Chasing the meaning affords us a deeper and more sustainable sense of life satisfaction than happiness ever could.

Happiness is all well and good. Problem is, happiness is elusive. In fact, according to research the more we chase happiness, the less likely we are to attain it. As Viktor Frankl indicates in his must-read Man’s Search for Meaning, happiness cannot be pursued but rather must ensue.

Notably, though, we can pursue meaning, and it affords us a deeper and more sustainable sense of life satisfaction than happiness ever could.

Writer Emily Esfahani Smith lays out the how of seeking meaning in her excellent book The Power of Meaning, which I’ve made required reading in a number of my psychology classes at Bates College (and students email to thank me for this requirement, months and years after class is over!). Smith combed through positive psychology research and identified four “pillars of meaning”:

Belonging: feeling connected to people who accept you for who you really are
Purpose: engaging in activities that are meaningful to you and that have impact beyond yourself
Transcendence: experiencing moments of connection to something larger than any of us
Storytelling: creating a narrative for your life that makes sense and helps you recognize your moments of redemption and growth

If you don’t have time to read Smith’s book right now, she offers a great primer in her TED talk.

We can go after the pillars of meaning and make them a reality for ourselves - in our work, in our relationships, in our community. Given this, I don’t want you to have a Happy New Year. Instead, I wish you a meaningful 2020 - and beyond!