I’ve searched for what makes life worth living through books, podcasts, and expert advice, but somehow, I still felt lost.
Then I wondered: What if I asked real people instead of experts?
So I turned to Reddit, where strangers speak raw truths they might not share with friends. I combed through hundreds of comments about what keeps people going through dark times and what brings them genuine joy. It is not polished influencer advice, but honest reflections from people lying awake at 3 AM questioning their existence, just like the rest of us.
Their answers stunned me with their simplicity.
20 Things That Make Life Worth Living
1. Friends and family (142 mentions)
Human connection tops the list by a significant margin. This category combines mentions of friends, family, children, parents, and romantic partners. From deep conversations with friends who truly “get” you to the unconditional love between parent and child, meaningful relationships stood out as the most valuable aspect of existence. As one Redditor wrote: “My parents. I didn’t want to let them down. It still keeps me going ❤️”
2. Positive emotional experiences (64 mentions)
The pursuit and experience of happiness, joy and other positive feelings ranked highly. Rather than grand euphoria, many highlighted small daily doses of happiness like the first morning coffee, a perfectly ripe piece of fruit, or brief moments of contentment. These aren’t just nice extras; they form essential ingredients for a life well-lived.
3. Hobbies, interests and fun activities (61 mentions)
Engaging in activities purely for enjoyment gives life flavor and texture. Whether playing music, gardening, sports, gaming, or collecting vinyl records, passions and hobbies provide both escape and fulfillment. One person wrote about their guitar playing: “Even when everything else feels meaningless, creating music connects me to something larger.”
4. Personal development (46 mentions)
The journey of becoming a better version of yourself provides profound satisfaction. Users described the joy of looking back and recognizing their progress in overcoming personal challenges, developing new skills, or growing emotionally. As one put it: “Seeing the person I was five years ago compared to now gives me immense pride.”
5. New experiences and discovery (46 mentions)
The thrill of experiencing something for the first time, whether visiting a new country, learning a skill, or finding a new perspective, creates life’s most vibrant memories. Many emphasized how exploration keeps life from becoming stagnant and predictable.
6. Purpose and meaning (45 mentions)
Having something to strive for beyond yourself emerged as a key to fulfillment. Whether through career goals, creative endeavors, or helping others, a sense of purpose transforms ordinary days into meaningful contributions to something larger.
7. Pets (36 mentions)
The unconditional love of pets provides a unique form of connection. Dogs appeared most frequently, with many crediting their animal companions for giving them a reason to continue during difficult times. “Even her mere existence brings me so much joy,” one person wrote about their dog.
8. Simple pleasures and little moments (31 mentions)
The accumulation of tiny pleasures a perfect cup of coffee, the sun breaking through clouds, a stranger’s smile creates a tapestry of joy that many find reason enough for living. These moments require presence and attention but reward us with immediate happiness.
9. Altruism and making a difference (30 mentions)
This combined category includes helping others, making a difference, and making others happy. Acts of kindness provide a unique form of fulfillment. Whether through volunteering, career choices, or simple daily acts of consideration, improving someone else’s life creates meaning that goes beyond self-focused pursuits.
10. Sensory pleasures (24 mentions)
Culinary and other sensory delights ranked surprisingly high, with many finding profound joy in both creating and consuming delicious food and drink. From morning coffee rituals to celebratory meals with loved ones, these experiences connect us to our senses and often to shared cultural traditions.
11. Nature and beauty (23 mentions)
Connection with the natural world through hiking, gardening, star-gazing, or simply sitting beside a body of water offers perspective and peace. Many described nature as a reliable reset button for mental health and a source of awe that makes existence worthwhile.
12. Existence itself (19 mentions)
Some find the sheer miracle of conscious existence reason enough to keep going. As one put it: “Just being able to experience anything at all good or bad is extraordinary when you think about the alternative of non-existence.”
13. Artistic expression (23 mentions)
This merged category includes both creating and appreciating music, art, and other creative works. The emotional power of artistic expression to transport, heal, and communicate what words cannot makes it a vital life force for many.
14. Achievement and goals (14 mentions)
The satisfaction of setting a goal and accomplishing it, whether running a marathon, launching a business, or learning a language, provides concrete evidence of our capacity for growth and achievement.
15. Resilience and overcoming challenges (13 mentions)
Surprisingly, many mentioned difficult experiences as giving life meaning not the suffering itself, but the strength found through survival. As one put it: “Coming through my darkest moments showed me what I’m capable of and made everything afterward feel like a gift.”
16. Travel and exploration (12 mentions)
Exploring new places expands our perspective and creates lasting memories. Whether international adventures or finding hidden corners of your own city, travel disrupts routine and awakens our senses to new possibilities.
17. Literature and stories (12 mentions)
Reading allows us to live multiple lives and experience countless perspectives. Many credited books with providing escape during difficult times and wisdom for life’s complexities.
18. Spiritual and religious beliefs (11 mentions)
Faith provides many with a framework for understanding suffering and finding purpose beyond material existence. Several specifically mentioned their relationship with Jesus or God as their primary reason for living.
19. Curiosity and learning (7 mentions)
The simple desire to see what happens next in the world, in technology, or in one’s own life keeps many engaged with living. “I’m just too curious to check out early,” one person wrote.
20. Gratitude (6 mentions)
The practice of appreciating what you have rather than focusing on what’s missing transforms ordinary experiences into sources of joy. Many described gratitude as a skill that improves with practice and consistent attention.
Also mentioned
Several other meaningful aspects of life received fewer mentions but still deserve recognition. These include simple physical comforts (like a warm blanket on a cold day), physical activity, quality sleep and rest, leaving a lasting legacy, having freedom of choice, cherishing good memories, and watching humanity’s future progress. While these elements didn’t top the list, they represent important dimensions of a well-rounded life that bring joy and meaning to many.
Making Life Worth Living
While knowing what makes life meaningful helps, actually creating a life filled with these elements requires intention and action. Based on Reddit’s collective wisdom, here are the most effective strategies for enhancing your life’s meaning and joy.
10 Strategies for making your life worth living
1. Cultivate a positive mindset
This strategy recognizes that how you see your life dramatically impacts how you experience it. Try shifting focus from what’s missing to what’s present. Notice small beauties the pattern of light through leaves, the taste of food, the comfort of your bed.
Example: Start each morning by identifying three things you look forward to that day, no matter how small. When faced with challenges, ask “What can I learn here?” instead of “Why is this happening to me?” End each day by noting three positive moments, training your brain to notice and remember the good.
2. Nurture meaningful connections
Meaningful relationships don’t just happen they require cultivation. Reach out regularly to those you care about, be honest about your struggles, and celebrate others’ successes genuinely.
Example: One Redditor described how joining a weekly community dinner transformed their life: “I felt reluctant at first making small talk with strangers seemed exhausting. But now these people have become my chosen family. Having a regular connection point anchors my week and reminds me I’m not alone in this world.”
3. Pursue your passions and pleasures
This strategy recognizes the importance of both deep engagement and everyday joys. Activities that create “flow” that state where you become so absorbed that time seems to disappear add richness to life.
Example: Make a list of 10 simple things that reliably bring you joy (a type of tea, walking a specific route, calling a certain friend). Make sure at least one of these happens daily. Pay attention to your energy afterward and expand your list over time. Also, explore deeper interests that challenge and engage you fully.
4. Create purpose through action
You don’t need a grand mission even small purposes like “make my partner smile every day” or “leave each space better than I found it” can fill daily actions with meaning.
Example: A previously depressed Redditor described starting a tiny free library in their front yard: “It began as just something to do, but watching neighbors find books and leave notes of appreciation gave me a reason to get up each morning. That small project connected me to my community and showed me I could make a positive difference.”
5. Embrace change and growth
If chronic dissatisfaction stems from your environment rather than your mindset, strategic changes help. This doesn’t always mean dramatic upheaval sometimes small adjustments to daily routines can transform your experience.
Example: Identify one aspect of your life causing consistent dissatisfaction. Brainstorm three possible changes one small (could start immediately), one medium (might take weeks), and one larger (could take months). Take action on the smallest change today, then evaluate how it affects your wellbeing.
6. Seek novel experiences
Novel experiences create more distinct memories than routine, making time feel richer and more full. You don’t need expensive trips exploring a new neighborhood or taking an unfamiliar route home can provide mini-adventures.
Example: One Redditor described a “mystery day” tradition where they randomly select a subway stop in their city and spend the day exploring that neighborhood without planning. “I’ve found amazing restaurants, quirky shops, and beautiful parks I would never have known about otherwise.”
7. Limit negativity
While staying informed matters, constant exposure to global tragedies and curated social media can distort your perception of reality and drain emotional resources.
Example: Try a 48-hour digital detox to reset your relationship with media. Afterward, set specific times to check news (perhaps morning and evening) rather than constantly. Create social media-free zones in your life maybe the dinner table or the hour before bed. Unfollow accounts that consistently make you feel inadequate.
8. Care for your body
Physical movement enhances mood through biochemical changes while providing a sense of accomplishment and evidence of your capacity for growth.
Example: A Redditor described how morning walks transformed their mental health: “I started just to get some exercise, but it’s become my sanctuary. That 30 minutes of movement in fresh air, noticing seasonal changes and nodding to the same dog walkers each day grounds me and sets a positive tone before work chaos begins.”
9. Connect with something larger
Spiritual practices help us transcend individual concerns and connect to larger patterns and purposes.
Example: Start with just 2-3 minutes daily of simply noticing your breath. When your mind wanders (which it will), gently return focus to breathing without self-criticism. Gradually extend the time as it becomes more comfortable. Complement this practice with weekly time in natural settings, even if just a local park.
10. Seek knowledge and understanding
This strategy emphasizes the value of continuously expanding your perspective and tools for living.
Example: A user described reading Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” during a personal crisis: “Seeing how someone found purpose in the most extreme suffering completely reframed my own struggles. My problems didn’t disappear, but they suddenly existed within a much larger context.”
Additional strategies
Beyond these top strategies, Reddit users mentioned several other valuable approaches that didn’t make the top ten but deserve mention. These include identifying and using your unique strengths, intentionally creating good memories to revisit during difficult times, maintaining a sense of play even in adulthood, practicing mindful awareness of your surroundings, engaging in creative expression even without artistic skill, and finding communities that share your values. While less frequently mentioned, these approaches offer additional pathways to enhance life’s meaning and satisfaction.
Making life worth living isn’t about perfection or constant happiness it’s about creating enough moments of connection, purpose, and joy to sustain you through tough times. Even small positive changes, consistently applied, can transform your experience of being alive.
Bottom line
The top answers, relationships, positive emotions, hobbies, and personal growth, all share a common thread. They center around connection: connection to others, to ourselves, and to the world around us.
What struck me most was how accessible these sources of meaning truly are. We don’t need money, status, or fame to experience deep relationships or the joy of a good meal. We don’t need special talent to enjoy nature or help someone in need.
These small shifts brought more joy than any self-help book or motivational speech ever did.
Pick just one item from the list that resonated with you. Make space for it in your day tomorrow. Call that friend you’ve been meaning to reach out to. Spend 15 minutes outside. Pet a dog. Write down three good things that happened.
Life’s meaning isn’t waiting in some grand future achievement. It’s available right now, in the simple acts of living with awareness and intention.
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