Beyond happiness and meaning: why psychological richness might be what you’re really seeking
Many of the people I’m working with are in a season of reflection. After years spent building careers or caring for others, they’re now asking: What do I really want from life?
For some, the answer is more happiness—feeling lighter, less burdened. Others seek meaning—a sense of purpose or contribution. But there’s a third, quieter yearning I’ve noticed too: a craving for depth, novelty, or perspective. A desire to feel fully alive, even if that means walking through the unknown.
Psychologists now have a name for this: psychological richness.
What the science says
For decades, psychology focused on two pathways to a good life:
• Hedonic well-being—seeking happiness, comfort and satisfaction.
• Eudaemonic well-being—pursuing meaning, purpose and personal growth.
But in 2020, researchers (Oishi et al.) proposed a third dimension: the psychologically rich life—a life filled with variety, curiosity, complexity and perspective-shifting experiences.
We may want more than we realise
Most people say they want a happy or meaningful life. But when researchers asked indirectly, many revealed something else: a longing for a life that feels interesting, diverse, and transformative.
This points to a blind spot in how we define well-being. Many people I coach describe feeling flat or stuck—even when life is technically “good.” What they may be missing is psychological richness—they just didn’t have the words for it.
The research highlights
Two global studies uncovered powerful insights:
- In one study, while most people chose happiness or meaning, up to 17% chose psychological richness when asked directly. And when allowed to describe their ideal life freely, many included elements like novelty and interest.
- In another study, 28–35% said that undoing their biggest life regret would have made their life psychologically richer—even more than happier or more meaningful.
Why this matters
A psychologically rich life is:
• Emotionally intense—but often transformative
• Fueled by change, travel, learning, or navigating upheaval
• Chosen by people who are curious, open, and growth-oriented
It shows that discomfort and disruption can be valuable—not just in hindsight, but in the moment. They’re signs we’re evolving.
Is this what you’re seeking too?
If you’ve been feeling the nudge toward something more—beyond happiness, beyond purpose—you’re not alone. You might be seeking a life that’s psychologically rich: full of new experiences, shifting perspectives, and emotional depth.
Try gently inviting more variety into your days. This could look like attending a new workshop, trying a yoga class, or finally saying yes to that cold plunge you’ve been curious about. Notice how you feel afterward—has it stirred something in you? Has it added a sense of richness or aliveness?
It matters. Because growth doesn’t always look like staying calm or comfortable. Sometimes it looks like expanding, changing, or stepping into something unfamiliar.
If this resonates with you, and you’d like to explore this together.
BOOK A CHAT let’s talk about shaping a life that feels true, full, and deeply you.