Hmmmmm. I agree absolutely with everything else you said and I am not sure but I may agree with this quote but I am going to have to think about this for awhile.

Growing up I always knew I wanted to change the world. Probably not in a big way but nevertheless I wanted to change a bit of it that would be better off from my life. I think I have done this in my work as a paramedic and critical care nurse. I know absolutely that there have been some patients who were circling the drain who are alive because of my actions as their nurse. Perhaps my impact on the world is not huge in magnitude to the world as a whole but I know that I changed the outcome for some patients and their families and for me that is enough positive change in the world for me to be satisfied.

But that brings me back to your statement. I am happy and content with my life. Is that a result of having achieved my life's goals? If I had worked a boring, unrewarding job would I still feel happy and content? Is the purpose of life to be happy and content or is it to be effective in achieving goals? Or are they intertwined?

Trying to truly understand is making my head spin in circles.

Doggone you and your seemingly simple, yet deceptively complex quote.