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What Does Meaning Have to Do with Happiness In Life?

It’s not easy to build our lives around what truly matters in a world with so many choices. Is a happy life the most important thing? Or a meaningful one? Does your life need meaning to be happy, or must you experience greater happiness to find life more meaningful?

While some might argue that happiness and meaningfulness are two distinct entities, some argue that the two go hand-in-hand — inseparably intertwined.

What does meaning have to do with happiness in life?

One of the reasons that meaning might be linked with happiness is because when our lives have purpose and significance, it can lead to a more positive outlook on life.

People who feel like their lives have meaning are more likely to experience positive emotions, such as joy and enthusiasm, than those who feel like they are just going through the motions and seeking things that bring them temporary pleasure.

Researchers looked at how having a meaningful life affected people’s happiness levels in one study. They found that those who reported having a more meaningful life were happier than those who did not.

However, while meaning might make you happier on average compared to those who don’t experience as much purpose and significance, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be happier from moment to moment. For instance, one study shows that parents report feeling more purpose and meaning than those without children, yet generally experience less happiness and positive emotions and more negative ones.

This research suggests that meaning plays a larger role in our long-term emotional well-being rather than how we experience day-to-day momentary emotions. In other words, a life filled with meaning might make you generally happier but doesn’t necessarily contribute to daily happiness.

From these studies, we can see that meaning has a lot to do with happiness in life – but what’s unclear is what “meaning” means for different people.

How might the pursuit of meaning affect your day-to-day living?

You are likely happier when pursuing something with personal significance rather than doing things just for fun. When our lives have meaning, it often provides us with a sense of purpose and responsibility.

On the other hand, enjoyment is important in our lives as well. After all, we need to take a break from our responsibilities and enjoy ourselves. So, it is important to find a healthy balance between meaning and pleasure in our lives.

Can a person be happy without meaning?

Most people seem to need a sense of purpose in their lives, and if they don’t find it naturally, they will search for it elsewhere. This is why many people turn to things like volunteering or philanthropy; by helping others, they can help themselves.

Still, you can find happiness in not necessarily fulfilling things – like feeling comfortable in life or having enough money. But you can also find fulfillment in the things that bring you happiness.

It’s important to remember that what matters most to each individual is different, so there isn’t a right or wrong answer – only your definitions of happiness and meaning matter.

While we may never fully grasp the impact that meaning has on our happiness, we know that it has the potential to make us happier. Understanding more about the relationship between meaning and happiness is a great place to start, especially if you feel like one or the other is missing in your life. 

Consider trying new and different things and see what makes you happiest. From here, it’s up to you to explore what this means for you and find ways to start experiencing more meaning, happiness, or both in your own life!

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