“The things that you like best, and value most in your life, already reflect – at a gut level – what makes your life meaningful.”

That is a key message from Prof Michael F Steger, a renowned expert in positive psychology and a global authority on the science of meaning, shared right at the start of this episode of the Working on Wellbeing podcast.

We may experience meaning differently from one another, and even differently from one day to the next in our own lives, yet each person’s unique experience of meaning is, according to today’s expert, valid. And interestingly, despite this variation, research has revealed patterns and phenomena that can help us to better understand how people connect with a sense of meaning in life.

In this episode, Prof Steger – Director and Founder of the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University – joins our host, Sarah Cunningham, to explore how people come to understand, create, and sustain meaning in their lives and work. Drawing on insights from his impressive body of research, he explains that there are three key elements that underpin our sense of meaning: significance, coherence, and purpose.

Michael brings these ideas to life with relatable examples for each component and suggests important ways that businesses can help employees pursue truly purpose-driven and meaningful work.

If you’re interested in what makes life feel worthwhile, and how this connects to our wellbeing both in and out of work, you won’t want to miss this conversation!

Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Catch all episodes of the Working on Wellbeing podcast on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.