Core Summary
This article uses the concept of the “Odyssey period” to explain the widespread sense of confusion and aimlessness among young people today—not a lack of direction, but rather a loss of control over their lives. It offers a solution: by achieving a specific victory, one can create positive feedback, find meaning in action, and ultimately become someone who solves problems, turning the uncertain journey of life into a purposeful voyage.
Detailed Analysis
1. The Loss of Control: Not a Lack of Goals, but the Powerlessness to Make Decisions
Young people frequently change jobs and cities not because they don’t know what they want, but because they cannot build any “solid foundations” in any situation. Old paths to success (such as believing that hard work will lead to promotions and raises) no longer work, and new rules have yet to be established. A deeper underlying anxiety is the feeling of having no control over their lives: for example, they may have to passively follow instructions at work without being able to influence decision-making processes. This sense of powerlessness is truly tormenting.
For instance, a study from the University of London found that civil servants with lower ranks, despite stable incomes, have higher rates of coronary heart disease because they lack control over their work—similar to someone who is constantly pressured by a boss to do things they dislike and cannot decide when to rest, which can lead to both physical and mental health issues over time.
2. The Winner Effect: One Victory Leads to Success
The simplest way to regain control is to achieve a specific victory. Experiments at Zhejiang University showed that when two mice compete for a pipe, the weaker one always loses, but if it is helped to win six times, it will continue to win on its own later on—this is known as the “winner effect.” For people, this means needing a clear positive feedback, such as learning to cook a dish, completing a small project, or writing an article that is recognized. These small successes give you the confidence to believe in your abilities, leading to a cycle of “success → greater success.” What young people lack is not a big overarching goal, but one undeniable victory that can break their confusion.
3. Meaning Is Achieved Through Action, Not Imagined
Many people think they need to find the meaning of life before taking action, but the truth is the opposite: meaning is a byproduct of action. If you don’t know what you like, try different things; if you succeed, you discover your strengths; if not, you can rule out one option. These small achievements also serve as a buffer against failure. For example, if you are going through a breakup and have a good job, the pain will be less severe; if you are unemployed at the same time, the pain will multiply, dragging you into despair. Therefore, the more confused you are, the more you should engage in tangible, recognized activities, such as obtaining a certification or learning a skill—these are pillars against emptiness.
4. Becoming Someone Who Solves Problems: True Strength Comes from Within
The key to gaining control over your life is not controlling others (such as pushing children too hard or using networking), but improving your ability to solve problems. You can’t control others’ will, but you can train your own skills. With each problem solved (e.g., closing a deal with a client or fixing a bug), your value within the system increases, and so does your control over your life.
Just like Odysseus, who didn’t passively drift through the sea; he refused the goddess’s offer of eternal life and sealed his ears with wax to ignore the sirens’ songs, making each step a deliberate choice. Ithaca (the goal) wasn’t something that awaited him; it was the land that formed under his feet as he solved problems one by one. Even if you’re in a “Odyssey period” for life, as long as you continue to solve problems, you won’t be a passive wanderer.
Final Message
Confusion is not scary; what’s scary is waiting passively. Achieve a victory first, then find meaning through action, and eventually become someone who solves problems. Every step you take is building your own Ithaca.