This podcast episode interviews Shige Oishi, a psychology professor, about his concept of a "psychologically rich life," which he argues is a crucial element missing from traditional happiness research. The interview explores the limitations of solely pursuing happiness and meaning, highlighting the "happiness trap" and the potential pitfalls of overly narrow definitions of meaning. Oishi proposes strategies for cultivating psychological richness, including embracing playfulness, spontaneity, aesthetic experiences, and learning from adversity. He suggests actively seeking novel experiences and reframing challenges as opportunities for growth, illustrating these points with examples from his own life and research findings on athletes and scientists.
