What Science Tells Us About Living a Meaningful Life

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Across various media outlets and cultural platforms, I've noticed an increasing focus on meaning in life. It's a hot topic, with many recognizing its importance for individual and societal wellbeing. Some are even beginning to appreciate that our major societal challenges – from political polarization to mental health issues – have an existential component.

As an existential psychologist who believes the human quest for meaning plays a central role in many areas of our lives, I'm encouraged to see this topic gaining more attention in our public discourse. However, these discussions often only superficially examine the nature of meaning. They tend to ignore or barely scratch the surface of the extensive scholarly and empirical literature on what meaning is, how people find or create it, and its impact on various aspects of our lives.

That's why, for this week's newsletter, I want to offer an overview of the science of meaning. As someone who has been conducting studies, writing and editing books and articles, and advising organizations on this topic for over two decades, I believe it's crucial to ground our understanding of meaning in solid research.

So, let's dive into what we really know about meaning in life – not just philosophical musings, but insights backed by empirical investigation. Whether you're grappling with your own existential questions or interested in how meaning shapes our society, this overview will provide you with a foundation in the science of what makes life meaningful.

In future newsletters, I'll delve deeper into specific issues and studies in existential psychology. But for now, consider this your basic primer on the science of meaning – a starting point for understanding this crucial aspect of human experience.

What is Meaning?

Humans have likely pondered questions about the meaning of life for as long as our species has existed. We can trace these existential explorations back to ancient literature, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, a 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian poem that grapples with themes of mortality and meaning. In the 20th century, existentialism emerged as a distinct philosophical subfield, and humanistic psychologists began to seriously examine the role of meaning in human flourishing.

Today, the field of existential psychology uses empirical tools to study how humans approach existential concerns and find meaning in life. While scholars may have different theoretical perspectives on why we seek meaning, there's general agreement that meaning is a fundamental human need.

Meaning is a broad concept that can be conceptualized at distinct levels of analysis. At the lowest level, meaning can be understood as basic sense-making or pattern detection. That is, low-level meaning is about order, coherence, and predictability. At this level of analysis, meaning largely concerns the world external to the self. As a result, low-level meaning-making may not be specific to humans but instead can be thought of as an organism's effort to understand (make sense of) their external environment to successfully navigate and thrive in it.

However, human meaning-making goes far beyond this basic level. We are highly self-aware, able to reflect on the past and ponder the future, and possess remarkable imaginations. Our advanced cognitive abilities allow us to do more than just understand our external physical environment; we actively strive to make sense of our inner lives and connect that meaning to the world around us.

This allows us to ponder profound questions about our purpose, contemplate what makes life worthwhile, and aspire to leave an enduring impact. We can mentally traverse time, linking past, present, and future to shape our lives in pursuit of long-term goals. Our imaginative and creative capacities enable us to envision a self unconstrained by physical mortality.

In short, we're an existential species driven to achieve a personal sense of meaning within a larger cultural context. This pursuit of meaning is a fundamental aspect of what makes us distinctly human.

How Do People Find Meaning?

Research consistently reveals that meaning is deeply social in nature. For most people, the primary and most powerful source of meaning comes from family and close relationships. When asked what gives their lives meaning, individuals typically point first to these intimate bonds.

However, the social nature of meaning can extend beyond our closest circles. We also derive meaning from activities that improve the lives of others in our communities, our nation, and the world at large. 

Regardless of whether our existential endeavors focus on our closest loved ones or the broader world, social significance lies at the heart of meaning. Crucially, this goes beyond mere belonging or feeling connected; it's about believing we play a vital role in others' lives. This sense of mattering—of having a meaningful impact on those around us—is what truly imbues our existence with significance.

Whether we're a spouse, parent, friend, coworker, or leader, our actions become meaningful when we perceive them as making a positive difference. For example, studies show that workers find greater meaning in their jobs when they focus on how their work benefits others rather than how it advances their own careers. This principle extends across all areas of life: we derive meaning from our actions when we see them as having a significant, positive impact on the people and world around us.

Religion and spirituality significantly contribute to meaning for many, primarily by amplifying social significance. These belief systems and their associated rituals often connect individuals to a broader community and to something greater than themselves, while offering roles that enhance personal purpose. Many religious and spiritual traditions emphasize service and community contribution, reinforcing the idea that meaning stems from positively impacting others' lives. Even solitary practices like private prayer or meditation often involve a perceived connection to a higher power or universal consciousness, extending social significance beyond the physical realm to a cosmic or divine level of mattering. Even those who don't identify as religious or spiritual often seek ways to transcend their individual existence, engaging in pursuits that connect them to larger, more enduring group identities and projects.

How Does Meaning Improve Our Lives?

The benefits of having a strong sense of meaning in life are far-reaching. People who feel their lives are meaningful report higher life satisfaction and are less susceptible to depression, suicide, and substance abuse. It helps people cope with life's challenges, uncertainties, and losses, enhancing overall resilience.

When people believe their lives matter, they're more motivated to improve their lives and the lives of others. Meaning energizes self-control and goal-directed action, creating a positive cycle of achievement and further meaning. Consequently, a meaningful life is linked to improved physical health outcomes, greater success in reaching personal goals, and even increased longevity.

In my view, the key to these benefits lies in what I call the "meaning mindset" or existential agency - the belief that you have the power to find and maintain meaning in your life. I think this mindset is crucial in motivating us to fully utilize our unique human capacities for self-regulation and goal pursuit. This perspective helps us understand the inherently social nature of meaning, framing it in terms of social agency. We don't derive meaning from passively being part of a family, friend group, workplace, community, or nation. Instead, meaning comes from actively using our talents, skills, and life experiences to make a difference in the lives of others. In essence, meaning involves agentic action - it's about consciously and deliberately engaging with our social world to create positive change.

In conclusion, meaning in life is not just a philosophical concept - it's a powerful force that shapes our mental and physical well-being, our motivation, and our ability to flourish. While the paths to meaning are as diverse as we are - reflecting our unique personalities, talents, interests, and life experiences - the science reveals a common underlying fabric crucial for everyone.

This shared foundation of meaning centers on social significance and agentic action. Regardless of our individual circumstances, meaning emerges when we actively take responsibility for our lives and strive to make a positive difference in others' lives, whether within our immediate circles or the broader world. Understanding this core principle enables us to navigate our individual journeys toward meaning more effectively, leveraging our unique attributes to contribute to something greater than ourselves.

By grasping both the universal aspects of meaning revealed by science and the personal nature of how we pursue it, we can take more informed steps to cultivate meaning in our own lives and support others in doing the same. The key lies in recognizing our potential for social impact and actively working to realize it, creating a life that is not only personally fulfilling but also significantly contributes to the world around us.