The Illusion of Forward Fueling Curiosity for a Well-Lived Life

By Mark D Donnelly

We're told life moves forward.

Work hard. Stay busy. Keep climbing. And somewhere out ahead-just beyond the next goal, the next promotion, the next season of life-happiness is waiting.

But more often than not... it isn't. At least not for long.

In The Illusion of Forward: Fueling Curiosity for a Well-Lived Life, Mark Donnelly, PhD, challenges one of modern life's quiet assumptions: that happiness, meaning, and fulfillment live just beyond the next achievement.

Drawing from psychology, behavioral science, creativity research, and decades of real-world observation, Donnelly offers a grounded alternative to the endless chase for more. This is not a book about reinvention. It's about learning to live more fully inside the life you already have.

Through humor, science, and practical wisdom, readers will learn how to:

Break free from the exhausting cycle of "I'll be happy when..."Replace willpower with systems that actually workTurn guilt from emotional baggage into a catalyst for growthShift from external validation to values-driven confidenceRecover joy, wonder, and meaning in everyday lifeBuild stronger relationships through curiosity and presenceProtect personal energy and set healthier boundaries

A well-lived life doesn't begin when everything is finally under control.

It begins the moment you stop chasing what's ahead...

...and start getting curious about what's already here.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1956688781
• ISBN13: 9781956688788
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Rock / Paper / Safety Scissors
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"