What makes for a good life? Shigehiro Oishi, a happiness expert and professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, said most Americans equate it with success and productivity. But he believes it’s time for a new path to fulfillment.
On a recent episode of the podcast 10% Happier with Dan Harris, Oishi discussed two common paths that people believe lead to a good life: happiness and meaning.
“Happiness is actually feeling comfortable, safe, and content,” he said. “The meaning of life often has three components,” he said.
According to Oishi, these elements are: feeling that your life matters, feeling that your life is guided by purpose, and believing that your role in life is coherent and compatible.
While these paths can lead to fulfillment for some, others may feel trapped by pursuing them, Oishi explains.
“You can maximize your personal success and increase your happiness, or you can actually reduce your ambition and increase your overall happiness,” he said. “Unfortunately, the majority of Americans care only about maximizing their own success,” and the result can be a hedonic treadmill in which people are never satisfied with their accomplishments.
When it comes to meaning, people may associate it with concrete contributions to society. This can lead us to compare ourselves to influential historical leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Mother Teresa and feel that “we are not equipped to live such meaningful lives,” Oishi says.
Or some people lean toward causes they truly believe in and don’t make space for or support other causes. Oishi cites the political situation as an example of the effects that can occur as a result of the search for meaning.
To avoid the possible traps of pursuing this version of happiness or the meaning of a good life, Oishi suggests another path: psychological enrichment.
“Experience something interesting and turn it into a story.”
“A psychologically rich life is one filled with interesting, diverse, and perspective-altering experiences,” Oishi said. While material wealth focuses on money and assets, “you can replace that money with experiences and stories that are inherently personal.”
He explained that visiting new places, reading novels, watching new movies frequently, and immersing yourself in new hobbies can foster psychological well-being.
Oishi said, “I want them to experience something interesting and tell a story about it.” “It’s really important to write about it and talk about it.”
If you have a habit of watching movies that pique your interest, you should embed those memories in your psychological portfolio by discussing them with others or writing reviews, he says.
He explained that while difficult moments such as divorce or job loss can have a negative impact on happiness, they can have a net positive impact on spiritual well-being in the long term. “If you have this psychological enrichment mindset, what matters is whether you learned something new (or) whether you gained some insight into your life.”
After such an experience, he suggested, they should also “write it down.” Journaling about setbacks can help you find silver linings and lessons, and talking about the situation with loved ones may give you a different perspective.
“Many people struggle and try hard to find meaning in their lives and true happiness,” Oishi said. “Perhaps for them, spiritual richness is the way of life they have been pursuing.”
We believe that psychological enrichment is not just the path to a good life, but another way to a good life.
Want to level up your AI skills? Sign up for CNBC Make It’s new online course, “How to use AI to better communicate at work by Smarter by CNBC Make It.” Get specific prompts to optimize your emails, notes, and presentations for tone, context, and audience.
Plus, sign up for the CNBC Make It newsletter for tips and tricks to succeed at work, money, and life, and request to join our exclusive community on LinkedIn to connect with experts and colleagues.
