Fear can be a sensation in the body or it can be the body’s physical reaction. When I say the body’s physical reaction, I am not talking about the traditional fear response, including quickening of breath, dilated pupils, and blood rushing to your extremities in preparation for fight or flight; no. I am talking about the daily walk of fear that some of us take. Going to meaningless jobs, getting the paycheck, going home, watching TV, and going to bed. That is quite a depressing picture.

Now, sometimes a job funds the things a person really wants to do, but is that the norm or the exception? I think those that have a meaningless job, and aren’t satisfied, also have some other activities that aren’t adding value to their lives. I don’t think meaningless job and meaningless life are mutually exclusive. I have known plenty of people, including myself, that have had very simple, mundane jobs, but they enjoy the simplicity, and it funds their life away from work. In those situations, the relationship between work and life fits well. It meets the needs of both parties; work gets done and boss is happy, play gets done the way the person wants it, and all parties’ needs are met.

When I talk about meaningless life, I am talking about the person whose needs are not met. They are stuck, either personally or professionally. They are in a loop of meaninglessness. (I didn’t believe meaninglessness was a word when I first wrote it, but there it is.) The loop of meaninglessness is brutal.

How does one get off the fear loop? There may be available off ramps, but fear keeps the person on the “road” that “they” say you should be on. “They…” I don’t like “them.”

I have responsibilities, I understand the need to stay on the loop, for a time. The metaphor I am getting at is, what preparations are you making to take an off ramp? Does it take much? Your answer may surprise you.

If you must, stay on the loop, but have an exit strategy; even if you are only planning on looking at what is on the off ramp. LOOK. Having a meaningful life involves a good deal of SEEKING a meaningful life. The fear walk is not looking at what is possible for yourself. There is no benefit to not looking. Knowing the possibilities available to you can inform your next, meaningful, value-rich step. I’ll leave you with this gem, “Direction is so much more important than speed. Many are going nowhere, fast.”