If "finding your purpose" is the goal, why does the process feel so stressful? This episode unpacks the hypothesis that our human need for meaning is a psychological trap. We explore the data showing that a frantic search for meaning is correlated with high anxiety , while the presence of meaning is a powerful antidote. We also examine how historical shifts, rigid gender roles , and the empty promises of consumerism have created a perfect storm for existential stress—and how to find a way out.