Within the Map of Meaning framework, you don’t “reach,” “achieve,” or “unlock” your full potential—you express it. This subtle mindset shift can help you create a worklife with less angst and more joy.

From glowing biographies of ruthless CEOs to the often-gladiatorial hiring process, work culture has encouraged us to think of ourselves first. The problem? No one actually benefits from selfish behavior at work. We use the Map of Meaning’s “Service to Others” pathway to make a case for small acts of selflessness in the workplace.

With one in five employees saying they feel lonely every day, it’s high time we found new ways to meaningfully connect. We used the Map of Meaning’s “Unity with Others” pathway get started.

What does it even mean to be “yourself” at work, and who gets to do this anymore? We used the Map of Meaning’s “Integrity with Self” pathway to cut through the noise.

An ongoing tug-of-war between our realities and our dreams is central to any meaningful worklife. In this piece, we unpack this key tension using the Map of Meaning framework - and explore how connecting the two can enable us to thrive at work.