|
Fame and fortune might be appealing, but new study findings suggest that
they do little to fulfill one's psychological needs.
Competence and autonomy, on the other
hand, are essential in the pursuit of happiness.
People aren't very satisfied by money, luxury, popularity, and influence,
even when they get them.
"What really does it for people is engagement in self-chosen
or personally meaningful activities (autonomy), in which they
are reasonably effective or skillful (competence), and which also permit
them to connect with or contribute to others (relatedness)."
Study results show that the students consistently identified
- self-esteem
- relatedness
- autonomy
- competence
as the top four elements key to satisfying experiences.
Certain needs may be universal to humans in general, but the relative salience
that people place on them depends on the extent to which their cultures
encourage and support those needs.
People KNOW that money and notoriety aren't
it. That's why we all recognize it when we hear it, why it seems to make
so much sense. But we forget. We forget to check in with ourselves, to feel
what's really important, what's right, what's real (a capacity we all have).
To help individuals prioritize their psychological needs, the author offers
the following advice:
Step back and ask yourself "how am I
feeling, is what I'm doing meaningful to me, right now?
If the answer is 'no,' make changes.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
February 2001; 80: 325-339
| 