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6 Underestimated Drivers of Well-Being
Research shows these psychospiritual forces may be critically important for decreasing risk of illness and death and boosting overall health
When I was in graduate school studying world religion, philosophy, and psychology, I became intrigued by what, if anything, undergirds all the wisdom traditions. I had no interest in diluting them or melting them into one. I was more curious about what was beneath belief. After much research, I arrived at what I termed the Six Fundamental Human Desires. Taken together, they are what all the traditions, whether spiritual or secular, each in their own way, using their own language, care about and try to make real for people’s lives.
It turns out these desires can positively affect the body and mind as much as the spirit.
1. Meaning
Meaning helps us to make sense of life and find significance in life. It satisfies our desire to have a life filled with understanding, awareness, peace, and satisfaction. Meaning helps us to see how we fit into the world, and that greatly shapes the stories we live by. Meaning gives us the sense that we, others, and certain things in life matter, which helps us to craft a rich and rewarding existence. Meaning gives us confidence that…
