♟️ The Metagame #033: The Path to Fulfillment

Are you satisfied with your life?

Chances are, if you’re reading this, the answer is “not entirely.”

Maybe you have a good job, but feel unfulfilled. Maybe you have a great relationship, but struggle financially. Or maybe you’re “successful” according to your Instagram posts, online persona, and societal standards, but you still feel like something is missing.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

The truth is, fulfillment isn’t just about chasing dreams and “finding your passion.” It’s about something much more fundamental: taking care of your needs in the right order.

Here’s what’s in store for today:

• Ikigai and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

• Your Foundation for Satisfaction

Read time: 4 minutes

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is one of the most well-known psychological theories for a reason: it’s a powerful framework for understanding human motivation.

It’s usually depicted as a food-pyramid-like structure with five levels:

1. Physiological Needs: Food, water, sleep, shelter. The basics. Without these, nothing else matters.

2. Safety Needs: Health, personal security, financial stability. You need to feel safe and secure before you can focus on anything else.

3. Love & Belonging Needs: Family, friendships, sense of community. Once survival is secured, you need to seek connection.

4. Esteem Needs: Recognition, respect, confidence. This is where self-worth and external validation come in.

5. Self-actualization: Purpose, creativity, personal growth. This is where true fulfillment happens.

The pyramid structure goes to show that you can’t just skip steps.

If you’re struggling financially, it’s hard to focus on finding meaning in your work.

If you don’t feel safe, your brain isn’t thinking about self-improvement. It’s worrying about survival.

If you don’t have a strong support system, external validation won’t fill the void.

Too many people chase fulfillment without first developing a strong pyramid base. They wonder why they feel stuck, but the answer is simpler than they think: they’re trying to jump ahead in the hierarchy before taking care of the essentials.

Ikigai

Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being.” It’s a way to find fulfillment and focuses on four overlapping ideas:

1. What you love (passion)

2. What you’re good at (skill)

3. What the world needs (impact)

4. What you can be paid for (sustainability)

True fulfillment happens at the intersection of all four.

But the mistake most people make is they try to “find their Ikigai” before addressing their basic needs.

Ikigai is a powerful tool for self-actualization, but it won’t help much if you’re struggling with rent, feeling unsafe, or lacking strong relationships. Before you chase your higher purpose, make sure your foundation is solid.

The Path to a Fulfilling Life

So, how do you apply these concepts to your life?

Here’s a checklist of questions I came up with to help you stay on track:

1. Check your basics

• Are you getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising?

• Do you have financial stability, or are you constantly stressed about money?

• Do you feel safe in your current environment?

If these aren’t taken care of, that’s your priority. You can’t build a meaningful life on a shaky foundation.

2. Strengthen your relationships

• Do you have close friends you can reach out to?

• Are you making time for family and loved ones?

• Do you feel a sense of belonging in your community?

No one thrives in isolation. If you’re feeling unfulfilled, look at your relationships. A meaningful life isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you do it with.

3. Build confidence

• Are you challenging yourself and building new skills?

• Are you proud of the work you do?

• Are you setting (and meeting) your goals?

Confidence comes from competence. The more you improve, the better you’ll feel.

4. Chase fulfillment (the right way)

• What excites you? What do you love doing?

• How can you contribute to something bigger than yourself?

• What work aligns with your skills, interests, and values?

This is where Ikigai comes in. But it only works when the other levels of the hierarchy are achieved and maintained.

Fulfillment isn’t just about chasing big goals or finding your “passion.” It’s about building your life in the right order.

Take care of your foundation first—your health, security, and relationships.

Then build confidence.

Then chase meaning.

Trying to skip steps will only leave you feeling lost. But when you move through the hierarchy in the right order, true satisfaction becomes inevitable.

Are you focusing on the right level right now?

Quote of the week

Thanks for reading!

If you have any questions, hit me up on LinkedIn or on 𝕏 at @sam_starkman, or feel free to reply to this email!

— Sam