Hey Reader,
Have you ever hit a milestone and still felt like it wasn’t enough?
You’ve crossed the seven-figure mark, launched the product of the year, or maybe even landed that career-defining feature in Forbes.
But instead of the happiness you thought you’d find there, there’s… nothing.
Just the next goal staring back at you.
In today’s newsletter, we’ll uncover the reason behind this, and what you can do to always be happy with your achievement.
🗯️ Maya Angelou’s Journey to True Purpose
Maya Angelou wore many hats throughout her life — dancer, singer, playwright, and actress.
But none brought her the purpose she was seeking.
Despite her early success in entertainment world], happiness felt just out of reach.
That was until she fully embraced her role as a writer and poet.
Her breakthrough came when James Baldwin and other close friends urged her to write about her life.
Reluctantly, she wrote and published her iconic autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
The book shared her life story from her hardest moments to her greatest victories, and showed how she discovered who she really was.
Angelou often spoke about how writing allowed her to connect with her true self and her deepest calling and inspire others through storytelling.
She didn’t just chase accolades; she sought work that aligned with her soul’s purpose.
In her words, “Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”
🧠 The Self-Made Trap
There’s a rush that comes with achieving something big.
That feeling of crossing the finish line and thinking, “I did it.”
But as time goes on, the finish line keeps moving.
You hear the voice in your head that tells you just one more big win and you’ll be happy…
Hit the next revenue goal. Pull off that ambitious project. Get that recognition.
Then it will finally feel like enough.
So you set a higher and harder goal.
You achieve it, but there’s well … no happiness. Just the anxiety of what’s next.
But hasn’t the voice lied to you before?
Making you feel like you’re pushing harder, moving faster, and driving toward something bigger.
It fuels the fear that if you pause, someone else will outpace you.
But it’s exhausting.
You achieve almost everything you set your eyes on, but you still feel oddly empty.
Over time, this loop leads to burnout, resentment, and a sense of emptiness even when the world sees you as wildly successful.
❤️ The Real Win Is Closer Than You Think
Let’s be honest, most of what you’re chasing isn’t even yours.
That goal you’re running after?
Is it truly what you want, or what you think success should look like?
Imagine waking up each morning excited not because you’re chasing a finish line, but because you genuinely enjoy the journey.
What are you really seeking?
Connection. Authenticity. A sense of purpose that lights you up from the inside, not approval from the outside.
When you stop tying your happiness to a goal you haven’t reached, you'll gain clarity.
You'll stop measuring your worth by what you’ve achieved and start finding joy in who you’re becoming.
You might realize the empire you’re building isn’t entirely aligned with the life you actually want.
And that realization isn’t failure, it’s freedom.
Freedom to say, “This goal isn’t mine, and I’m done chasing it.”
Freedom to pause, reset, and finally build something that lights you up.
Freedom to stop just chasing and start feeling alive.
Your goals are an extension of your purpose, not a measurement of your worth.
The more present you are, the more powerful you become.
And you can finally put an end to the mental marathon.
🤲 Redefining Your Happiness
I get it.
You’ve spent your entire career running this mental marathon.
Slowing down feels risky.
But here’s how you can undo that voice that tells you “I’ll be happy when…” and soak yourself in the excitement of your journey:
- Flip the fulfillment test: Ask yourself this: If no one could see my success, would I still want it? This simple question will tell you whether your goals are truly yours, or a performance for others. If your answer is no, it’s time to pivot.
- Run the 90-year test: Picture yourself at 90 years old, reflecting on your life. Would your current goals still matter to you at that age? If not, stop wasting energy on them. Focus on what will create stories you’d be happy to tell when all the accolades are long gone.
- Set a “BS Filter” on your commitments: If it’s not thrilling, exciting, or meaningful, it’s getting a solid no from you. No explanations needed. Fill your plate with stuff that makes you want to show up excited.
- Savor your wins: Hit a goal? Take five minutes, an hour, whatever, and actually feel it. Replay it. Celebrate it. Don’t just nod and keep running. Nothing is chasing you after all.
🎯 Are You Chasing or Living?
If you pause to enjoy the life you’re building now, how much lighter, freer, happier, and powerful could you be?
The life you want isn’t waiting in some distant “when.” It’s right here.
As Dale Carnegie says, “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”
Every decision you make is building or taking away your happiness in life, piece by piece.
Make your goals intentional.
Make it yours.
That’s freedom.
And freedom brings happiness.
With appreciation,
Huw
P.S.: Struggling with the chase for happiness? Time to look inside. I get it, it can be overwhelming but it’s worth it. Feel free to reply to this email, and I’ll walk you through seeing your priorities clearer for a happier life.
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Huw Edwards
Founder & CEO, h3.xyz
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