Why not both? We can optimize for happiness and meaning:
"First, let’s disentangle the difference between feeling sad, empty, and dissatisfied with life, versus wondering that the purpose of life is all about. They are somewhat related in that people who are content with life and the opportunities it offers don’t generally feel bad when thinking about philosophical questions like, what is the meaning of life?"
From: Going Through An Existential Crisis? Some Advice On Happiness From A Few Good Movies https://moviewise.substack.com/p/going-through-an-existentia...