People have been asking what makes life meaningful for as long as anyone can remember. Philosophers, religious thinkers, self-help books, everyone has had a go at it. What’s interesting now is that scientists are circling back to a fairly plain answer: meaning is less about grand purpose and more about what you do for other people, often in small, unremarkable ways.
Recent research covered by New Scientist brings this idea into focus, drawing on psychology, behavioural science, and long-running studies on happiness and well-being.
To explore this, Fuhrer and Florian Cova from the University of Geneva ran a series of online studies involving hundreds of people in the US. Participants were asked to judge fictional lives and also reflect on their own. Some lives were comfortable and lucky, others were more focused on helping others.
The pattern that emerged was consistent.
The fourth was different. It was about impact. Specifically, whether what you do has a positive effect on other people.
This is where the research stands out. Fuhrer and Cova argue that feeling useful to others is not just a bonus, but central to how people judge whether their life means something.
Schnell’s own research proposes slightly different facets, including a sense of belonging in the world. Still, she emphasises that meaning is not about ticking every box. As she puts it, “It’s more about not having an area of your life that is problematic, with no coherence, no significance, no mattering or no belonging.”
Frank Martela from Aalto University in Finland points out how this plays out in daily life, especially at work. “They do their job, they get their salary, but they feel that nothing positive comes out of it,” he says, describing people who feel their work lacks meaning. Over time, that feeling can slide into hopelessness or depression.
The answer is not necessarily a dramatic career change. Meaning can come from small acts. Martela notes that it might be as simple as bringing a colleague a cup of coffee.
Studies on the “hedonic treadmill,” first described by Brickman and Campbell, show that people adapt quickly to good fortune. Lottery wins and material gains don’t lift happiness for long. Activities tied to values and contribution tend to last longer.
Cultural research also supports this. Eastern traditions, according to Joshanloo, emphasise self-transcendence and harmony over individual achievement. Helping others, accepting suffering, and focusing on connection are seen as part of a good life, not distractions from it.
Evidence backs this up. Studies cited in the journal show that volunteering, strong relationships, gratitude practices, and meaningful work are all linked to higher life satisfaction and lower depression.
As Schnell advises, “Find out who you think you are, who you want to be and what you can bring to this world, and then see how you can apply that to something that sustainably benefits others.”
It’s not a flashy answer. But across disciplines and cultures, science keeps returning to the same idea: meaning grows when your life touches someone else’s, even briefly.
Recent research covered by New Scientist brings this idea into focus, drawing on psychology, behavioural science, and long-running studies on happiness and well-being.
Meaning doesn’t come from the stars
As New Scientist puts it, the meaning of life is not something hidden in the universe waiting to be discovered. Joffrey Fuhrer from the University of Eastern Finland argues that the question matters not because it has a cosmic answer, but because understanding meaning can help therapists and counsellors guide people who feel lost or stuck.To explore this, Fuhrer and Florian Cova from the University of Geneva ran a series of online studies involving hundreds of people in the US. Participants were asked to judge fictional lives and also reflect on their own. Some lives were comfortable and lucky, others were more focused on helping others.
The pattern that emerged was consistent.
Four things that seem to matter
According to Fuhrer, meaning has four main dimensions. He said, “We find that there are four different dimensions.” Three were already familiar from earlier work: coherence, which is being able to make sense of your life over time; purpose, meaning direction; and significance, the feeling that your life matters.The fourth was different. It was about impact. Specifically, whether what you do has a positive effect on other people.
This is where the research stands out. Fuhrer and Cova argue that feeling useful to others is not just a bonus, but central to how people judge whether their life means something.
Debate over impact and significance
Not everyone agrees that impact is separate from significance. Tatjana Schnell from the MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society in Oslo says, “I agree completely that this kind of concept belongs to the core elements of the experience of meaning. But what’s the difference between impact and significance? There is none, really.”Schnell’s own research proposes slightly different facets, including a sense of belonging in the world. Still, she emphasises that meaning is not about ticking every box. As she puts it, “It’s more about not having an area of your life that is problematic, with no coherence, no significance, no mattering or no belonging.”
Frank Martela from Aalto University in Finland points out how this plays out in daily life, especially at work. “They do their job, they get their salary, but they feel that nothing positive comes out of it,” he says, describing people who feel their work lacks meaning. Over time, that feeling can slide into hopelessness or depression.
The answer is not necessarily a dramatic career change. Meaning can come from small acts. Martela notes that it might be as simple as bringing a colleague a cup of coffee.
Happiness, meaning, and why pleasure fades
Research published in the International Journal of Neurolinguistics & Gestalt Psychology helps explain why chasing pleasure alone doesn’t work. Psychologists distinguish between hedonic happiness, which is about pleasure and comfort, and eudaimonic happiness, which comes from living in line with your values and strengths.Studies on the “hedonic treadmill,” first described by Brickman and Campbell, show that people adapt quickly to good fortune. Lottery wins and material gains don’t lift happiness for long. Activities tied to values and contribution tend to last longer.
Cultural research also supports this. Eastern traditions, according to Joshanloo, emphasise self-transcendence and harmony over individual achievement. Helping others, accepting suffering, and focusing on connection are seen as part of a good life, not distractions from it.
Evidence backs this up. Studies cited in the journal show that volunteering, strong relationships, gratitude practices, and meaningful work are all linked to higher life satisfaction and lower depression.
As Schnell advises, “Find out who you think you are, who you want to be and what you can bring to this world, and then see how you can apply that to something that sustainably benefits others.”
It’s not a flashy answer. But across disciplines and cultures, science keeps returning to the same idea: meaning grows when your life touches someone else’s, even briefly.
