Post Reports How to live a good life
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Jan 17, 2026 Erin Westgate, a researcher focused on boredom and psychological richness, shares fascinating insights into what constitutes a good life. She discusses surprising findings from boredom experiments that reveal the importance of psychological richness. Westgate emphasizes how varied life experiences can enhance our narratives and validate diverse life choices. Listeners learn actionable tips to cultivate curiosity and spontaneity, aiming for a life abundant in richness rather than solely happiness or meaning. It's a thought-provoking exploration of living fully.
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Three Distinct Paths To A Good Life
- Psychologists identify three distinct good-life paths: happy, meaningful, and psychologically rich.
- These paths can overlap but offer different values and life flavors for people.
Boredom Study That Sparked New Research
- Erin Westgate recounts the shocking-stimulation boredom study where many participants chose to self-shock.
- She uses that surprising behavior to pivot her research toward understanding boredom and richness in life.
Psychological Richness Complements Happiness
- Oishi and Westgate argue boredom's opposite is a psychologically rich life full of perspective-changing experiences.
- Psychological richness captures lives that are novel, challenging, and often less stable than happy or meaningful lives.