times with his peers. But somewhere along the way, I drifted away from what I had written. And today? I can only say that life often has its own way of reminding us what truly matters. Today, I’m more aware than ever that life is too short not to live authentically.

Research shows that people who do what they love experience greater life satisfaction, better emotional stability, and a lower risk of stress. When we invest our time and energy into activities aligned with our values and interests, we cultivate an inner sense of meaning and fulfillment. But what if life’s circumstances tie us to something we don’t love? What if we can’t change our job right away? The answer isn’t to give up on what drives us but to find ways to incorporate it into our lives. If you can’t fully do what you love right now, think about this: 

“How can you make room for it in your daily life?” 

Maybe it’s through hobbies, volunteering, or setting aside time for what brings you joy. Even small steps toward what you love can make a big difference in your energy and motivation. Every moment you dedicate to what you love strengthens your connection with yourself and reminds you of what truly matters. This doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges, but when we do what drives us, challenges become opportunities for growth, not obstacles. 

In the end, true success isn’t just about what we achieve but how much we enjoy the process, how much happiness and fulfillment we feel in what we do. That feeling of happiness, fulfillment, and peace can’t be replaced by any material success. Ultimately, true success is living in alignment with yourself.