Q: I feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to do in life, but I’m not actually happy. Why is that?
Franca’s Answer: That’s a powerful question — and it’s more common than people admit.
Sometimes, you can follow all the expected steps — education, work, responsibilities — and still feel something is missing.
The reason is simple, but not always easy to accept: doing what is expected is not the same as doing what is aligned with you.
From a young age, most people are guided toward certain paths. Study this. Work here. Achieve that. These directions are often practical and well-intentioned.
But they don’t always take into account what genuinely interests or fulfills you.
So you move forward, doing the “right” things, but without asking whether those things actually fit you.
Over time, that creates a quiet disconnect.
You’re progressing externally, but internally, something feels off.
The first step is awareness.
Instead of asking “What should I be doing?” start asking “What actually matters to me?”
That question can feel uncomfortable because it doesn’t always have an immediate answer.
But it’s important.
Next, look at your daily life. What parts feel energising? What parts feel draining?
These patterns give you clues.
Happiness is rarely about one big change. It’s about alignment in small, consistent ways.
You don’t need to completely restart your life.
But you may need to adjust parts of it.
Introduce things that reflect your interests. Reduce things that feel forced or misaligned where possible.
Also, be careful with comparison.
Many people who seem “happy” are simply good at presenting it. You don’t see their full reality.
Finally, understand this:
It’s okay to question your path.
It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re becoming more aware.
And that awareness is where real change begins.