How to be more than happy: a ‘good’, rich life beyond happiness is possible, a psychologist explains – but it’s not always safe or comfortable
- A psychologically rich life is one full of novel, challenging, complex and attitude-changing experiences, happiness expert Shige Oishi says
- Being spontaneous, deviating from routines and not worrying too much about getting things done are three tips he gives to live such a life
How does one find happiness?
Who better to ask than Shige Oishi, a Japanese psychologist who has been studying happiness in the United States for over a quarter of a century.
“Happiness could be attained in a variety of ways, but in general it is associated with financial stability and interpersonal stability. A happy life is typically safe, comfortable and pleasant,” says the associate professor of psychology at the University of Virginia.
But, he adds, there is an extra dimension to life, something beyond happiness: a psychologically rich life, known as “the good life”.
“Richness is associated with doing something new, trying something new, some of which could be challenging and not very pleasant. A rich life, to me, is not always safe, nor comfortable,” Oishi says, adding, however, that ultimately it is rewarding.
The good life goes beyond both the hedonistic and eudaemonic (pursuing happiness by finding meaning and purpose) approaches to life.
