What Does It Mean to Live Well? Three Perspectives on Well-Being

For our first meeting, we’ll explore a timeless question that lies at the heart of psychology, philosophy, and everyday life: what does it mean to live well? We’ll compare three influential approaches to understanding well-being, each offering a different lens on what it means to flourish as a human being:

1. Ed Diener – “Subjective Well-Being: The Science of Happiness and Life Satisfaction”
   A classic overview of research on happiness and life satisfaction—the “feel-good” perspective. PDF link
2. Carol D. Ryff – “Happiness Is Everything, or Is It? Explorations on the Meaning of Psychological Well-Being” (1989)
   A landmark paper arguing that true well-being is more than happiness—it’s about realizing one’s potential through purpose, growth, autonomy, and deep relationships. PDF link
3. Frank Martela & Kennon M. Sheldon – “Clarifying the Concept of Well-Being: Psychological Need Satisfaction as the Common Core Connecting Eudaimonic and Subjective Well-Being” (2019)
   A contemporary synthesis suggesting that satisfying basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—underlies both happiness and meaning. PDF link

You can read all three or just focus on one or two—each provides a distinct perspective that will enrich the discussion.

### Some Questions to Consider

• How do happiness and meaning differ in these models of well-being?
• Which aspects of well-being feel most essential or universal?
• Does psychological need satisfaction offer a bridge between “feeling good” and “living well”?
• How might these theories apply in everyday life or relationships?

### Format

• 1:30–1:45 — Arrivals, coffee, introductions
• 1:45–2:50 — Group discussion
• 2:50–3:00 — Wrap-up & ideas for next month’s topic

### Note on Space

For this first meeting, our venue accommodates up to 10 participants, so RSVPs are capped for now. If there’s strong interest, I’ll look for a larger space and upgrade the Meetup plan to open additional spots for future meetings.

### About the Group

Psychology in Action is a community group for anyone interested in exploring psychology through reading and thoughtful conversation. The focus is on ideas and learning, not therapy or self-help.
We’ll meet about once per month, with short, accessible readings that invite reflection on how psychological research connects to real life.