Meaning does not always announce itself before the work begins.

A great deal of meaningful work feels like nothing at the start. It is unclear, unglamorous, and gives no sign of significance until you are well into it. Waiting for the feeling of meaning before beginning filters out most of the things that would eventually provide it.

Be willing to start something that does not yet feel important. Give it long enough to develop. Meaning is frequently a late arrival, and it does not come to work that was never begun.