Have you ever found yourself hitting all your life’s targets but still feeling like something’s missing? On paper, everything seems perfect: a job you’ve had to hustle so hard for, a social life that’s active enough, maybe even a hobby or two. Yet, there’s this gnawing feeling, a quiet whisper that something doesn’t quite add up.

This is the paradox of modern life: nothing’s wrong, but nothing feels quite right either. For many of us, the hustle mentality keeps us laser-focused on what’s next—a promotion, a pay raise, or the next big milestone—while overlooking whether our lives align with what truly matters. Are we filling all our buckets, or are we letting some run dry in the relentless pursuit of success?

The Bucket Theory

We’ve all been told to “do what fills your bucket”, but did you know we all have more than one bucket to fill? Instead of thinking you have one bucket I want you to divide them into 5 with these 5 being;

1. Work & Achievement
2. Relationships & Connection
3. Physical & Mental Health
4. Fun & Creativity
5. Personal Growth

These buckets are all interconnected, and when one runs dry, it often drains joy and fulfilment from the others.

Yet, we live in a culture that glorifies the grind. Hustle hard, and life will supposedly reward you. “Once I land that dream job, everything will fall into place.” “Once I get promoted, I’ll finally have time to focus on what matters.” This hustle mentality urges us to pour nearly all our energy into the Work & Achievement bucket, often neglecting the others. At first, it might feel like you’re making progress, but eventually, an imbalance forms.

This leads to the “Full But Empty” Paradox: outwardly, your life looks full, but internally, there’s a sense of hollowness. Why? Because hyper-focusing on success in one area—often work—means we may unintentionally neglect other essential aspects of our life: connection, creativity, personal well-being, or fun. Ironically, it’s in these overlooked areas where genuine satisfaction often resides. Maybe your career is flourishing, and you’ve built an impressive resume, but when was the last time you spent quality time with loved ones, recharged your mental health, or had fun just for the sake of it?

So what do we do?

The hustle mentality often pushes us to chase external markers of success, but it’s important to ask yourself: Are the things I’m striving for even aligned with what I truly value?

Conducting a Life Check-In

Conducting a simple life check-in can help us to identify our core values, analyse our current situation and clarify what’s missing:

Step 1) Identify Your Core Values.

• List your top five values, such as connection, joy, security, or personal growth. If you’re unsure click here for a list of common core values.

Step 2) Rank the Buckets.

Decide which areas are most important to you right now. Which buckets should be prioritized?

Step 3) Assess the Imbalance.

• Evaluate your buckets: Which ones are flourishing? Which are being neglected?

Step 4) Spot Misalignment.

• Reflect on where your energy is going and if it supports your values. For instance, if connection ranks high, are you spending enough quality time with loved ones?

Recalibrating Your Hustle: Finding What’s Missing

Intentional shifts can bring balance back into your life. Here are actionable steps for filling your neglected buckets:

• If you’re neglecting relationships: Set aside dedicated time for loved ones, whether it’s a weekly coffee with a friend or dinner with family.
• If fun or joy feels scarce: Revisit childhood hobbies or experiment with new activities. Reflect on what used to make you smile and carve out time to enjoy those things again.
• If your mental health is struggling: Slow down. Build rest, mindfulness practices, or therapy into your routine.
• If creativity is absent: Commit to passion projects, attend a creative class, or explore brainstorming activities that inspire you.

It’s not about perfection or filling every bucket evenly. Life will always ebb and flow. The key is continuous adjustment to maintain alignment with what matters.

Embracing the Ongoing Process

Life isn’t a linear checklist; it’s a dynamic process of growth, reflection, and recalibration. That lingering feeling of dissatisfaction? It’s likely your intuition nudging you toward realignment.

Instead of pushing it aside, welcome it as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and consciously craft the life you want—not just the life that looks good on paper.
Ask yourself today: Am I chasing success, or living a life that aligns with who I truly am? Success isn’t a one-size-fits-all concept, and true balance lies in honouring the full spectrum of what makes you, you.

Engaging in mindfulness is a great way to check in and centre yourself on the present moment. Click here for Quick Activities to Cultivate Mindfulness.

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