Expert Advice from Aliaa Remtilla, PhD, Harvard-trained Anthropologist, Executive Coach and Startup Founder
Question
Dear Hope+Wellth, I’ve achieved so many things I once dreamed of, but I still feel unfulfilled. How do I reconnect with a sense of purpose?
Answer
Dear Unfulfilled Achiever,
First – congratulations. You’ve done what so many people never manage: you turned dreams into reality. That deserves a pause before anything else. Acknowledge it. Let yourself feel proud. This isn’t a “you’re doing it wrong” moment – it’s a “what’s next?” moment.
Feeling unfulfilled after achieving your goals is more common than most people admit. It’s not because you’re ungrateful or broken. It’s because the dreams you had were designed by an earlier version of you. You’ve grown, and your dreams need to grow with you.
Here’s a strategy to help you reconnect with a sense of purpose:
Step 1: Audit your wins and why you wanted them
Write down your biggest achievements. For each one, ask: Why did I want this at the time? You might see patterns: proving yourself to others, gaining security, belonging to a certain group.
I had a client who realized that half her proudest milestones were about gaining approval from people whose opinions no longer mattered to her. That clarity freed her to focus on goals that mattered now.
