The Little-Known Secrets To A Good Life

New Location: We will meet at True Food Kitchen (Bethesda) (7100 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20815)

What makes a good life? For decades, psychologists have debated whether true fulfillment comes from happiness—a life of comfort and joy—or meaning—a life of purpose and impact. But what if there's a third way? University of Chicago psychology professor Shigehiro Oishi has spent his career studying happiness, meaning, and what truly brings people deep satisfaction. His new research suggests that some of the most fulfilled people don’t prioritize either—they live psychologically rich lives, full of novelty, challenges, and transformative experiences.

Please watch this 30-min video before joining the discussion:
https://youtu.be/Yocs8fzwEjs?si=4ctH-hYoqxLUmzLy

If more than 10 people join the discussion, we will break out into separate groups.
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1. 1. Oishi proposes that in addition to happiness and meaning, psychological richness—a life filled with novel, complex, and perspective-shifting experiences—should be considered a third path to fulfillment. How might expanding our mental model of the “good life” to include psychological richness challenge traditional views of success, wisdom, or maturity?
   2. Frequent, modest pleasures contribute more to sustained happiness than rare, intense milestones. Why do we tend to chase life’s peaks rather than cultivate its rhythms—and what might we gain by shifting our focus?
   3. Not all meaning is virtuous—people can find purpose in rigid ideologies or harmful movements. How can we build safeguards—individually or culturally—against adopting sources of meaning that limit empathy or critical thinking?
   4. Psychologically rich days are often filled with unfamiliar or uncomfortable experiences that force perspective shifts and emotional growth. In what ways can intentionally seeking the unfamiliar become a discipline for developing humility or resilience?
   5. In a culture obsessed with efficiency, unstructured moments are often dismissed—yet these can spark originality and transformation. What might we need to unlearn about productivity in order to unlock deeper forms of insight, creativity, or self-understanding?
   6. The decision to stay or go—whether in jobs, relationships, or places—often reflects whether we value comfort, contribution, or curiosity. How can we develop frameworks for decision-making that balance between growth and comfort?

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To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events:

1. Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question)
2. Listen to understand, not to respond.
3. Be open-minded and value differences.