The Meaning of Life – Why Success Without Meaning Feels Empty and How to Create Your Own
- Brainz Magazine
- Sep 25, 2025
- 6 min read
Written by Tannaz Nouri, Mindset Coach
Tannaz Nouri is a certified life and mindset coach specializing in science-backed self-love and spiritual transformation. She helps high-achieving women heal, awaken, and reclaim their power from within.
In a world where success is often defined by titles, achievements, and material wealth, many people, especially women, find themselves asking a haunting question. “Why do I feel so empty when I’ve achieved so much?” The truth is, success without meaning is like a beautifully decorated home with no foundation. It may look impressive from the outside, but inside, it can feel hollow, unstable, and unsatisfying.
This article explores the science, philosophy, and spirituality behind meaning, revealing how narrative coaching and psychological research demonstrate that we can reshape our life stories to achieve deeper fulfillment and happiness.
Why meaning matters
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, in his classic “Man’s Search for Meaning”, discovered that those who survived even the horrors of concentration camps weren’t necessarily the strongest or the healthiest, but those who had a sense of purpose. Meaning, he showed, is not a luxury, it is a lifeline.
Modern neuroscience now confirms this. Studies show that having a sense of purpose actually changes the brain, improving resilience, regulating emotions, and enhancing motivation. Meaning is not an abstract philosophy, it is a biological and psychological necessity.
The science of flourishing
As a certified coach trained in self-flourishing through the positive psychology of Martin Seligman, I’ve witnessed how meaning directly shapes human happiness. Seligman’s PERMA model, Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment, proves that meaning is not just “one part” of a good life. It is the glue that binds every other element together.
Without meaning, achievements fall flat, relationships feel shallow, and even joy is fleeting. But with meaning, even challenges and failures take on a deeper value.
The silent struggle of successful women
Many women today are powerful, educated, and outwardly successful. They’ve climbed the ladders their mothers and grandmothers could only dream of. Yet, behind the polished LinkedIn profiles and curated Instagram feeds, many quietly confess, “something is missing.”
This emptiness is not a failure. It is a signal. A sign that the soul is asking for more than success. It is asking for meaning. Without it, external success quickly turns into restlessness, dissatisfaction, or burnout. The nervous system never relaxes into a sense of “I am enough.”
Philosophy meets psychology
Philosophers have wrestled with the question of life’s meaning for centuries. Aristotle believed that true fulfillment comes from “eudaimonia” living in alignment with virtue and purpose. Jean-Paul Sartre argued that life has no predetermined meaning, and it is our responsibility to create it. William Glasser, in his Choice Theory, reminds us that meaning is not something we stumble upon, it is something we choose and actively create, and every human behavior is driven by attempts to meet five basic needs, love, power, freedom, fun, and survival. Meaning emerges when we align our life story with these core needs.
The beauty is that all these perspectives converge, meaning is not “found” somewhere out there, it is built, chosen, and lived.
Narrative identity: Rewriting your story
One of the most powerful discoveries in modern psychology is the concept of “narrative identity.” Each of us carries an inner story that explains who we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going. This story shapes our emotions, decisions, and even our health.
Neuroscientists and psychologists agree that our brains are wired for story. We don’t just remember events, we weave them into narratives that shape our identity. The story you tell about yourself becomes the lens through which you interpret life.
If your current story says. “I am never enough, no matter how much I achieve,” then no amount of success will bring peace. But the incredible truth is that these stories can be rewritten. Through narrative coaching a process I use with my clients you can shift your perspective, reframe past challenges, and write a story that empowers you instead of diminishes you.
And this isn’t just motivational talk, it is backed by science. Research shows that changing the way we narrate our lives significantly boosts mental well-being, resilience, and long-term satisfaction.
Spirituality and the quantum perspective
Spirituality adds another layer of richness. Across traditions, spiritual teachers remind us that meaning is not external, it is discovered in presence, connection, and awareness.
When we set intentions, cultivate mindfulness, and align with values, we are not just passively existing, we are shaping the very fabric of our experience. This is why meditation, gratitude, and visualization practices have measurable effects on mental health and well-being.
Quantum physics, fascinatingly, echoes this by suggesting that reality itself is influenced by the observer. In other words, how you choose to see life literally shapes the life you experience.
When you shift from asking, “What is the meaning of life?” to “What meaning am I creating in this moment?” life transforms.
The science-backed benefits of meaning
What I share here isn’t just inspirational, it’s grounded in research. Positive psychology (Seligman), narrative psychology, and choice theory (Glasser) all confirm that meaning is not abstract, it is measurable and transformative.
People with a strong sense of meaning report:
Higher resilience in adversity
Greater life satisfaction
Stronger relationships
Stronger immune systems and longer lifespans
When you consciously choose and design your life’s meaning, you are not just creating a more fulfilling story, you are improving your well-being at every level, it’s the engine that powers it.
Three dimensions of meaning you can cultivate
Researchers define meaning in life through three key dimensions:
Coherence: life makes sense. Even difficulties can be integrated into a bigger picture.
Purpose: Even difficulties can be integrated into a bigger picture.
Significance: You feel your life matters, that you are making a difference.
When you nurture all three, you don’t just “exist”, you thrive.
Since I am a certified coach trained in Self-Flourishing Coaching, Positive Psychology, and Choice Theory, I know that everyone has the power to create and customize meaning in life. The smartest approach is to choose meanings that make you feel better, live better, and relate better. These meanings are science-backed, deeply fulfilling, and transform not only your sense of happiness but also your relationships and your contribution to the world.
How to create meaning in your life
Meaning is not something you wait to find, it’s something you actively design. Here are practical, science-backed steps you can take:
“Values audit”: Identify your deepest values. Are your daily choices aligned with them?
“Narrative shift”: Reframe your life story. What if your past struggles were actually the training ground for your purpose? Replace disempowering phrases (‘I’m stuck’) with empowering ones (‘I’m evolving’).
“The next chapter ritual”: Imagine your life story as a book. What would you like the next chapter to say?
“Contribution: Find one small way to serve beyond yourself. Even small acts of kindness can ignite deep significance.
“Perspective practice”: When faced with setbacks, ask, “How can this challenge add meaning to my life story?”
Call to action: Rewrite your story, redesign your life
Success without meaning is an illusion, it shines brightly for a moment, then fades. But meaning gives life depth, color, and endurance. It is what makes joy sustainable, relationships profound, and challenges worthwhile, and Meaning is not given, it is created.
Through science, philosophy, psychology, and spirituality, we learn that we have the power to reshape our narrative and design a life rich with fulfillment. If you feel the emptiness of success without meaning, take this as your invitation. Pause. Reflect. Ask yourself. “What story am I telling about my life? And is it the one I want to keep living?”
Remember, you are the author. You can choose new meanings, better narratives, and richer purposes.
Success may impress others, but meaning transforms you. For successful women who still feel a void, this truth is revolutionary, it’s not about having more, but about living aligned with deeper meaning. And when you choose your meaning wisely, you don’t just survive, you flourish.
Read more from Tannaz Nouri
Tannaz Nouri, Mindset Coach
Tannaz Nouri is a certified life and mindset coach, speaker, and spiritual guide. She blends neuroscience, metaphysics, and ancient wisdom to help burned-out professionals cultivate deep self-love, emotional clarity, and unshakable self-worth. Tannaz specializes in helping women, especially those from culturally suppressed backgrounds, awaken their inner voice and step into conscious leadership. With a background in science and a deep passion for soul work, she bridges the gap between logic and intuition. Her mission is to empower women globally to rise, heal, and lead from within.
