10. Transcendence and Meaning

Humans may resemble many other creatures in their striving for happiness, but the quest for meaning is a key part of what makes us human, and uniquely so.

Roy Baumeister et al. (2013)

Unlike happiness, meaning is not a fleeting state that drifts throughout the day; it’s a more compre...

This is the drive where people are motivated because they believe they are engaged in something bigger than themselves. Wikipedia editors don't feel like they are doing unpaid labour, but they are protecting humanity’s knowledge - something greater than themselves.

There are important distinctions between the methods of searching for and the benefits of experiencing happiness and meaning. Baumeister and his fellow researchers found that:

• Feeling healthy was related to happiness, but not meaning;
• Feeling good was related to happiness, not ...