The ‘Good Life’ Has a Third Option, But It Won’t Make You Happy
People often describe a “good life” using familiar ideas. Strong relationships matter. Enjoyable work helps. Contentment feels essential. Because of that, happiness and purpose usually sit at the center of well-being conversations. However, psychologists now suggest that this picture remains incomplete. A life can look good on the surface and still feel unsatisfying underneath.
For decades, psychology framed a good life in two main ways. The first focuses on happiness. This path values comfort, pleasure, and emotional stability. People who follow it aim to reduce stress and avoid discomfort. As a result, decisions often align with personal interests, enjoyment, and ease.
The second path centers on meaning. This version highlights purpose, contribution, and significance. People who pursue meaning often commit to causes larger than themselves. Their actions aim to reduce feelings of emptiness and insignificance. Although this life may involve sacrifice, it often delivers a deep sense of fulfillment.
Still, not everyone feels satisfied with happiness or meaning alone. That gap sparked a new line of research.
The Rise of a Third Path
Freepik | Psychological richness prioritizes perspective-shifting growth through often uncomfortable, impactful moments.
Psychologists Erin Westgate and Shigehiro Oishi introduced a third idea known as psychological richness. Unlike happiness or meaning, this path focuses on experiences that challenge assumptions and shift perspective. These moments often feel uncomfortable, surprising, or even unpleasant. Yet, they leave a lasting impact.
Their research shows that some people actively choose novelty and stimulation over comfort. Instead of seeking constant happiness, they pursue experiences that spark curiosity and mental growth. Consequently, psychological richness values depth over ease.
Westgate explained that this idea emerged from a simple question. Why do some people feel unfulfilled even when life appears happy and meaningful? The answer pointed toward missing experiences that disrupt routine and expand perspective.
Why Rich Experiences Don’t Always Feel Good
Psychological richness does not promise joy. In fact, many rich experiences feel stressful in the moment. Major life events often illustrate this pattern. Natural disasters, sudden changes, or intense transitions rarely feel pleasant. However, they frequently alter how people see the world.
Researchers found that participants often described such events as perspective-shifting. Even when enjoyment remained absent, the experience still felt valuable. College life offers a clear example. It doesn’t always deliver happiness or purpose. Still, it reshapes thinking, priorities, and identity.
Because of that, richness depends less on comfort and more on transformation.
Small Moments Can Also Create Richness
Freepik | Small everyday moments can quietly add depth and make life feel rich even when happiness comes and goes.
Although dramatic events can add depth, everyday experiences can also shape perspective. Reading a powerful novel or hearing a haunting song can linger long after the moment ends. These experiences may feel quiet or ordinary, yet they change how someone views life.
Psychological richness doesn’t require constant upheaval. Instead, it grows from moments that challenge expectations or spark reflection. Over time, these moments add texture to life, even when happiness fades in and out.
Importantly, psychologists do not dismiss happiness or meaning. They still matter. However, focusing on them alone can limit how people understand well-being.
Rethinking What Well-Being Really Means
Many people seek happiness, meaning, and richness all at once, yet research suggests true balance is rare. Rich experiences can disrupt comfort, meaningful work can bring stress, and happiness often feels fleeting. Well-being, therefore, looks different for each person.
Psychological richness offers a broader perspective. It values curiosity, openness, and change, asking not whether life feels good, but whether it feels mentally alive.
A good life doesn’t follow a single formula. Happiness brings ease, meaning provides purpose, and psychological richness adds depth. Recognizing this third path allows people to embrace challenge, surprise, and growth alongside comfort and purpose.
Some of life’s most influential moments may not feel pleasant or purposeful at first, but they reshape thinking and expand understanding. Over time, these experiences add layers to life that happiness alone cannot provide, giving it depth, contrast, and lasting insight—even in moments far from joyful.