For as long as humans have reflected on their existence, the question of life’s meaning has hovered at the edges of philosophy, religion, and literature. Is life meaningful? And if so, how and why? While these questions may sound like the domain of poets and mystics, modern psychology has quietly built a robust science around the experience of meaning in life — one that demystifies the concept and brings it down from its lofty pedestal into the flow of everyday living.

At the heart of this scientific exploration is a critical distinction: the meaning of life versus meaning in life. The former suggests a grand cosmic purpose — an ultimate answer we may never fully grasp. The latter focuses on a subjective experience, a feeling that life is significant, coherent, and worthwhile. This experiential lens allows researchers to study meaning in life as something that people can report and reflect upon — not as a philosophical truth, but as a personal state of mind.

How Do We Measure the Seemingly Unmeasurable?

Surprisingly, measuring meaning in life has proven feasible. Psychologists have developed tools like the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), which captures both the presence of meaning and the search for it. Despite early concerns about whether such measures might simply reflect mood, studies have shown that meaning in life, whatever people interpret it to be, consistently predicts positive life outcomes — from lower risk of depression and cardiovascular disease to greater resilience and even longevity.

More fascinating is that most people report relatively high levels of meaning in life. Large-scale surveys, including international polls, reveal that across cultures and life circumstances, meaning is not rare. Even individuals facing profound challenges — serious illness, psychological disorders, addiction recovery — often describe their lives as meaningful. This suggests that meaning is not an elite achievement but a common experience, accessible to most people.

What Constitutes a Meaningful Life?

Through decades of research, psychologists have identified three primary components that underpin the experience of meaning in life:

1. Comprehension/Coherence
   Life feels meaningful when it makes sense — when we can see patterns, understand our experiences, and weave them into a coherent story. Our innate drive to make sense of the world is a powerful source of meaning. From daily routines to major life events, creating narrative coherence helps us navigate life’s ups and downs.
2. Purpose
   Meaning deepens when our actions align with personally valued goals. Purpose provides direction and motivation — it is the sense of striving toward something significant. Importantly, purpose is not limited to grand ambitions; even small, consistent pursuits can foster a strong sense of meaning.
3. Existential Mattering/Significance
   We want to believe that our lives count — that our existence matters beyond ourselves. This doesn’t require changing the world; feeling that one’s actions impact loved ones, communities, or future generations can be profoundly meaningful. Even seemingly narcissistic desires for significance are often adaptive, protecting against despair and fostering engagement with life.

Sources of Meaning: More Ordinary Than You Might Think

If meaning in life is widespread, it follows that the sources of meaning must be integrated into everyday life. Research highlights several key contributors:

• Positive Emotions
  Feeling happy, joyful, or content often enhances the sense of meaning. Positive affect is not merely a byproduct but an active ingredient in meaningful experiences. Interestingly, older adults especially find low-key positive emotions, like contentment, strongly linked to meaning.
• Social Connections
  Relationships are a cornerstone of meaning. From family and friendships to caregiving and generativity (leaving a legacy), social bonds structure our lives and validate our existence. The experience of belonging and contributing to others’ lives is a robust predictor of meaning.
• Religion and Worldviews
  For many, religious faith offers an overarching framework that imparts meaning — providing coherence, purpose, and significance. Yet secular worldviews, even authoritarian ones, can similarly imbue life with meaning, underscoring that any coherent belief system can serve this function.
• The Self and Authenticity
  Being true to oneself, knowing and expressing one’s core identity, enhances meaning. Practices like autobiographical reflection and constructing coherent life narratives foster a stronger sense of purpose and coherence. Authentic living — acting in alignment with one’s values — is a reliable pathway to a meaningful life.
• Mental Time Travel
  The ability to mentally traverse past and future enriches meaning. Nostalgic reflection and future-oriented thinking help people connect experiences across time, fostering a sense of continuity and significance. Vivid mental imagery of one’s past or anticipated future can make life feel more coherent and purposeful.
• Mortality Awareness
  Confronting mortality might seem to undermine meaning, but research suggests the opposite: awareness of life’s finitude often heightens its value. Reflecting on death can inspire people to live more authentically and focus on what truly matters. Even near-death experiences are associated with deeper engagement in life and greater appreciation for meaning.

Unanswered Questions and the Road Ahead

Despite these advances, many questions remain. How do momentary experiences of meaning connect to a broader sense of life’s meaningfulness? How does work contribute uniquely to meaning in life? And crucially, how do experiences of meaninglessness and the active search for meaning shape our well-being?

Moreover, the relationship between meaning in life and other forms of well-being remains to be fully clarified. Does meaning offer unique benefits beyond happiness or life satisfaction? The evidence suggests it does, but much work is needed to untangle these complex interconnections.

Finally, while meaning in life is generally associated with positive outcomes, psychologists caution against idealizing it as a rare or morally superior state. Instead, the science suggests that meaning is both ubiquitous and vital — a psychological resource that supports resilience, health, and flourishing.

In Closing

The everyday experience of meaning in life is less about finding some grand cosmic truth and more about cultivating a life that feels coherent, purposeful, and significant. It emerges from ordinary experiences — relationships, routines, personal growth, and reflection. By appreciating these pathways, we can foster richer, more meaningful lives for ourselves and others.

Credits: Based on The Science of Meaning in Life by Laura A. King and Joshua A. Hicks, Annual Review of Psychology, 2021.