Leading expert on meaning in life Dr Michael Steger describes meaning as having three, interrelated elements, that contribute to having a sense of meaning in our lives : For example, the farmers that grow the food you eat the people you pass by or say hello to in your local area the people you help at work or in your community the people you care about and who care about you the doctors and nurses that treat you when you are ill the street cleaners, rubbish collectors and park keepers that help keep our environments pleasant the insects and plants that grow in your garden or window box and the birds that feed on them.īrainstorm as many things as you can think of and how you do or could make a difference. Reflection: Think of all the ways you are connected to and make a difference in the world around you. This might sound huge but it isn’t, we are all connected to the world around us in a myriad of ways which means there are many ways we can make a difference. At its core, it’s a sense of being connected to, part of, and/or contributing to something bigger, beyond ourselves.
Meaning in life can feel like a mysterious or esoteric topic, one that philosophers through the ages, and later psychologists, have tried hard to pin down. In fact, all the other Keys to Happier Living can contribute to finding and creating meaning in your life. Psychologists certainly agree that meaning matters for happiness and there are actions that can help us find or create it.
Meaning in life is integral to this and alongside pleasure, is incorporated into modern-day psychological theories and models of happiness, wellbeing and flourishing. The ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, described a form of happiness that he argued was more important than pleasure alone - ‘activities of the soul that are in accord with virtue’, in other words, help us strive towards the best within us. Working on and towards these things doesn’t always feel pleasurable at the time but enables longer-term satisfaction and fulfilment. Friends, family, pets, work, volunteering, learning, hobbies, creative pursuits like making music or art, nature, faith – examples of things that give life meaning. However, soon their thoughts turn to a different type of happiness.
When we ask people what happiness means to them, their initial thoughts usually describe pleasures – things that in the moment bring joy or other fleeting, positive feeling emotions. We all matter and can make a difference to something bigger, beyond ourselves. Be part of something bigger Meaning matters for a fulfilling and happy life.