Not every victory rings hollow—some achievements carry genuine weight. But when ambition becomes untethered from joy, success can morph into a disconnecting pursuit. In Silicon Valley, it’s easy to chase impact, growth, and genuine quality of life concerns — while losing touch with our daily ease, our closest relationships, and our deeper mission. This essay untangles internal ambition (our soul’s compass) from misaligned achievement (seductive metrics that seldom satisfy) and shows how to cultivate purpose connected to your true voice and values.