Discovering Life’s Meaning
This section highlights the concept of well-being and life satisfaction particularly their aspects, what they mean to an individual, the factors that contribute to them, and their consequences to daily living. This section also highlights discusses the significance of well-being and life satisfaction in today’s challenging times.
Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Human beings are naturally inclined to assess their life, reflect on the choices they have made, evaluate the consequences of such choices, and learn lessons from various experiences.
Well-being and life satisfaction are interchangeably used but there is a thin line that distinguishes one from the other.
Well-being, being intrinsic in nature, is an inner, personal construct, associated with self-esteem, and self-understanding. It is how good one feels about himself/herself.
Life satisfaction is also intrinsic but in this case, it is the general attitude towards life. When well-being and life satisfaction are present, happiness naturally flows.
However, in some cases, happiness is generally regarded as the emotional result of life satisfaction. Happiness can be subjective and temporal while life satisfaction is more encompassing.
Life satisfaction can refer to the desire to change one’s life, satisfaction with the past, satisfaction with the future, and significant other’s views of one’s life (Diener, et al., 1999). It is also associated with quality of life.
How well-being and life satisfaction achieved? Research has cited many factors that influence how they can be achieved.
Personal factors such as personality (such as openness to experience and extraversion), cognition, physical health, and vigor have been associated with well-being and life satisfaction.
Environmental conditions contribute to individual life satisfaction.
Socio-economic status, home, and social environment, interpersonal relationships, and education also influence one’s the well-being and life satisfaction.
Engaging in forward-thinking (enabling forethought and planning) and becoming community-oriented are only some of the things that can be done to enhance the over-all quality of life. However, well-being and life satisfaction are highly personal and relative. Similar to personal meanings attributed to and generated in daily life, how one feels about himself/herself and the life he/she lives is dependent on how he/she defines a meaningful life.
What are the characteristics of people who have a high level of well-being and life satisfaction? Literature has posited a variety of qualities associate with such individuals:
Effective self-perception. Being able to change their attitude about themselves and engage in self-monitoring to minimize negative attitudes.
Realistic self-esteem and self-acceptance. Self-valuation and self-respect.
Control of behavior. Behavior awareness and regulation.
True perception of the world. Harboring healthy perceptions of their environment and place within it.
Sustaining relationships and affection. Manifesting empathy and sharing of positive emotions with others.
Self-direction and productivity. Making sure their goals and behaviors are aligned to their core values and conscious beliefs of themselves.
Within the context of spirituality, being cognizant of one’s purpose in life, accepting limitations and celebrating strengths, enabling love and concern for others, and engaging in behaviors that embody all these will lead one to have well-being and life satisfaction.
