Choosing a life involves several goods that can come apart: enjoyment, security, achievement, relationships, and meaning. A worthwhile activity may be difficult, and an enjoyable routine may feel empty. The question concerns what makes engagement valuable, beyond whether it produces pleasant experiences or visible success.
The choice can involve both subjective engagement and the worth of what engages us. A person might care intensely about an activity with little value, or perform valuable work while feeling entirely detached from it. Combining these dimensions explains why meaning cannot simply be inferred from enthusiasm or public usefulness alone. Relationships, creative practice, learning, and care can matter without becoming grand achievements, so an adequate account should leave room for ordinary forms of significant involvement.