Prioritizing Meaning

Prioritizing Meaning as a Pathway to Meaning in Life and Well-Being

Journal of Happiness Studies

The need for meaning in life may fall below physiological needs like eating enough and finding shelter to stay warm, yet once those foundational needs are met, which for many of us they are, we tend to seek self-fulfillment.

Viktor Frankl, Holocaust survivor and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, argued that “what matters is not the meaning in life in general, but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.”

The study

Researcher Pninit Russo-Netzer at the University of Haifa in Israel developed a survey to measure the effect of prioritizing meaning. She's asked, for example, if you agree with the following: “The manner in which I organize my day reflects values that are meaningful to me.”

In a nod to Dr. Frankl, participants also answered questions about how much they were searching for meaning in life and, to find a meaning in all this research, the were asked about overall well-being.

The results

To no one's surprise, people who prioritize meaning through their actions tend to have greater meaning in life. What’s more (and this is what initially caught my attention) is that those were the same people who experience less negative emotions. If you’re actively searching for a higher meaning then the decisions you make throughout the day will reflect that. A sense of optimism and control follows.

Finding meaning in everyday life is associated with things we’re all looking for: higher life satisfaction and happiness were two that stood out to me. This suggests that looking for happiness as a way to feel good might lead to a dead-end, so you're better off trying to control your actions instead of your feelings.

I don’t think this is a turn-that-frown-upside-down type of approach that positive psychology tends to push. It’s not advocating for positivity no matter what, rather positivity that comes from your choices.

Takeaway

How did you spend the last 24 hours? If you’re looking for a meaningful life, then it’s important (crucial?) to take ownership and attempt daily habits that align with your values. Easier said than done, I know, but it begins by focusing energy on your actions, not your feelings. The good news is that this type of behavior has the potential to increase both short- and long-term happiness.