Author Emily Esfahani Smith explains how one can live a more meaningful life.
The pursuit of happiness is so important to American ideals that it has been enshrined in the Declaration of Independence. But a new book, The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters, argues that finding meaning in life is ultimately more satisfying than searching for happiness.
Author Emily Esfahani Smith says one can find meaning even in tough circumstances to give you a reason to live, whereas a pursuit of happiness focused on satisfying your every whim can still lead to emptiness.
Smith, a columnist for The New Criterion and editor at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, joined the Knowledge@Wharton show on SiriusXM’s channel 111 to talk about her book.
Editor's Note: Once again, my good friend, Ron DiMattia, provides us with this month's "article for thought". I've downloaded Dr. Smith's book this article refers to and it shows promise to become next month's "Book of the Month" on this site. My first reading of such thoughts was Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" and its effect on me was profound. It appears Smith dives a little further into the practice of finding meaning by defining four pillars of meaning. After reading this interview, I can hardly wait to read her book.