The Meaning of Work: 10 Essential Questions to Ask Yourself

Sorry for the click‑bait title. I’ve been racking my brain for a while and still didn’t know how to write this.

The original question comes from a public‑account post by a former big‑tech graduate who is now a mental‑health counselor.

I’m sharing this because after reading those ten questions my mind went completely blank. A month has passed and it’s still blank. I think this may be one of the reasons I’m feeling lost and burnt out at work right now.

I’m sharing it for every worker who feels confused, burnt out, or directionless.

May we all someday find our own answers.

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The Questions

I sincerely invite you to find a quiet place, set aside 30 minutes, and answer the following 10 questions carefully. I’m sure you’ll gain something valuable.

1. What is the most valuable knowledge you’ve learned during the years you’ve worked at this company? How has that learning shaped who you are today?
2. What importance does staying in or leaving this role/company hold for your future life?
3. Staying in or leaving this role/company aligns with which of your professional or life values?
4. What traits, skills, or experiences do you have that make you a better fit for this company (or a target company) than others?
5. Before you retire, what is your most important life goal?
6. Where do you imagine yourself ten years from now? How might others refer to you?
7. What is the one thing you most want to change about yourself? Which traits are you unwilling to change, and why?
8. What was the most pivotal choice you ever made that has shaped who you are today? (Not just the circumstance, but the action, response, and effort you put in.)
9. Since the beginning, what have you steadfastly held onto without ever changing?
10. What aspect of yourself are you most grateful for or most proud of?

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This is my answer, written after nearly twenty days of procrastination. Even I don’t think it’s a proper answer.
What is the most valuable knowledge you’ve learned during the years you’ve worked at this company? How has that learning shaped who you are today?
My professional skills have hardly improved; what I’ve learned is how to understand organizations and the people inside them. Often it isn’t an individual’s will that decides things—people get swept along by the system. This insight helps me grasp why certain social problems arise, but the bad news is I still don’t know how to break the cycle; I remain a passive recipient.
What importance does staying in or leaving this role/company hold for your future life?
I don’t know the meaning of it. It’s mostly a decision made under uncertainty about the future, a weak job market, and a lack of courage to change. For now, the decision feels like a 🐶 (a dead‑end).
Staying in or leaving this role/company aligns with which of your professional or life values?
I’m not sure what my professional or life values are, but I can name two things I pursue: continuous growth and progress, and working alongside outstanding people (not just smart, but also charismatic). I hope one day I can become that kind of person, and I know my current environment can’t satisfy those two aspirations.
What traits, skills, or experiences do you have that make you a better fit for this company (or a target company) than others?
An open mind, curiosity, and a diligent work ethic.
Before you retire, what is your most important life goal?
If you’d asked me five years ago, I might have answered “become a CEO, marry a rich, beautiful woman, reach the pinnacle of life.” Right now, my goal—assuming basic living needs are met—is to make my life meaningful and valuable.
Where do you imagine yourself ten years from now? How might others refer to you?
I have no clue where I’ll be, and I don’t mind what people call me. I just hope I’ll be seen as a trustworthy person.
What is the one thing you most want to change about yourself? Which traits are you unwilling to change, and why?
I wish I were more patient, more “elastic,” and better at handling pressure—so I can survive this ever‑changing society. The thing I refuse to change is what makes me different from others. I am who I am; I don’t need to become a standardized product. I’m a handcrafted piece of art.
What was the most pivotal choice you ever made that has shaped who you are today? (Not just the circumstance, but the action, response, and effort you put in.)
Changing versus accepting, striving versus letting go. This shift happened in 2023. It’s had some impact on me now, and sometimes I think actively making a change is better than staying stagnant—at least it gives me hope for the future.
Since the beginning, what have you steadfastly held onto without ever changing?
I don’t know. Thinking back to the me who graduated ten years ago, I was truly brave—daring to think, act, love, and hate. Those qualities have faded, which is a bit regrettable.
What aspect of yourself are you most grateful for or most proud of?
Thank you, self. It’s been a hard road; the adult world is truly tough.
P.S. Modern women have it rough, especially in our country.

Feel free to DM me on the public account if you’d like to discuss.

Let’s find the answers together.

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Product Manager | Reading | Travel | Psychology | Everyday Life

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Originally written by Estela Young and published in Chinese on 一只产品汪的自白. Translated and edited for DriftSeas with permission.