Stanford Research Deciphers Key Differences between Happiness and Meaning

Sharon Moore January 06, 2014

As we tirelessly search for happiness, we should also strive to find meaning in our life. Whilst happiness and meaningfulness are the same, they have key differences, according to Stanford researchers. The quest for meaning, they note, is a key part of what makes us human.

Researchers from Stanford Graduate School of Business, headed by Jennifer Aaker, examined how people spend their time and what experiences they cultivate. They surveyed 397 for one month, and asked how they perceive their lives are – whether meaningful or happy, as well as their choices, beliefs and values.

After analysing the results, the researchers arrived to surprising insights. First, whilst the satisfaction of desires was a reliable source of happiness, it had nothing to with a having a sense of meaning. For example, whilst healthy people are happier than sick people, the lives of sick people do not lack meaning. Second, happiness is about the present, and meaning is about linking the past, present and future. This means that when people spend more time looking at the past or thinking about their future, the more meaningful, yet less happy their lives become. However, if they think about the present, they become happier.

The researchers also found that social connections are both important to happiness and sense of meaning. There is, however, varying effects depending on the type of relationship. For instance, deep relationships, such as those shared between family members, increase one’s sense of meaning. When it comes to friendships however, whilst spending time with friends may increase happiness, it had little effect on meaning.

Furthermore, people with highly meaningful lives tend to encounter lots of negative experiences which can result to unhappiness. And whilst the lack of stress may make one happier – like when people retire and no longer have the pressure of work demands – their sense of meaningfulness declines.

According to the researchers, if happiness is about getting what you want, then meaningfulness is about expressing and defining yourself. “A life of meaning is more deeply tied to a valued sense of self and one’s purpose in the larger context of life and community”, they wrote.

Meaning doesn’t always equate to happiness

The Stanford research also suggests that a person can find meaning in life and be unhappy at the same time. Examples of highly meaningful, but not necessarily happy lives may include nursing, social work or even activism. The unhappy but meaningful life involves difficult undertakings and can be characterised by stress, struggle and challenges, according to the researchers. Yet, they are connected to a larger sense of purpose and value, and even make positive contributions to society.

"People have strong inner desires that shape their lives with purpose and focus – qualities that ultimately make for a uniquely human experience," said Aaker.

“Happiness without meaning is characterised by a relatively shallow and often self-oriented life, in which things go well, needs and desires are easily satisfied, and difficult or taxing entanglements are avoided”, the researchers wrote.

Their findings were published in the Journal of Positive Psychology.

Source of this article:

Stanford research: The meaningful life is a road worth traveling