ABSTRACT
What makes life worth living? This is probably the most important question ever asked in psychology because it is vitally related to human survival and flourishing. It is also a highly complex question with no simple answers to the extent that it touches all aspects of humanity—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Thus, only a holistic approach can provide a comprehensive picture of meaningful living. To further complicate matters, every person has his or her own ideas on what constitutes the good life. Many people believe that money is the answer; that is why money remains the most powerful motivator in a consumer society. Others, especially those in academia, believe that reputation matters most. For those people living in abject poverty, heaven is being free from hunger. Given such individual differences in values and beliefs, is it even possible to provide general answers based on psychological research?
