A young professional I coached recently shared his story.
He had just landed his first job out of college. Moved to a Tier-1 city. Good salary — enough to live good life, explore the city, save and invest a decent amount.
The early days were thrilling. New job, new friends, new restaurants, late-night drives, weekend trips. It felt like life was getting awesome.
But a year later, he started feeling a void. The city wasn’t as exciting anymore. Evenings felt longer. Loneliness crept in quietly.
To fill the gap, he pushed himself harder at work. When that wasn’t solving his problem, he started competing. Comparing salaries, chasing faster growth, attending events that only triggered more FOMO.
Reason: Somewhere along the way, he unconsciously believed and convinced himself: “I am feeling down because I am behind in my career. More success and money will fix this.”
But the harder he chased, the emptier he felt. A vicious loop.
Through coaching, he realized the problem wasn’t money at all. It was the absence of close relationships.
He missed the college gang, the cousins he could be silly with, the street friends he grew up sharing everything with. People who would listen to his rants — without judgment and celebrate his small wins.
Once he started rebuilding those connections, the shift was dramatic. He felt lighter. More secure. The FOMO melted away. And the spark returned.
It left both of us with this reflection — Sometimes what we’re really missing isn’t more money, but more meaningful conversations & relationships.
The next time life feels dull despite going “smoothly”, maybe the answer isn’t in the office — but in the people you haven’t called in a while.
Have you ever mistaken money for meaning in your own journey? Share your experiences.
P.S. I’m currently practising coaching techniques to help people get clarity about their careers/emotions/challenges. I’m offering a few sessions. DM me if you’re curious to explore.
