According to Psychologists, the Most Important Thing for a Fulfilling Life
When we think about what a good life entails, we can imagine a life filled with happiness or determined by a sense of purpose. Perhaps we imagine a life of contentment and stability sustained by a close-knit group of friends and family, or a life in which we spend years working towards a meaningful goal, with all the long hours and sacrifices necessary.
However, as important as happiness and purpose are, we may be overlooking another important component: openness to new and different experiences. In a recent article published in the Psychological Review of the American Psychological Association, two psychologists argue that our concept of what a good life looks like should include considering whether it is “psychologically rich,” which they define as “characterized.” thanks to many interesting and perspective-changing events. “
Psychological wealth is critical
As one of the authors, Erin Westgate, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Florida, told Quartz , adding psychological diversity as a criterion for a good life is important because it broadens our understanding of what a good life might look like. “It’s not just that ‘things are going well and smoothly,’” Westgate said.
Psychological wealth can include a variety of experiences, some of which will bring happiness, while others will bring tremendous struggle. Living abroad, in a country where you need to learn a new language, is a difficult experience, but it can change our views forever. Making the decision to pursue a difficult career or move to mid-career is a choice that, while filled with challenges, can add incomparable breadth and depth to our life experiences.
Even a mental illness, a family emergency, or any of the many other issues that force us to step out of our comfort zone can also make our lives more psychologically fulfilling. While we are unlikely to want to go through these experiences, they can change our views and bring psychological wealth into our lives.
The most important factor in a good life
As the authors point out, more anticipated factors are also critical: happiness and commitment will keep you going a long way. Depending on your personality and your values, you may prioritize one of these aspects over the others. But they write : “[A] While some people’s lives may be higher in one dimension than others, happiness, meaning, and wealth are the three components or dimensions of a good life, not independent types of life.”
Generally speaking, people who place a high value on happiness tend to value stability as well as a positive mindset, and people who place a goal first tend to have strong moral principles, while those who tend to psychological wealth, tend to value curiosity and spontaneity. The authors of the article note that there are additional aspects to consider that are not considered in these categories – creativity, intellectual curiosity and caring for others among them – but the most important is the development of self-knowledge in order to determine who you are and what you value, because it define what a good life looks like to you.