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Some good Pew data here on what makes life meaningful, including the image above. This is from a study of 19,000 adults across 17 industrialized nations, and it does make you wonder who in the USA was being surveyed, because “Occupation” in the four-slot does not sound like the USA’s work-until-it-breaks-you culture. Here’s kinda the “nut” or summary graph:
From analyzing people’s answers, it is clear that one source of meaning is predominant: family. In 14 of the 17 advanced economies surveyed, more mention their family as a source of meaning in their lives than any other factor. Highlighting their relationships with parents, siblings, children and grandchildren, people frequently mention quality time spent with their kinfolk, the pride they get from the accomplishments of their relatives and even the desire to live a life that leaves an improved world for their offspring. In Australia, New Zealand, Greece and the United States, around half or more say their family is something that makes their lives fulfilling.
This is also somewhat interesting, in light of the whole “Religion is in the toilet” discourse in America:
The topic of faith, religion and spirituality is also one where some societies notably differ. Outside of the U.S., religion is never one of the top 10 sources of meaning cited — and no more than 5% of any non-American public mention it. In…
