For the past few days, she’s been asking the people around her – kids, friends, co-workers – what they think makes life worth living, and the answers have been pretty much of a sort: family, friends, work, music, some possession or other, faith, maybe health. Computer games. Although social connections are important, not all social relationships are equal. Make sure to focus on relationships that make you feel like you ‘belong’ (Lambert et al., 2013), where you feel like you fit in with the members of that group, and where there is group identification. Mellor, D.J.; Cook, C.J.; Stafford, K.J. Quantifying some responses to pain as a stressor. In The Biology of Animal Stress: Basic Principles and Implications for Welfare; Moberg, G.P., Mench, J.A., Eds.; CAB International: Wallingford, UK, 2000; pp. 171–198. [ Google Scholar] Mellor, D.J.; Beausoleil, N.J. Extending the ‘Five Domains’ model for animal welfare assessment to incorporate positive welfare states. Anim. Welfare 2015, 24, 241–253. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef]

Beaver, B.V. Environmental enrichment for laboratory animals. ILAR J. 1989, 31, 5–11. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] If you see yourself as a spiritual being, keeping a spiritual practice — such as honoring the sacred in daily life or connecting with a higher power — can bring meaning and satisfaction. Causes you care about Held, S.D.E.; Spinka, M. Animal play and animal welfare. Anim. Behav. 2011, 81, 891–899. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef]Exercising our own imaginations and creative power can bring joy, but so can admiring the creativity of others in the form of art, music, literature, film, and more. The chance to find your people

To summarize, it appears that centenarians adopt a positive mindset and psychological traits and value their social relationships. These factors may contribute to a longer, more meaningful life and protect against illness and depression. Fostering interests and hobbies is another way to find meaning in your life, buttressing against negative feelings and thoughts.

Newberry, R.C. Environmental enrichment: Increasing the biological relevance of captive environments. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 1995, 44, 229–243. [ Google Scholar] [ CrossRef] If the question abides, it is because it is more than a matter of historical or biographical interest. Our pursuit of meaning, and the consequences should we come up empty-handed, are matters of eternal immediacy. Whether it’s caring for the planet, the mental health of future generations, or something entirely your own, passion for making a difference might give you the spark you’re looking for. The chance to lift others up Centenarians greatly value their social experiences and are actively involved in social events (Wong et al., 2014). If you’re in the early stages of developing a new hobby, it might help to express what you enjoy about the hobby. Consider writing a journal entry about what you enjoyed or tell your partner/friends/family members about your new hobby.