When John Lennon was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he wrote down ‘happy’ but was told he didn’t understand life. However, more and more people are looking beyond career aspirations to focus on what it means to live a meaningful and happy life. But is there a difference between these two ideas?
Spiritual leaders, scientists, researchers, philosophers, and teachers have long debated the purpose of life. Happiness and purpose are two common themes that arise, sometimes together, sometimes separate.
So, is a happy life the goal, or is living a meaningful life the answer? Or does living a happy life naturally come with meaning? This article explores what makes a life worth living.
Living a Happy Life
Happiness is often felt, not defined; you know when you feel it, and your sense of happiness may differ from the next individual. However, it is often associated with an emotional state, interchanged with other emotions such as gratitude.
Scientists even measure happiness and suggest ways to be happier. Suggestions on how to be happy in life include:
- Physical exercise
- Acts of kindness
- Positive relationships and community
- Flow
- Finding strengths and virtues
- Positive mindset
- Self-care
- Spiritual engagement and meaning
‘Flow’ refers to finding a challenging but enjoyable activity you enjoy that allows you to experience a joyful ‘flow’ state. However, there is also Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which refers to the fact your basic needs, such as food and shelter, need to be met in order to pursue other motivations.
So, why is it that some people feel happy even in hardship, whereas others may feel happiness continues to allude them?
There are a variety of reasons people may feel happy. And not everyone feels happy in the same situations. The key difference may be finding ways to live a meaningful life.
Living a Meaningful Life
What is often overlooked in the pursuit of happiness is what it means to live a meaningful life. A meaningful life is often defined as one where you have a sense of purpose, which helps engage you with the world and connect you with your values. Advice to find meaning in life often includes:
- Pursuing your passions
- Knowing your values
- Focusing on the present moment
- Getting to know yourself
- Finding a sense of purpose
Similar to happiness, there is no one way to live a meaningful life. However, what remains evident is that meaning cannot be taken away from you. According to Viktor Frankl, who spent six months in a concentration camp during World War II, life can hold meaning under any conditions, even the most miserable ones.
Happy Life vs. Meaningful Life
When you begin to look more closely at what it means to live a happy life and meaningful life, you begin to notice some differences. Research has also found differences between living a happy life and a meaningful one. For example, one study found several different markers between living a meaningful or happy life.
Living a happy life but not meaningful life included:
- A sense that life is easy
- Focused on short-term goals and instant satisfaction
- Good health
- Feeling good most of the time
- Access to what you need and want
Whereas living a meaningful life but not necessarily a happy one included:
- Spending time with loved ones
- Helping others
- Spending time thinking more deeply
- Long-term planning
- Rewarding self
Research such as this indicates that it is possible to live a meaningful life even without happiness, and vice versa. The main difference is that a happy life is often when you can satisfy your needs and wants, whereas this is not always relevant for a meaningful life.
Other differences include happiness being a fleeting experience that can focus on short-term goals and the present moment. In contrast, a meaningful life appears to focus more on the long-term too. Happiness is more about receiving, whereas meaning comes from finding a relationship between your inner and outer world, including giving to others.
The Similarities
Despite the differences between a happy life vs. a meaningful life, there are some similarities. These similarities include feeling connected to others, not feeling bored, and finding enjoyment in certain events. There are also some factors that do not relate more to happiness or meaning, including:
- Relaxing alone
- Sleeping
- Buying gifts for yourself
- Spending time online
- Exercising
Some of these activities bring happiness and meaning to people’s lives, such as exercise or relaxing alone. In comparison, other activities may bring a fleeting sense of meaning or happiness but may negatively impact you long-term, such as spending time online.
A happy life and meaningful life also share the similarity that no one has been able to fully define which either means, which means it comes down to the individual to find a sense of happiness or meaning in themselves. Some markers of a happy and meaningful life may make sense to you, whereas others may not.
Living a Meaningful Life or Happy Life?
Naturally, people want to live a happy life, and it is important to continue to find healthy ways to enjoy life. However, what is evident is that living a meaningful life can bring you a more profound sense of satisfaction and joy.
After all, many celebrities appear to have many factors to be happy, but many also seek ways to find meaning. This suggests happiness can be a state that comes and goes, whereas a meaningful life is deeper and something you can find within. There are definitely components of meaning and happiness that are interchangeable and reinforce each other too.
You Can Live a Happy and Meaningful Life
Sometimes meaning is found out of hardship, but you can also actively find meaning in life. You can also take steps to feel happiness, and with meaning, you can find a sense of long-term satisfaction. What is vital is to focus on your inner world and how to find the answers within, whether you want a happy life or a meaningful one.
Did you find this article helpful? We have a variety of articles to support your well-being and career as a software engineer. Check out the Happiness section for more posts.
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